Training & Development

In this section, you will find information on training and development programmes organised by the Malta Tourism Authority for local tourism service providers.

EU funded Training Projects

 

ESF 7 - Tourism and Support Services Training Programme

European Social Funding (ESF) - Tourism and Support Services Training Programme

The 'Tourism and Support Services Training Programme' was part funded by the EU from the 2004/2006 Structural Funds. The programmes were officially launched on the 9th of May 2006 by the Minister of tourism and culture on the occasion of Europe Day; the activities started in September 2006 and will be competed by August 2007.

The development of this project arises primarily from the need to provide for a holistic approach towards training and human resource development in tourism and tourism-support services. The programme includes five diverse activities namely:

·        Service Culture training programme - Multi-media training aimed at the nurturing of a service culture to compliment the tourism product.

·        Good Practices for Good Business - Workshops aimed at improving standards and working practices

·        Welcome Malta (Merhba) Training Programme - aimed at improving service providers' (transport and support services) ability to communicate with tourists and to provide helpful information about Malta

·        Training Support for SMEs - aimed at providing training assistance and support for small and independent businesses

·         Study for life long learning - aimed at establishing an
infrastructure for Lifelong Learning to address the training needs of the tourism industry

Rather than tackling specific aspects, like customer service in hotels, the programme covered the whole spectrum of sectors where there is contact between the host and the guest. The ‘Merhba’ and Service Culture training programmes were particularly popular with employees of Malta Transport Authority, Air Malta, Gozo Channel, Malta International Airport and private coach, taxi and route bus drivers, as well as supervisors and managers of hotels, restaurants and other tourist service providers.

 

These activities were met with a very positive response from the industry.  In fact the MTA made use of savings from the same project, which in turn enabled the MTA to deliver further Service Culture and MERHBA Training Programmes apart from those originally specified in the contract. The MTA is in process of benefiting from further funds in relation to Training Support for SMEs.

 

MTA's Leonardo Mobility & Exchange Projects   The MTA's HR and Development Unit has, during recent years, successfully submitted proposals under the Leonardo da Vinci programme. These programmes have proved to be well received and beneficial to all participants. The MTA will continue to offer technical support to tourism organisations and / or associations to pursue projects that it will benefit the industry.    'HOTSME Leonardo Pilot Project' is a 30-month (2005-2007) EU funded project which is being promoted by the Malta Hotels and Restaurants Association (MHRA) and with the technical support of the MTA's Industry HR Development Unit. The aim of HOTSME (acronym project title for Hotel SME s) is to provide managers and employees of small and independent hotels with the opportunity in engaging in continuous professional development, through workplace learning. The focus is on the facilitation of new learning approaches aiming to create a lifelong learning culture at the workplace.   The primary aim of the HOTSME project is to develop the competences, especially the soft competencies, of managers and workers of small and medium size hotels in order to improve their quality of services and consequently to consolidate their competitiveness in the tourism labour market. Malta is among a group of six countries participating in the project, the others being Denmark, Germany, Lithuania, Portugal and Spain.   The HOTSME project was nominated as one of the 50 success stories for the Leonardo da Vinci Community programme. (Innovative projects contributing to the Copenhagen Process – Linking policy to practice) visit: http://www.hotsmeleonardo.com/

Other Training and Development Projects

 

Tourism Competence Guidelines   ‘Tourism Competence Guidelines’ were compiled by the Malta Tourism Authority with a view to establishing occupational competence standards in the tourism industry. These guidelines were drawn up following a consultation process with key people from accommodation and catering establishments together with representatives from the Institute of Tourism Studies. A number of working groups were set up to discuss competences relating to food and beverage service, food preparation and cooking, housekeeping as well as front office operations.   The competences are based on the National Vocational Qualifications (NVQs) drawn up by the Hospitality Training Foundation (Htf) in the UK. A number of HR-related research studies, both local and foreign, were also taken into account. For more information on the Tourism Competence Guidelines please contact training@visitmalta.com

 

Tourism Human Resource Handbook   ‘Tourism Human Resource Handbook’ this manual is aimed at supporting any operator within the tourism industry, particularly the small and independent one, to implement or enhance good human resource management practices within his /her establishment. For a free copy of the ‘Tourism Human Resources Handbook’ contact training@visitmalta.com

Archive of Past Projects

 

Continuing PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMMES for the Tourism Industry     Continuous Professional Development Programmes for the Tourism Industry’ - The Malta Tourism Authority, in this initiative with the support of training providers, launched a series of programmes aimed at key people within the tourism sector. These programmes form part of the sector’s continuing professional development (CPD), and are of particular interest to small and independent businesses.   The MTA identified and developed a series of short intensive programmes in the areas of Leadership and Management; Marketing and Sales; People Management; Communication Skills and Customer Care; Language Training; Health and Safety; Technical and Operations Management; Product Knowledge; and other specialised programmes. These programmes were in line with MTA’s objective to raise standards by increasing the industry’s own capability, programmes are organised in a flexible way to encourage participation by management and tourism front-liners, while keeping business disruption to a minimum.

