A half-day seminar was organised for almost 500 front-line employees, supervisors and owner managers working in the tourism sector in Gozo who had attended various programmes from the Tourism and Support Services Training Programme.

These programmes included topics like service culture train-the-trainer, benchmarking improvement of standards and working practices, tourism awareness and customer care training, management and mentoring support for small and independent businesses as well as a study on lifelong learning for the tourism sector.

Addressing the seminar, held at Kempinski Hotel San Lawrenz, Karl Grech, from the Industry HR Development Unit of the Malta Tourism Authority said that one of the aims of these programmes was to enable participants to learn more about product Gozo and pass on such knowledge to tourists. These programmes will also help to improve the service culture of front-line operational staff, as well as increase the motivational and commitment level of these front liners.

Paul Scicluna, Gozo Tourism Association president, praised the participants for their commitment. "Today Gozo has better trained workers. We have heard numerous positive comments on the training programme. However, we appeal to them that their development should not stop here and that they should take any opportunity for their own professional development. Gozo depends on its human resources, so let's develop and strengthen this industry."

Mr Scicluna also said that tourism studies should be given more importance in secondary schools and he suggested that the Personal and Social Development curriculum be more careers- oriented with the aim of increasing awareness about the hospitality industry in Gozo.

Participants were also addressed by Morgan Parnis, head of Learning and Development at Misco. He said: "The success of the Merħba programmes is a very important milestone for learning and development in Gozo. As a private undertaking Misco will continue to support such initiatives and is, in fact, launching a series of world class accredited management programmes from the training centre in Victoria."

At the end of the seminar each participant was awarded a certificate together and a pin with the eight-pointed cross that is to be worn on their uniform as a reminder of the training they attended and the three core values of hospitality, diversity and heritage.

The Merħba programme is one of the activities of the Tourism and Support Services Training Programme, which is co-funded by the European Social Fund. By next month the project would have targeted over 1,700 front-liners.

Further information can be obtained from MTA's Industry HR Development Unit on 2291-5125 or e-mail training@ visitmalta.com.