The
Emiratatisation Task Force for Tourism (ETFT) has praised this trend,
according to the Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing
(DTCM).
The
job-linked Maharat Hospitality training scheme came up for a review at
a meeting of the Emiratisation Task Force for Tourism, which functions
under the aegis of the DTCM.
The meeting was held in Dubai recently.
The meeting was chaired by Ibrahim Yaqoot, DTCM executive director of Human Resources and Training Solutions and ETFT chairman.
The ETFT meeting debated on the 2008 plans for the ETFT and the ways and means to take the programme to newer heights.
Ibrahim
said the response to the scheme from both UAE national job-seekers and
the participating hotels had been overwhelming, enabling the
programme’s successful expansion in the coming years.
He
said the programme had not only helped in attracting young nationals
for the select jobs but also helped clear misconceptions about the
hotel industry jobs.
The Maharat Hospitality training programme graduates underwent nine-week training in different aspects of hospitality industry.
The hotels that participate and employ the Emiratis are five-star properties managed mostly by global hotel chains.
The
programme has the strong support of Emirates Nationals Development
Programme (ENDP), National Human Resources Development and Employment
Authority (Tanmia) and Emirates Academy of Hospitality Management
(EAHM).
From just 15 UAE nationals in 2002, the number of UAE nationals working in the hotel industry has crossed the 700 mark.
The ETFT, created in the year 2002, will help UAE nationals obtain employment opportunities.
The
ETFT intends to run up to five Hospitality Industry Maharat programmes
per year to significantly boost the employment of UAE nationals in
hotels.
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