Tourism Induction for Professional Services - TIPS

 

‘Tourism Induction for Professional Services’ - TIPS was an induction training programme aimed at all new recruits within the tourism industry, whether on full or part time basis.   The programme highlights the importance of tourism’s role in the local economy, focusing on ‘Product Malta’ and emphasises the importance of good customer care practices in order to instil a sense of responsibility and job ownership during daily interaction with local or foreign clients.

TIPS has been organised by the MTA in conjunction with the Institute of Tourism Studies and the Employment and Training Corporation.

HRtips_brochure.pdf

 

Industry HR Development Unit - In the News

European Social Funds (ESF) - Tourism and Support Services Training Programme – Local Newspaper Coverage 

 

The Sunday Times - Sunday, August 12, 2007

175 senior employees in tourism attend service culture training http://timesofmalta.com/core/article.php?id=271173&hilite=senior+employees  

 

The Malta Independent - Friday, August 10, 2007

Improving management and employee skills

http://www.independent.com.mt/news.asp?newsitemid=55658   

 

The Malta Independent on Sunday – Sunday, June 3, 2007

137 employees complete ‘Merhba’ and Service Culture training

http://www.independent.com.mt/news.asp?newsitemid=52097

 

The Malta Business Weekly – Thursday, May 31, 2007

Transport operators complete MTA training programme

http://www.maltabusinessweekly.com.mt/news.asp?newsitemid=4157  

 

The Malta Independent – Saturday, May 26, 2007

MTA training programme for transport service provider- Overwhelming demand for training programme

http://www.independent.com.mt/news.asp?newsitemid=51604

 

The Malta Independent – Friday, May 25, 2007

MIA and Air Malta employees complete training programmes

http://www.independent.com.mt/news.asp?newsitemid=51550

 

The Malta Business Weekly – Wednesday, May 16, 2007

Synergies and business fine tuning programme beneficial for tourism SMEs

http://www.maltabusinessweekly.com.mt/news.asp?newsitemid=4063

 

The Times Business – Thursday, May 3, 2007

Taxi drivers taken on a discover Malta tour!

http://business.timesofmalta.com/article.php?id=5059

 

The Malta Independent on Sunday – Sunday, April 8, 2007

Best human resources practices for tourism enterprises

http://www.independent.com.mt/news.asp?newsitemid=49140

 

The Times Business – Thursday, March 8, 2007

Making the time

http://business.timesofmalta.com/article.php?id=4900

 

The Times Business – Thursday, January 25, 2007

MTA training programme draws 'amazing' response from participants
http://business.timesofmalta.com/article.php?id=4774

 

The Malta Independent on Sunday – Sunday, January 21, 2007

Further training programmes for the tourism industry

http://www.independent.com.mt/news.asp?newsitemid=45060

 

The Malta Independent - Thursday, January 18, 2007

MTA training programmes for the tourism industry

http://www.independent.com.mt/news2.asp?artid=44889  

  

The Times of Malta - Thursday, December 28, 2006

MTA seminar for SME’s

http://business.timesofmalta.com/article.php?id=4696

 

The Malta Independent - Tuesday, November 7, 2006

Seminar on MTA training and quality assurance initiatives –

http://www.independent.com.mt/news.asp?newsitemid=41536

  

The Malta Independent - Wednesday, October 18, 2006

MTA launches training programme for SMEs –

http://www.independent.com.mt/news2.asp?artid=40535

  

The Malta Independent - Thursday, October 12, 2006

Irish Foreign Minister visits SME tourism training team –

http://www.independent.com.mt/news.asp?newsitemid=40206

 

The Malta Independent - Thursday, September 28, 2006

Management training programme for small businesses by MTA

http://www.independent.com.mt/news.asp?newsitemid=39453

 

The Times of Malta – Tuesday, September 26, 2006

MTA management training for small businesses

http://business.timesofmalta.com/article.php?id=4423

 

The Malta Business Weekly – Thursday, September 14, 2006

Management training programme for small businesses by MTA

http://www.independent.com.mt/news.asp?newsitemid=39453