TAT’s language training prepares Thai tourism personnel ready for post-COVID-19 era

Online Spanish and Portuguese lessons from Chulalongkorn and Thammasat Universities.

TAT Newsroom

 

 

Bangkok – The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is organising Spanish and Portuguese language training courses online for 150 tourism industry staff, conducted by two of the country’s best universities, the Faculty of Arts at Chulalongkorn University and the Faculty of Liberal Arts at Thammasat University.

 

Mr. Yuthasak Supasorn, TAT Governor, noted that there was still lack a lot of travel industry personnel who could communicate in these languages, and the online courses taking place during May and July 2020, aimed to prepare Thai tourism personnel ready for the post-COVID-19 era.

 

“During the current downtrend tourism trend during the COVID-19 outbreak, TAT is keen to do its part to support the government’s policy. We are using this downtime to train and prepare industry personnel previously employed in the country’s tourism industry and help them build confidence and recover quickly once travel to Thailand returns,” Mr Yuthasak, said.

 

According to the TAT’s survey of tourist guides’ training needs for the year 2020, it found that tour guides were interested in training in Spanish, second only to Mandarin, in addition to Portuguese which ranked sixth.

 

The TAT’s online courses are in respond to the Thai government’s call to action to help tourism personnel expand their potential third language skills.

Spanish and Portuguese are most in demand to work with visitors from Brazil, Spain, and Mexico, which are considered emerging markets for tourists visiting Thailand.

 

The people talking those languages have better destinations nearby. 

I would think from now on flights from South and Central America will be even more expensive than they were , so goodbye to that market. Spanish economy not in good shape , they have cheaper options in the Eastern European and North African countries for holidays.

As usual brilliant planning! Amazing TAT....

Shouldn't it be Chinese dialects?

43 minutes ago, webfact said:

According to the TAT’s survey of tourist guides’ training needs for the year 2020, it found that tour guides were interested in training in Spanish, second only to Mandarin, in addition to Portuguese which ranked sixth.

@JCP108

Mongolian sounds good to me, it can't be worse than the other options chosen by this clever government.

2 minutes ago, Moo 2 said:

Mongolian sounds good to me, it can't be worse than the other options chosen by this clever government.

Throw in some free classes of Mongolian "throat singing" for the "sanook factor"!

1 hour ago, JCP108 said:

Shouldn't it be Chinese dialects?

No, they've always been British:

2 hours ago, webfact said:

Bangkok – The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is organising Spanish and Portuguese language

Hahahaha .. Yea right .. If they can't master the Engrish they won't find Spanish a pushover especially the speed Spaniards chop's at .. 

Edited May 22, 20206 yr by Justgrazing
Sp

2 hours ago, Moo 2 said:

Mongolian sounds good to me, it can't be worse than the other options chosen by this clever government.

Having spent 20 years in the tourism business here on Samui, I can safely say that we have welcomed more Mongolians than either Spanish or Portugese. (All of the Mongolians spoke perfect English!)

4 hours ago, DrTuner said:

The people talking those languages have better destinations nearby. 

 

Portugal and Spain - not known as countries whose citizens flock overseas in large numbers as tourists.

 

That leaves South America. Not packed with rich, affluent elite tourists looking for an overseas place to flock too.

 

Good choices!

Thailand has to really grasp only one fact.

That fact, is that English is the dominant Language of the World.

The Spanish nation and Portugese Nation, all speak English to varying degrees as it is taught as a compulsary Languge in there Schools

Portuguese cannot be read like it as Spanish; there are specific tones and nasal movements and sounds that go along with the vowels. Good luck, Thailand. Gotta master Engrisheee firtd!

Spanish and Portuguese are most in demand to work with visitors from Brazil, Spain, and Mexico, which are considered emerging markets for tourists visiting Thailand.

 

Spain are bust, Brazil could take the #2 for covid-19 deaths the way it is going and Mexico is just starting to pick up speed with the virus.

5 hours ago, PingRoundTheWorld said:

As usual brilliant planning! Amazing TAT....

 

But remember...they're not only "'Amazing"...they're also "Trusted" now.

 

 

Edited May 22, 20206 yr by Hayduke

4 hours ago, bluesofa said:

No, they've always been British:

Maybe they could be put to good use to "exterminate" TAT!

I dont see the point how many Spanish tourist come to Thailand? Most Spanish people I know speak a da English anyway

15 hours ago, Baerboxer said:

 

Portugal and Spain - not known as countries whose citizens flock overseas in large numbers as tourists.

 

That leaves South America. Not packed with rich, affluent elite tourists looking for an overseas place to flock too.

 

Good choices!

Drug cartels might be interested... apparently they're good tippers!

If they want to teach Hispanish, they need native smokers, I mean speakers, to teach.  And they need proper taxis, too.  Yesca! 

 

 

19 hours ago, Moo 2 said:

Mongolian sounds good to me, it can't be worse than the other options chosen by this clever government.

Retire the elephants and get some new rides.

 

15 hours ago, Somtamnication said:

Portuguese cannot be read like it as Spanish; there are specific tones and nasal movements and sounds that go along with the vowels. Good luck, Thailand. Gotta master Engrisheee firtd!

Years ago dated a Brazilian woman....hallf the time on the phone with family it sounded like she was speaking Russian, lots of hard S's and K's also. Crazy language

John Travolta learned Portuguese on a short car ride so it can't be that difficult.

Edited May 23, 20206 yr by Thailand

15 minutes ago, Thailand said:

John Travolta learned Portuguese on a short car ride so it can't be that difficult.

o que?

One would think Chinese and English might be good????

On 5/22/2020 at 7:28 PM, ChipButty said:

I dont see the point how many Spanish tourist come to Thailand? Most Spanish people I know speak a da English anyway

I had many bachelor and masters students from Spain in exchange programs in Bkk. They all had very advanced / native speaker capabilities in all aspects of English, Same as the German students. These countries focus on English development seriously using clever and very productive teaching/learning methods and materials from kinder. I had several Spanish and German students tell me it's national policy that they are fully capable of all 4 English skills by the end of 3rd year of Primary school. And it works.

 

Same goal and the methods/systems/resources to make it happen would be good in Thailand for English and several more languages. Unfortunately this format not going to happen anytime soon. 

Thailand has never heard of the economic problems with the PIGS?  I guess TAT should have training to teach Greek and Italian too.