TDRI: Thailand needs to improve tourism personnel for upcoming AEC

[webfact]

TDRI: Thailand needs to improve tourism personnel for upcoming AEC



BANGKOK, 26 Mar 2015 (NNT) - The Thailand Development Research Institute (TDRI) has suggested that the Ministry of Tourism and Sports should develop tourism personnel in order to prepare the sector for the arrival of the ASEAN Economic Community at the end of this year.

Mr. Yongyuth Chalamwong, Director of labor development research at the TDRI, stated the Department of Tourism must cooperate with related units in raising awareness about the AEC’s Mutual Recognition Agreement for Tourism Professionals which allows those working in 32 job titles related to tourism to work in any country in the region.

With a serious shortage of skilled labor in Thailand, the Director said many more foreigners might move in to steal jobs from Thai people. He said Tourism officials should urgently seek to increase both the number and quality of Thai workers to international standard to improve the Kingdom’s competitiveness in tourism.

Director Yongyuth said the Kingdom should make sure that tourism personnel are ready for a fierce competition in the AEC era. He added that the move would help prevent foreign labor with sub-par performance from entering the sector.


-- NNT 2015-03-26

[hansgruber]

TDRI = Too Docile to Really Improve.

[kalbo123]

With a serious shortage of skilled labor in Thailand, the Director said many more foreigners might move in to steal jobs from Thai people. He said Tourism officials should urgently seek to increase both the number and quality of Thai workers to international standard to improve the Kingdom’s competitiveness in tourism.

But how?

[Just1Voice]

Well, fist would be intensive classes on how to be polite and courteous, instead of acting like rude, money grabbing A-holes.

Second would be to teach them that "foreigner" does not mean "millionaire", so stop double, triple, and more, pricing.

Accomplish that, and the other things should be easy.

[trainman34014]

If too many Foreigners arrive and 'steal jobs' the Thai's will combat them with bullets not brains....problem solving 'Thai style' !

[moobie]

I thought that it was only "Highly Skilled ASEAN Professionals" who would be able to have free movement over the borders of ASEAN - or have I misunderstood that?

[FireMedic]

As usual, they are about 10 years too late. They don't really care anyway. They know people will just keep coming.

[recycled]

Who for Petes sake is going to teach them? Talk about the usual blind leading the blind scenario in Thailand.

[bangkokfrog]

You can't really "steal jobs from Thai people" when those Thai people are not capable of performing them.

[phoenixdoglover]

Don't worry. The 32 job titles only include the following:

Front Office Manager

Executive Housekeeper

Executive Chef

F&B Director

General Manager

Product Manager

Front Office Supervisor

Laundry Manager

Demi Chef

F&B Outlet Manager

Assistant General Manager

Sales & Marketing Manager

Receptionist

Floor Supervisor

Commis Chef

Head Waiter

Senior Travel Consultant

Credit Manager

Telephone Operator

Laundry Attendant

Chef de Partie

Bartender

Travel Consultant

Ticketing Manager

Bell Boy

Room Attendant

Commis Pastry

Waiter

Tour Manager

Public Area Cleaner [as if]

Baker

Butcher

The following positions are not included:

Massage Therapist

Bar Girl

Beach Chair Attendant

Jet Ski Rental Agent

So most jobs in the Thai tourism industry are secure.

[Srikcir]

"the move would help prevent foreign labor with sub-par performance from entering the sector."

In that way only Thai labor with sub-par performance will enter the sector.

[arrowsdawdle]

With a serious shortage of skilled labor in Thailand, the Director said many more foreigners might move in to steal jobs from Thai people. He said Tourism officials should urgently seek to increase both the number and quality of Thai workers to international standard to improve the Kingdom’s competitiveness in tourism.

But how?

Imprisoning slaves on fishing boats?

Anyway, how can foreigners steal jobs from Thais when there is a shortage of qualified Thais?

[arrowsdawdle]

As usual, they are about 10 years too late. They don't really care anyway. They know people will just keep coming.

