Tourism education and training in the Caribbean: preparing for the 21st century

Abstract

This paper reviews the current state of tourism and hospitality education and training in the Caribbean. Tourism education and training are examined at the public school, post-secondary and tertiary levels. The importance of human resource development to the economic viability of Caribbean tourism and the Caribbean as a whole is highlighted, as is the need to adopt a strategic approach to tourism education and training on the part of both educators and policy makers. It is also suggested that the Caribbean must prepare for tourism in the 21st century through proper selection of people for the industry and through quality educational and training opportunities.

Tourism and Hospitality SME Training Needs and Provision: A Sub-Regional Analysis

“…The requirement for tourism destinations to deliver high-quality service and products, coupled with the labour intensive nature of the industry, results in a need for the tourism sector to recruit and retain well-educated and welltrained professionals ( Charles, 1997 ;Beeton and Graetz, 2001 ). Indeed, as Government ' s have increasingly come to recognise the economic signifi cance of tourism and hospitality there has emerged a growing emphasis on the need for workforce development and the provision of business support services ( Thomas et al ., 2000 ).…”

Curriculum, Development and Conflict

“…However at the micro (institutional) level, constraints are an important consideration for curriculum design (Rowntree, 1982). There has been much discussion of the tourism curriculum specifically in developing countries (Charles, 1997;Cooper, 1997;Echtner, 1995;Ogorelc, 1999;King, 1996;Singh, 1997;Zhao, 1991) but there are few instances where the practicalities of curriculum development have been addressed. This paper offers elaboration on how aims and objectives for a tourism curriculum were derived in a practical setting.…”