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Tourism Skills Development in the Greater Mekong Subregion REVISED AMOUNT

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Tourism Skills Development in the Greater Mekong Subregion REVISED AMOUNT TA COMPLETION REPORT Division: AWWU TA NOINAME: TA AMOUNT APPROVED: $ 125,000 SOURCE: JSF RETA 5807: Tourism Skills Development in the Greater Mekong Subregion REVISED AMOUNT: EXECUTING AGENCY: TA AMOUNT TA AMOU Agency for Coordinating Mekong Tourism Activities UNDISBURSED: UTILIZED: $4,099 $ 120,901 DATE: APPROVAL: SIGNING: FIELD: 6 October 1999 29 Sep 98 Not Required 26 Nov 98-22 Apr99 ORIGINAL: 22 99 ACTUAL: 30 Apr 99 TA DESCRIPTION 1. The Bank, in cooperation with the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, and the World Tourism Organization, has been assisting the GMS Region in the development of its tourism potential. One such form of assistance is skills development through training of trainers in the basic skills of tourism. This was addressed by RETA 5647: Regional Program to Train Trainers in Tourism in the Greater Mekong Region, approved on 23 October 1995 for $130,000. The RETA was implemented in collaboration with the Government of Singapore under the Singapore-ADB Cooperation Programme (SACOP) and the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), and was successfully completed in 1996. In 1997, the Bank was again requested to prepare a second RETA to assist with both basic and advanced skills development of staff of the six national tourism organizations (NTOs). The RETA was prepared in response to this request. In order to develop sustainability, the RETA focused on strengthening training units within NTOs. TA OBJECTIVE AND SCOPE 2. The TA was designed to encompass three main activities: Part A - basic skills training which covered areas such as training needs analysis, instructional methods, planning and preparation; Part B - advanced skills training program and included subjects such as tourism in a market economy, definition of the roles of the Government and the private sector in tourism, developing tourism product and service standards, regulation and licensing, and tourism planning; and Part C - assistance to NTOs in strengthening existing training units through the provision of intensive train-the trainer type courses, and the design of appropriate curricula, and in establishing new units in NTOs (as in Lao PDR and Cambodia) through training core staff and the development of a training plan. The TA was cofinanced by TAT in an amount of $10,000. TA INPUTS EVALUATION 3. The training course under Part A called "Training the Trainers in the Basic Skills of Tourism" was held from 9 to 28 November 1998 at the Dusit Thani College in Bangkok. The main purpose of the training course was to strengthen the teaching skills of the subregion's trainers in the basic discipline of the tourism industry. The training course was efficiently organized by TAT in consultation with the Bank. A total of 15 participants attended the training course. All the six NTOs in the GMS Region were represented at the training course. There were 3 participants from Cambodia, 3 from Lao PDR, 3 from Myanmar, 4 from Thailand, 3 from Vietnam, and 1 from Yunnan Province, PRC. An outline of the training course was prepared and provided to all the participants. 4. The training course under Part B called "Tourism Management Course" was held at the Mekong Institute, Khon Kaen University in Thailand from 22 March to 9 April 1999. The Mekong Institute provided good training facilities as well as accommodation for the participants. Eighteen participants, 3 each from the six NTOs attended the training course. The participants came from a range of organizations including the Ministries of Tourism, NTOs, universities and technical training institutes. The training course had five modules which included tourism planning and management; marketing and the tourism sector; managing for tomorrow; tourism and environmental conservation; and information technology and the tourism sector. Experienced presenters from New Zealand, Malaysia and Thailand were responsible for teaching the modules. The lectures were supplemented with field trips, group discussions, self-study, and oral presentations. A participatory, interactive teaching style was used to ensure that the participants were actively involved and not just passive listeners. 2 5. Implementation of Part C of the TA was undertaken by an international individual consultant who was engaged from 18 February to 24 April 1999. The work of the consultant was coordinated through the Agency for Coordinating Mekong Tourism Activities of the Working Group. The consultant's terms of reference included visits to six countries, i.e., Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam, and Yunnan Province, China. In all the NTOs visited, the consultant made an assessment of the structure and organization of the training units; evaluated the skills levels of staff in the training units; assisted the NTO training units to plan training courses, including curriculum development; assisted and enabled these training units to prepare a medium-term training program for skills development in the areas of tourism planning, destination and product development; and assisted the NTOs in establishing training units by preparing a basic training operational plan. Overall, the requirements in the consultant's terms of reference have been fully addressed. TA OUTPUTS EVALUATION 6. In both training courses undertaken (Parts A and B), adequate course manuals and other tourism-related handouts were prepared and discussed during the training. The course materials were clear and easy to understand and the course objectives were clearly defined to the participants. The examples and illustrations given in each training course were up-to-date and relevant to the job of generally all the participants. A wide range of training methods, i.e.; lectures, group discussions, simulation exercises, and case studies were utilized. The learning process was facilitated by the use of relevant visual aids and other reference materials relevant to the courses. The broad knowledge and experience in the field of tourism of the trainers supplemented the training techniques adopted. 7. The Mekong Institute successfully organized and conducted the training course under Part B of the TA. The presenters of the course were all very impressed with the facilities at the Mekong Institute and the capabilities of the staff. An evaluation of the two training courses was prepared and submitted to the Bank by the training organizers. There was a high level of satisfaction with the organization of the course, the course arrangements and services provided by the Mekong Institute, and a majority of the participants were satisfied with the course in terms of meeting their objectives. 8. The output of the individual consultant was very much in accordance with his terms of reference. In general, an assessment of the training needs of each NTO was prepared and the outcome of the assessment and evaluations, including the consultant's recommendations were presented to each NTO. The type of assistance and support provided to each NTO vary depending on the requirements of each. In the case of Thailand and Kunming, Yunnan Province, China, training programs for officers of their NTOs were developed with emphasis on research and practical study on the tourism industry. For Cambodia and Vietnam, assistance was provided in the development of training courses, including training curriculum development; and tourism planning, destination and product development in the case of Laos. As far as Myanmar is concerned the staffing levels of the training centers are adequate to deliver the basic skill programs and further advice was given on the development of new programs and curriculum for tourism planning and marketing. The outputs are expected to contribute to the expansion of training activities in the NTOs in a planned manner. OVERALL ASSESSMENT AND RATING 9. The TA may be termed as generally successful. There was a positive feedback from the participants of the two training courses conducted, and a majority of the participants felt that the topics discussed were very relevant to their work. The skills developed will be applied to their current assignments. Although Part C of the TA was devoted exclusively to building capacity of the NTOs, the benefits derived by the participants under Parts A and B will also contribute materially to the strengthening of institutional capacities of the individual NTOs. LESSONS LEARNED 10. The main lesson learned was that the common training needs of NTOs in the subregion are best met by a regional approach which allows the participants to learn the latest techniques in a subregional context and setting. RECOMMENDATION AND FOLLOW-UP ACTION 11. A further assessment on the training courses should be required of the participants by requesting them to provide information on how their acquired skills have been utilized to improve their skills training capabilities. Prepared by: Arjun Thapan Designation: Senior Project Specialist.
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