Appropriate choice of words, since sex tourists are the core demographic in tourism targeting.

[thhMan]

Teach Thais...

If thats the only solution... your f.........

Here is a thought... Let foreigners do it.. sure a few hundred Thais must go... but the rewards could be more jobs/cash flow with the increase in tourism.... Too Logical?

The Military took over the Police work... I still see the Police driving around, no helmet, ignoring traffic violations and keeping indoors, while chaos reigns outside...

The unqualified tourism Thais can carry the bags and run errands for the qualified foreigners who take over their jobs...

[bronco10250]

This is great news! However, a bit late... as usual just bla, bla... im looking forward to meet the thieves :-)

[jiipii]

What about motorbiketaxi? Can i start my own bisnes later? Falang free, thais...no thanks.

After new year, Philipinos come here, please. I dont wanna speak whit these rude thais att all enymore.

[AZBill]

My wife has a friend who graduated college in Bangkok with a degree in tourism and she just sits at home doing nothing living off an old aunt. First teach them that laziness is not a virtue!

[HiSoLowSoNoSo]

Lee Kuan Yew viewed Thailand as a capricious and unreliable Asean partner and I can understand that when the Thais think their Asean partners are thief's who are coming here to steal their jobs.

Edited March 26, 2015 by HiSoLowSoNoSo

[Thai at Heart]

If there is a shortage of qualified staff, how can the foreign staff be stealing a job from Thais?

Of course, no one expects a logical arguement from these numpties in this context....

[Rhys]

students in training for the tourist positions...lack the necessary skills in the craft, because they seek only profit...

[falangjim]

I was just wondering this the other day. I do what most foreigners do who live and work in this country: teach. Inevitably, there is a massive gap between what a Thai can do in the school and what a qualified instructor can do. But I started to ask myself. Why? Why is there a huge difference? Why are Thais deemed so incapable? Surely, they can be trained. I was genuinely and sincerely curious in finding out the answer to this question even at the peril of my own livelihood. Why do I receive 4 times higher salary than my Thai colleagues? I asked a few foreign colleagues and got these responses:

The Thais simply can't do it. (But why?! I implored)

It's a combination of ignorance and arrogance.

I'm not really satisfied with these answers, though.

Why do I teach and my Thai counterparts 'babysit and do admin work?"

I'm not into urban myths, but I've heard that at one point in history China had the opportunity to bring Thailand into the fold of their nation, but rejected Thais because they 'couldn't be controlled.' Is there any truth to this?

It will be interesting to see this country try and compete with personnel who speak English and have a work ethic. It might be nice to actually enter the country and not find an airport employee chatting on her phone whilst her friend combs and braids her hair.

As a true educator, I can't see how Thais are any more incapable or capable of learning than the next country. So what is it? Why do they fall on their faces when faced with regional competition?

[Rocketsurgeon]

Reading this youd think that Thailand is completely clueless about how to run a tourism industry - despite it bring up to 10% of its gdp (at one time before the systematic attack on it).

This is just an effort to bring in Filipinos which will work for nothing, sleep in group housing and be fed mackerel and rice out of a plastic bag.

The world is learning quickly and well shi**y American methods to maximize profits.

Edited March 27, 2015 by Rocketsurgeon

[NongKhaiKid]

You can't really "steal jobs from Thai people" when those Thai people are not capable of performing them.

And the remainder don't work because they get ' too tired ' or the job's ' too hard '.

[FireMedic]

I'll just wait to get a Filipina mae baan. Less chance her husband, brother, or boyfriend will come steal all your crap and she won't be hiding in the corner on her phone all day.

[rodknock]

how do you steal a job, when the Thai's are to lazy to try and even apply for a job, let alone the idea of working!

it is just easier to double or triple charge the tourist!

try and teach Thai's how to communicate, learn and speak English!

it is just to easy to sit back and do nothing or get into the begging business!

it is just easier to rip off people!

