Emerging travel and tourism industry fuels demand for professionals

COTHM has awarded degrees to over 25,000 professionals in tourism and hotel management

KARACHI: The world today is more connected than ever and people just as curious about it, if not more. This is the main reason why the tourism industry has flourished. While there has been a rising interest from the international community to explore Pakistan, the country unfortunately lacks professionals trained in fields like hospitality management, tourism and culinary arts. However, the youth has begun taking an interest in this area.

Pakistan Travel Mart organised an exhibition at Expo Centre to promote travel, tourism and hospitality from October 2 to October 4. Speaking to The Express Tribune on the occasion, College of Tourism and Hotel Management (COTHM) Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Ahmed Shafiq said that a large number of youngsters in Pakistan were moving towards professional services in the tourism industry. He added that COTHM, through its 13 campuses within the country and one campus in Dubai, was not only providing hospitality education and training youngsters in travel, tourism and airline management, but also in 50 other areas such as culinary arts.

Shafiq said that of those getting training and education at COTHM, 70% were women. He added that in the past 16 years, a total of 25,000 students had been awarded degrees by the college and were serving in England and Malaysia, among other countries. He said that 10,000 students were currently enrolled in different programmes at COTHM.

Shafique shared that the profession was more youth-oriented and added that considering the youth comprised 60% of the country's population, he believed that it would provide them with opportunities.

COTHM Executive Director Sabir Ahmed said that proper degrees had been introduced in the fields of tourism, travelling, airline and hotel management as well as short courses and diploma that were globally recognised. He added that the sector was growing and evolving with changing consumer preferences. He expressed hope that the new professionals would be able to cater to these needs.

He said that the influx of foreigners in the country, especially the Chinese had opened up new opportunities. He said that restaurants in Malaysia, Dubai, Canada, Azerbaijan and Europe offered Pakistani dishes and he hoped that professionals from Pakistan would be successful in introducing the country's taste around the world.

Ahmed said that youngsters who have passed matric and intermediate could benefit from this professional education and training.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 5^th, 2018.