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THE Indonesian tourism industry has great potential to continue to be developed. Its natural beauty and cultural diversity are the main attraction for national and international tourists. However, the COVID-19 pandemic in the past year has had a huge impact on the national and global tourism sector.
However, it is predicted that this year Indonesian tourism will be excited again in the second semester of 2021. Economist from the Institute for Development on Economic and Finance (INDEF), Bhima Yudhistira Adhinegara, said the decline in daily cases and the presence of vaccines will encourage the recovery of the tourism sector, which is predicted to gradually improve this year.
“The potential for tourism rebound will have an impact on the demand for labor supply in the tourism and hospitality industry. In this case, tourism and hospitality vocational graduates are more believed to have skills according to industry needs,” he said virtually in the Insight from IdeA Webinar (30/3).
Bhima added, tourism has an important role in the economy. Before the pandemic, the tourism sector contributed US$20 billion in foreign exchange. In addition to the large foreign exchange potential, the tourism sector contributes to absorbing 13 million workers or 10.2% of the total national workforce.
“The presence of the vaccine brings fresh air because it is a hope that it will be able to reduce the transmission of the COVID-19 virus, thereby simultaneously reviving Indonesian tourism. However, a skilled and specialized workforce is needed to strengthen the tourism sector. Such as hotels, restaurants, coffee shops, cruise ships and other recreational areas,” he added.
He explained, currently quality vocational training in the tourism sub-sectors is still limited. A training center or academy in the hospitality sector is needed that has a breakthrough to produce appropriate tourism personnel, and understands the realities of the real world of work.
Complementing this, the Directorate General of Vocational Education of the Ministry of Education and Culture launched various stimulus programs to support the tourism industry through Work Skills Education (PKK), Entrepreneurial Skills Education (PKW), Micro Credentials, and Course Diplomas.
According to the Director of Courses and Training, Directorate General of Vocational Education, Ministry of Education and Culture of the Republic of Indonesia, Dr. Wartanto, M.M, said that the program was a real action by the government in improving the quality of superior and competitive Human Resources (HR) to the global level, said Wartanto.
“Seeing the need for qualified and work-ready vocational workers, the government continues to encourage the birth of quality vocational education that is integrated with a teaching factory according to their respective fields,” said Wartanto at the same event.
Then, seeing the high need for vocational staff in the hospitality sector in Indonesia, IDeA Indonesia is here as a company that provides industry-based vocational education in the form of a 3-star standard hotel as a Teaching Factory.
President Director of IDeA Indonesia, Eko Desriyanto said the training system is integrated with the Teaching Factory. All participants just need to learn and are actively involved in the operation of a three-star hotel. That way, IDeA Indonesia graduates are not only ready to work, but ready to contribute in advancing Indonesian tourism. [bisnis.com/photo special]
