Tourism and the social sciences

Jafari, Jafar

doi:10.1016/0160-7383(79)90145-2

“…The first key stakeholder regarding labour shortage issues in tourism is the government (Lewis, 2006). Jafari (1979) noted that government plays a great role in steering human resource management in tourism and has the authority to control other stakeholders that hold the same interests. The policies formulated by the government will provide direction and address the needs of various stakeholders in tourism (Aksu & Köksal, 2005;Swarbrooke, 1999).…”

Section: The Governmentmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Besides, with the lack of initiatives from the industry who are also at the building stage and more concerned about making profit, active participation by the government is vital to initiate a direction for human resource management in tourism in a developing country (Jafari, 1979). Hence, investigation of the relevant government agencies is crucial in understanding the emphasis given to the shortages of skilled labour in tourism and the extent to which policies developed respond to it.…”

Section: The Governmentmentioning

confidence: 99%

Tourism as a Career in Malaysia: Stakeholders' Perceptions

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<p>This thesis examines the perceptions of tourism as a graduate career from the view of key stakeholders of tourism - the government, industry, educators and students. It aims to understand what key tourism stakeholders in Malaysia do in promoting tourism as a graduate career, and how students perceive tourism as a career option. The literature suggests that the issue of perceptions of tourism as a career be investigated from the perspective of key stakeholders. Hence, a stakeholder-inclusive approach in tourism human resource development is suggested as a measure to address the skilled labour shortage in tourism and the needs of various stakeholders. An analytical framework has been developed in this thesis to illustrate the relationships and gaps amongst stakeholders and how they view tourism as a graduate career in Malaysia. A total of 11 semi-structured interviews were conducted with senior officials from relevant Ministries, industry bodies, a major employer, and directors of tourism management programs at two public universities and two polytechnics in Malaysia. In addition to that, a questionnaire survey was conducted with 193 final year students of tourism management programs at the same tertiary institutions. The qualitative data was coded into prominent themes while the quantitative data was analyzed using SPSS. This thesis found that the shortage of skilled labour is one of the issues faced by the stakeholders, due to the industry offering low level positions. The government believes that current policies in promoting tourism careers to students were adequate but the industry and educators feel that government does not provide adequate information about career paths in tourism for students. This thesis also discovered that students have generally positive perceptions of tourism as a career. Variables like level of education, willingness to choose a tourism program and overseas travel experience are significant, while the size of the employer, work experience in tourism, and the roles of family and friends working in tourism do not have an influence on students' career-related decisions. All stakeholders play a role in promoting tourism as a career to students but some measures have also been suggested to promote it more effectively.</p>

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“…The first key stakeholder regarding labour shortage issues in tourism is the government (Lewis, 2006). Jafari (1979) noted that government plays a great role in steering human resource management in tourism and has the authority to control other stakeholders that hold the same interests. The policies formulated by the government will provide direction and address the needs of various stakeholders in tourism (Aksu & Köksal, 2005;Swarbrooke, 1999).…”

Section: The Governmentmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Besides, with the lack of initiatives from the industry who are also at the building stage and more concerned about making profit, active participation by the government is vital to initiate a direction for human resource management in tourism in a developing country (Jafari, 1979). Hence, investigation of the relevant government agencies is crucial in understanding the emphasis given to the shortages of skilled labour in tourism and the extent to which policies developed respond to it.…”

Section: The Governmentmentioning

confidence: 99%

Tourism as a Career in Malaysia: Stakeholders' Perceptions

Nor¹

0

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

<p>This thesis examines the perceptions of tourism as a graduate career from the view of key stakeholders of tourism - the government, industry, educators and students. It aims to understand what key tourism stakeholders in Malaysia do in promoting tourism as a graduate career, and how students perceive tourism as a career option. The literature suggests that the issue of perceptions of tourism as a career be investigated from the perspective of key stakeholders. Hence, a stakeholder-inclusive approach in tourism human resource development is suggested as a measure to address the skilled labour shortage in tourism and the needs of various stakeholders. An analytical framework has been developed in this thesis to illustrate the relationships and gaps amongst stakeholders and how they view tourism as a graduate career in Malaysia. A total of 11 semi-structured interviews were conducted with senior officials from relevant Ministries, industry bodies, a major employer, and directors of tourism management programs at two public universities and two polytechnics in Malaysia. In addition to that, a questionnaire survey was conducted with 193 final year students of tourism management programs at the same tertiary institutions. The qualitative data was coded into prominent themes while the quantitative data was analyzed using SPSS. This thesis found that the shortage of skilled labour is one of the issues faced by the stakeholders, due to the industry offering low level positions. The government believes that current policies in promoting tourism careers to students were adequate but the industry and educators feel that government does not provide adequate information about career paths in tourism for students. This thesis also discovered that students have generally positive perceptions of tourism as a career. Variables like level of education, willingness to choose a tourism program and overseas travel experience are significant, while the size of the employer, work experience in tourism, and the roles of family and friends working in tourism do not have an influence on students' career-related decisions. All stakeholders play a role in promoting tourism as a career to students but some measures have also been suggested to promote it more effectively.</p>

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