A SHORTAGE of skilled workers will hinder the growth of Indonesia’s emerging tourism industry as the country sees rapid development of infrastructure and facilities.
Speaking at the recent Singapore Tourism Board’s (STB) TravelRave 2012 Media Roundtable in Jakarta, Panorama Group CEO, Budi Tirtawisata, said: “Indonesia’s asset is its 250 million population, 40 per cent of which are in their productive age.”
He added: “It is very difficult to find skilled manpower in the rapidly developing tourism sector in Indonesia, and it will become even harder if we do not do something now.”
“We need to develop formal education, but more importantly, we need to create awareness of the tourism industry. The media and television stations in Indonesia have run tourism and culinary tour programmes, which have helped to encourage people to pursue a career in the hospitality sector,” said Budi.
To that end, Panorama is collaborating with tourism schools to offer vocational and diploma programmes.
For Tauzia Hotel Management, a greater challenge lies in retaining workers as it loses some 20-30 per cent of its staff to competitors who chose to “buy human resource” instead of investing in their development, according to president director, Marc Steinmeyer.
He said: “I believe that companies that (poach) skilled staff will soon lose them to others (who offer higher salaries), therefore we choose to spend more time, money and energy to develop our people.
“Indonesians are humble and loyal, with a natural sense of hospitality. I’m sure if we develop 10 employees, at least five will remain loyal to us.”
STB executive director, conventions & meetings and exhibitions & conferences, Jeannie Lim, pointed that manpower shortage is not unique to Indonesia. This issue will be addressed in the upcoming TravelRave 2012 Asia Travel Leaders Summit in Singapore in October, she added.
