Sector Skill Council on Hospitality and Tourism in Jordan launches

New program aims to upskill workers, promote private-public cooperation

Officials and private sector figures are seen at a ceremony to launch the Sector Skills Council for Hospitality and Tourism in Amman on Tuesday. (Photo: Razan Abdel-Hadi/Jordan News)
Officials and private sector figures are seen at a ceremony to launch the Sector Skills Council for Hospitality and Tourism in Amman on Tuesday. (Photo: Razan Abdel-Hadi/Jordan News)
AMMAN — The Sector Skills Council for Hospitality and Tourism in Jordan has launched its operations.

The council aims to develop the tourism sector, and is a result of a partnership between the Vocational and Technical Skills Development Authority and the private sector. The council hopes to bridge the gap between the requirements of the labor market and the outputs of vocational and technical education and training.اضافة اعلان

The launch ceremony was held Tuesday under the patronage of Minister of Labor Youssef Al-Shamali and Minister of Tourism and Antiquities Nayef Al-Fayez at the Sheraton Hotel

Chairman of the National Council for the Skills of the Tourism and Hospitality Sector Muhammad Al-Qasim said that the aim of the council is to improve the sector by raising the skill level of workers and creating training programs that are compatible with the requirements of the labor market in the private sector within professional standards, and high skills, that meet the needs of the private sector. The goal is that these efforts, he said, is to reduce unemployment, and simultaneously raise the quality of national tourism and enhance its competitiveness among other countries.

Shamali indicated in his remarks at the ceremony that the tourism and hospitality sector in Jordan is one of the most important economic sectors that the private sector has invested in. He said that the presence of skilled and qualified labor in this important national sector will ensure the continuity of development and progress and reduce unemployment rates, stressing at the same time that 90 percent of graduates from vocational training institutes work in the tourism sector.

For his part, Minister Al-Fayez said that the human element is core of the tourism sector, and that the government seeks to develop the youth's skill by opening advanced educational training centers. He emphasized that the tourism sector is one of the most important sectors that will contribute to solving the problem of unemployment in the future.

Al-Fayez added in remarks to Jordan News that "there is a real and strong partnership between the public and private sector. When we talk about strengthening the partnership we really mean it. We work hard on translating these thoughts to actions, and this council is a significant example for the partnership."

The minister indicated that the ministry is looking forward to 2025 when the number of job opportunities in the tourism sector will hopefully reach 75,000, in line with the National Tourism Strategy, which will be issued in the near future.

"We aim in the association to find job opportunities for those who search for them in the tourism sector, and we think that this council shall help us in reaching our goals,” said Eliana Ja'nineh, General Director for the Touristic Restaurants Association, in an interview with Jordan News.

"Not only will those who look for job opportunities benefit from our projects, but also the employers themselves,” Ja’nineh added. “Our website ahlan.jobs is created for and specialized in posting job opportunities in the tourism sector only, serving as a bridge that connects employees and employers."

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