Training in tourism

‘Advance – Training Tourism Leaders’ is a nationwide training programme run under the auspices of the Malta Tourism Authority.

Normally costing around €12,000 per participant, it is being offered free of charge

It is similar to ones run in the UK for employees and managers working in the tourism.

The programme, for which €3 million has been allocated, is accepting applications for its third and final intake of participants – managers, supervisors and those who wish to enter the tourism field – commencing in January.

The Advance programme is fully funded by the European Social Fund and the Maltese government. Participants in this course gain an internationally recognised qualification equivalent to a university diploma. Normally costing around €12,000 per participant, it is being offered free of charge.

A total of 900 managers and supervisors have been trained in the first and second intakes.

This nationwide training programme, the first of its kind in Malta, is being offered on two platforms – one for senior managers and another for those in supervisory and middle manage­ment positions in the tourism and hospitality sector.

Advance is suitable for those working in senior or supervisory management positions in accommodation, catering, transport, visitor attractions, English language schools, scuba diving, creative industry (crafts, performing arts and others) and any other business involved with tourism. The programme is also open to those who are not currently working in tourism but are interested in being trained to move into the sector.

Both programmes are being taught by 12 world class speakers. Among them is Paul Sloane, a leading expert in creative problem-solving and lateral leadership who has written 17 books of which two million copies have been sold.

Another is Dimitrios Buhalis, a leading strategic management and marketing expert with specialisation in technology and tourism, who is director of the International Centre for Tourism and Hospitality Research at Bournemouth University.

One-to-one mentoring will be offered to participants and training sessions will be held in leading tourism establishments.

Fees for child-minding for the duration of the course will be reimbursed. At the end of the course, the top performing participants will also be able to take part in a hands-on internship programme abroad.

Enrollment is limited and will be allocated on a first-come-first-served basis. For more information, call 2145 6820 or visit www.advance.com.mt.