Retrain older workers for tourism: Macao deputies
Deputies to the National People’s Congress from the Macao Special Administrative Region hope colleges nationwide can offer tourism-related courses to mature students, expanding talent in the industry and solving problems brought by the country’s aging workforce.
The deputies urged authorities to allocate educational resources “in a more precise manner” to cultivate tourismrelated talents in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.
They made the call at a plenary session of Macao deputies in Beijing on Thursday.
Chui Sai-peng, a NPC deputy from Macao who is also a member of the University of Macau’s council, suggested taking full advantage of universities to serve elderly people across the country in nurturing talents in the industry.
“This would not only help meet the growing demand for service people in tourism as the industry develops with the construction of the Greater Bay Area, but also ease the aging problem in the Chinese society,” he noted.
Tourism industry staff did not need a high-end educational qualifications; those with a university degree or a junior college qualification can qualify for the positions, he said.
More effective results can be produced if different types of educational institution focus on different fields and target different groups based on their strengths and characteristics, he added.
“For example, more highend educational resources can be allocated to higher education institutions, while for junior colleges and technical secondary schools, resources can be poured more into organizing training related to tourism or food, in order to cultivate applied talents for the industry,” Chui said.
He also proposed developing the Institute for Tourism Studies in Macao into a tourism-talent training center in the Greater Bay Area.
Chui’s view is echoed by Sio Chi-wai, another NPC deputy from Macao. “Allocation of educational resources should be in line with the country’s industrial structure,” Sio said.
“We should pour more educational resources into industries that the country is stepping up efforts to promote, or those with large space for growth.”
Sio said Macao is well positioned to contribute to tourism development in the bay area.
With improved infrastructure between Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao after the Guangzhou-ShenzhenHong Kong Express Rail Link and Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge mega projects come into service later this year, tourism in the region is expected to see a further boost.
Macao, well known for its gaming industry, has been one of the most popular tourist destinations for both mainland residents and foreigners.
The city aims to build itself into a global tourism and recreation center, as well as a key platform for business cooperation between China and Portuguese-speaking countries. It intends making full use of opportunities brought about by the Greater Bay Area.