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SINGAPORE: The Tourism Management Institute of Singapore (TMIS) has seen demand for its training courses spike 50 per cent in the first quarter of this year as more companies take advantage of generous government training incentives during this economic downturn.
H P Loi, CEO of TMIS, said: "We have a lot of corporate companies – travel agents, hotels and even airlines – send their people to us for training. When you have people coming in groups, the numbers went up a lot."
This hike in interest is coupled with the fact that Singapore's integrated resorts are scheduled to open soon.
The 22-year-old institute, which is the training arm of NATAS, is one of the larger centres offering mostly skills-based training, ranging from short courses to longer diploma stints.
TMIS has some 500 foreign students and 3,000 local students each year, and it said the number of locals is growing sharply.
"There are two categories of local students. One category is from the industry doing upgrading and the other is made up of people interested in joining the tourism industry. These could be mid-career people who want to switch or young people who are interested to get in," said Mr Loi.
However, the increase in numbers has led to a problem – a shortage of good trainers. The problem is compounded when some are poached by other schools.
"Right now, it's okay. But in a few months, it may be different. Trainers must have relevant experience – you can be a PhD holder but not necessarily a good lecturer," Mr Loi added.
The training institute moved to the Singapore Shopping Centre some one and a half years ago, but it is already running out of space. By the time the lease ends in 2011, it may have to look for bigger premises, such as an old school.
- CNA/so
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