L to R: Mr Joseph Tanti, MTA; Mr Peter Portelli, Permanent Secretary Ministry for Tourism and Culture; and Ira Losco
Launch of Tourism Career Awareness DVD
Tourism Awareness and Career Promotion
On Wednesday 13th February, heads of schools, teachers and guidance teachers, and members from the Malta Tourism Authority and the Permanent Secretaries of the Ministry for Tourism and Culture and Ministry of Education Mr Peter Portelli and Mr Frans Borg respectively, met at Sacred Heart School for the official launch of a Tourism Career Awareness DVD. This educational music DVD features Ira Losco who follows a tourist during his seven-day stay in Malta, identifying the various careers in the tourism industry. The aim is to highlight the myriad of careers available in the tourism industry, both directly and indirectly. This DVD will facilitate the role of teachers in relation to the dissemination of tourism employment related information amongst their students.
L to R: Mr Joseph Tanti, MTA; Mr Aaron Rizzo, ITS; Prof. Edward Zammit, University of Malta; and Mr Felix Borg, ETC© Jurgen Scicluna
Ira Losco said that participating in this video was important to her as she feels that education is important, and one needs to be well prepared for one’s future by choosing a suitable career. The DVD is instrumental in highlighting the extensive careers available in the Tourism Industry. Through education and awareness, Malta’s Tourism Industry can be taken to a higher level of quality and today’s students can be a part of this future.
The Tourism Career Awareness DVD is one of a number of new tools, which have been developed as part of the CHOICE programme, together with a new brochure, which will provide the students with very useful information such as applying for jobs, writing an accurate C.V. and opportunities for furthering their education in tourism.
“Tourism is one of the main pillars of the Maltese economy, which is why the MTA is stepping up its efforts together with ITS, ETC, University and tourism stakeholders to increase teachers, parents and schoolchildren’s understanding of the importance of tourism and the career opportunities that the industry has to offer”, said Joseph Tanti, Head of Human Resources Development, MTA.
The CHOICE programme — which strives to heighten tourism awareness and promote careers in the tourism industry, has been running for a number of years with over 10,000 students in the third, fourth and fifth form having participated in the programme to-date. The CHOICE Programme, which ran in the last scholastic year, attracted the participation of 27 private, public and Church secondary schools. The Programme targets third, fourth and fifth form students in a drive to raise their awareness of the tourism industry and tourism-related career opportunities. The programme is complemented by the MTA Tourism Career Guide Vol. 1 ‘Your Future … in Hospitality & Catering’ and MTA Tourism Career Guide Vol. 2 ‘Your Future … in Travel & Tourism’ and a visit to a hotel, restaurant, travel agency, English language school or a tourism establishment.
Students from each of the schools in Malta and Gozo participating in the programme are also encouraged to take part in a competition by submitting a tourism-related project associated to one of the core values: Heritage, Hospitality and Diversity.
Throughout recent years, the MTA has embarked on various projects and activities aimed to provide general tourism awareness and information about careers and job opportunities in hospitality, travel and tourism. For further information contact Ms Jolene Caruana, Industry HR Development Unit, Malta Tourism Authority on 22915122 or choice@visitmalta.com
This issue is available at: 0802.