29 Aug 2011
Ministry of Tourism and Sports says it will ask the government to sign off on the ASEAN Mutual Recognition Arrangement on Tourism Professionals in September, according to the Ministry’s deputy permanent secretary Thanitta Savetsila Maneechote.
Ministry of Tourism and Sports says it will ask the government to sign off on the ASEAN Mutual Recognition Arrangement on Tourism Professionals in September, according to the Ministry’s deputy permanent secretary Thanitta Savetsila Maneechote.
“ Thailand is the only remaining member that has not signed the MRA on tourism. The government therefore has to make a decision before the upcoming ASEAN meeting in Indonesia next January,” Ms Thanitta said.
Nine ASEAN member countries signed the MRA on tourism in January 2009 at Hanoi in Vietnam.
MRA is a proposed arrangement among ASEAN member countries designed to facilitate the free movement and employment of qualified and certified personnel between ASEAN member countries.
It is a part of the ASEAN Common Competency Standards for Tourism Professionals (ACCSTP) which was created by University of Queensland in Australia.
Signing it also a part of the lead-up to establishing the ASEAN Economic Community 2015.
Under the MRA on tourism, scheduled to be completed next year, there are 32 positions in six labour divisions available for workers from all member countries almost with the freedom attained in the EU.
But the work permit conditions will remain valid in each country as a concession to national interests.
The six labour divisions cover: four in hotel services including front office, housekeeping, food production and food and beverage services; two in travel services comprising of travel agencies and tour operators.
Source - ttrweekly