[LuckyLew]

Just spewing a sound bite

Easy to say "do this and do that"

but no answers in solutions in place

A little late to start planning and plotting now

If they do open up industry to others then Thai people will lose out

as other countries have a better grasp of customer service and customer loyalty

I can see Thailand blocking foreigners working in tourism before AEC comes into effect

[bangon04]

Just spewing a sound bite

Easy to say "do this and do that"

but no answers in solutions in place

A little late to start planning and plotting now

If they do open up industry to others then Thai people will lose out

as other countries have a better grasp of customer service and customer loyalty

I can see Thailand blocking foreigners working in tourism before AEC comes into effect

The most likely Thai response to implementation of the AEC will be "Not ready yet"

Protectionism is the only way to preserve Thai culture "Thainess"

[Rhys]

I was just wondering this the other day. I do what most foreigners do who live and work in this country: teach. Inevitably, there is a massive gap between what a Thai can do in the school and what a qualified instructor can do. But I started to ask myself. Why? Why is there a huge difference? Why are Thais deemed so incapable? Surely, they can be trained. I was genuinely and sincerely curious in finding out the answer to this question even at the peril of my own livelihood. Why do I receive 4 times higher salary than my Thai colleagues? I asked a few foreign colleagues and got these responses:

The Thais simply can't do it. (But why?! I implored)

It's a combination of ignorance and arrogance.

I'm not really satisfied with these answers, though.

Why do I teach and my Thai counterparts 'babysit and do admin work?"

I'm not into urban myths, but I've heard that at one point in history China had the opportunity to bring Thailand into the fold of their nation, but rejected Thais because they 'couldn't be controlled.' Is there any truth to this?

It will be interesting to see this country try and compete with personnel who speak English and have a work ethic. It might be nice to actually enter the country and not find an airport employee chatting on her phone whilst her friend combs and braids her hair.

As a true educator, I can't see how Thais are any more incapable or capable of learning than the next country. So what is it? Why do they fall on their faces when faced with regional competition?

Could it be, the Thai students that have mastered their lessons, show work ethics, a desire to provide excellent customer service.. LEAVE and find jobs and careers abroad.. thus the Brain Drain Syndrome...

[Thai at Heart]

I was just wondering this the other day. I do what most foreigners do who live and work in this country: teach. Inevitably, there is a massive gap between what a Thai can do in the school and what a qualified instructor can do. But I started to ask myself. Why? Why is there a huge difference? Why are Thais deemed so incapable? Surely, they can be trained. I was genuinely and sincerely curious in finding out the answer to this question even at the peril of my own livelihood. Why do I receive 4 times higher salary than my Thai colleagues? I asked a few foreign colleagues and got these responses:

The Thais simply can't do it. (But why?! I implored)

It's a combination of ignorance and arrogance.

I'm not really satisfied with these answers, though.

Why do I teach and my Thai counterparts 'babysit and do admin work?"

I'm not into urban myths, but I've heard that at one point in history China had the opportunity to bring Thailand into the fold of their nation, but rejected Thais because they 'couldn't be controlled.' Is there any truth to this?

It will be interesting to see this country try and compete with personnel who speak English and have a work ethic. It might be nice to actually enter the country and not find an airport employee chatting on her phone whilst her friend combs and braids her hair.

As a true educator, I can't see how Thais are any more incapable or capable of learning than the next country. So what is it? Why do they fall on their faces when faced with regional competition?

Face and corruption... Simple.

Too proud to strive the extra mile, and too easy to cheat your way out of it.

[Thai at Heart]

Just spewing a sound bite

Easy to say "do this and do that"

but no answers in solutions in place

A little late to start planning and plotting now

If they do open up industry to others then Thai people will lose out

as other countries have a better grasp of customer service and customer loyalty

I can see Thailand blocking foreigners working in tourism before AEC comes into effect

The most likely Thai response to implementation of the AEC will be "Not ready yet"

Protectionism is the only way to preserve Thai culture "Thainess"

Surely you mean Thaichinesemonopolisticbusinesspracticeness