Better late than never

BANGKOK, 16 November 2012: Thailand’s Ministry of Tourism and Sports has finally signed off on the ASEAN Mutual Recognition Arrangement  for Tourism Professionals.

It was the last of the 10 ASEAN nations to ratify the agreement, which will make it easier to facilitate the free movement and employment of qualified and certified personnel between ASEAN member countries.

It is a part of ASEAN Common Competency Standards for Tourism Professionals (ACCSTP) which was originally written up by University of Queensland in Australia.

Signing it also a part of the lead-up to establishing ASEAN Economic Community 2015.

Nine ASEAN member countries signed  the MRA on tourism in January 2009 at Hanoi in Vietnam, but Thailand postponed until 9 November 2012.

Under the MRA on tourism, there are 32 positions in six labour divisions available to workers from all member countries almost with the freedom attained in the EU.

In Thailand the work permit conditions will remain valid as a concession to national interests. Similar concessions were made in the other countries that have in the past required workers to gain a permit.

On paper, Thailand’s work permit rules are very strict even to the point of requiring charity and volunteer workers to apply for a work permit. There are no exceptions to the rule, but in some instances the Labour Department has chosen to turn a blind eye to infractions including the glaring one that allows the Tourist Police to recruit foreign volunteers to patrol tourist districts.

The six labour divisions that will open up to ASEAN nationals are divided into categories: 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.

Tourism Minister, Chumpol Silpa-archa, said the MRA will facilitate the mobility of tourism professionals within ASEAN based on their tourism competency qualification/certificate, and at the same time, improve the quality of services delivered by tourism professionals.

“The move should help Thailand maintain its leadership in the hospitality industry while promoting regional service standardisation,” he said.

The minister added that the MRA would help standardise the tourism industry across the region and also allow tour and hotels operators to employ skilled workers from a much wider labour pool.

“However, professions will not be fully open because each nation has domestic laws to protect its businesses.”

ASEAN general secretary, Surin Pitsuwan, said tourism would be a key driver of economic prosperity in the region  which will be  promoted as a single destination.

“Tourism in ASEAN  is very important for the bloc’s economy. Currently, about 10 million people work in the industry, with nearly another 25 million indirectly involved. Many of these are in Thailand,” the ASEAN general secretary said.

Tourism accounts for 5% of the bloc’s gross domestic product, and Thailand has a big market share around 20% .In 1991, only 20 million travellers came from outside the region , but now they number 82 million a year, he said.

Sourced: ttrweekly