Hoteliers seek better quality employees who treat hospitality as career

The Malta Hotels and Restaurants Association have presented a report to the Prime Minister in a bid to encourage a greater job supply to keep up with positive tourist arrivals.

“We need to make efforts to show people that tourism and hospitality can be a career not just a summer or in-between job,” Tony Zahra said, adding that the quality of the product is also essential to remember.

Muscat said that while skills shortage was a matter to be addressed, it was also a good sign that the industry was growing at such a rate that necessitated more jobs.

“The void, however, is being filled by employees who might not be providing the necessary service,” he said adding that the government's task was to promote the sector as a viable career path. “Given the consistency of the sector, we can safely say people can build long-term plans and lifestyles on it,” he said.

Muscat said a €50 million investment in the Institute for Tourism Studies would create a world-class institution that adds prestige to the sector.

He also said emphasizing employees’ rights and increase trade union participation was a priority for the sector. “More organisation means more job security and that means better results,” he added.

Zahra cautioned on the rise of unlicensed competitors. “Competition is healthy, but unlicensed entities present unfair competition and even underpaid jobs,” he said.

Tourism minister Edward Zammit Lewis said 2016 would see a leap in quality, and that better opportunities would give people the opportunity to consider long-term careers in the industry. “We need to fight the mentality that tourism is a fallback career that anyone can do, and bring in more pride in hospitality careers.”