Lionel Yeo
The Singapore Tourism Board (STB) yesterday launched a bond-free study grant for early- to mid-career Singaporeans looking to develop skills in the hotel, MICE, travel agent and tourist guide industries.
Successful applicants of the SkillsFuture Study Awards will each receive S$5,000 (US$3,588). Applications for the awards are open from now to March 2017.
The grant can be used to defray course fees and out-of-pocket training expenses for tourism sector courses, which may include Higher National ITE Certificate, diploma and degree programmes offered by local tertiary institutions, relevant Singapore Workforce Skills Qualifications courses, professional certification, and advanced language courses, depending on the industry focus.
“This is another tool in STB’s arsenal of industry assistance that includes funding support for employee upgrading, talent and leadership development for the tourism sector, said Lionel Yeo, chief executive, STB.
Devinder Ohri, president, National Association of Travel Agents Singapore (NATAS), said: “The launch is more than timely as it will help encourage continuous upskilling of travel professionals and addresses certain manpower gaps within our industry.
“Having a dynamic and competent workforce aligned to the needs of our businesses (is) paramount to achieving sectoral excellence in the long run.”
