| Monday, November 19, 2007
“Revamp hotel management curriculum”
The fast growing tourism economy needs more skilled personnel
trained in all aspects of food production fulfilling international
standards, says this SIHRA Advisor.
- SIHRA has requested the Tamil Nadu Government
to relax the Floor Space Index both for new hotels and the
existing ones on a par with IT industry.
It is time hotel management institutions revamped their curriculum
to standardise hygiene and food production fulfilling international
parameters, according to R. Rangachari, Advisor, South India
Hotels and Restaurants Association (SIHRA).
There is an imperative need for students to equip themselves
to be competitive and vibrant and tune themselves to meet the
requirements of health-conscious foreign tourists. There can
be no compromise on food. Advising students to get trained in
all departments of food production, he insisted that the food
prepared should be in conformity with the norms laid by World
Health Authority, with greater emphasis on good hygiene practices
and health consciousness.
The liberal policy of Government of India; the proactive policies
of the State Governments; open sky policy of the aviation sector;
and budget airlines have created confidence among international
hotel chains to invest and establish their presence in India.
India has emerged as the third fastest growing tourism economy
in the world registering a 13 per cent growth rate in 2006.
The four million foreign tourist arrivals accounted for a foreign
exchange of over Rs. 30,000 crore, Mr. Rangachari said estimating
a requirement of 1,25,000 rooms by 2010 and in the State of
Tamil Nadu 10,000 rooms both in metros and secondary cities.
It is against the backdrop of this huge requirement that the
SIHRA has requested the Tamil Nadu Government to relax the Floor
Space Index both for new hotels and existing ones on a par with
IT industry.
On the ample job opportunities for skilled and unskilled persons
in the tourism industry, Mr. Rangachary quoted a recent survey
according to which the total manpower employed in travel, hotel
and restaurant industry is over 2.6 million. Of this, two-third
is employed in hospitality industry. Though there are more than
175 recognised catering institutes throughout the country providing
manpower to the hospitality industry, it is still insufficient
to cater to the demand of the projected growth of hotel industry.
The major challenge is shortage of skilled personnel, he says,
adding that catering colleges should also address the challenge
posed by “poaching” of trained students by the BPO
companies. Urging hotel management institutions to advocate
a long-term perspective among students, he observes that there
can be no alternative to the working environment in hotels.
Courtesy: The Hindu - Education Plus
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