Sentosa Tourism Academy to train students for work in
IRs
SINGAPORE : Around 35,000 jobs will be created when Singapore's two
integrated resorts are completed.
But there may be a shortage of talent in the senior and middle
management levels, according to the Singapore Human Resource
Institute.
Trained specialists such as croupiers and card dealers are scarce
in Singapore, so foreign talent will be roped in to fill the
gaps.
"There will certainly be some transfer of knowledge and expertise
from foreigners to Singaporeans, so we'll see some foreign talent
in key positions initially. But as time passes, we'll build up our
core group of people that will be able to sustain and grow along
with the IR and casino," said David Ang from the Singapore Human
Resource Institute.
There will be no shortage of middle management talent as well, as
the Tourism Academy at Sentosa begins training second year students
of the Hospitality and Tourism Diploma course from Temasek
Polytechnic.
They will learn skills of the trade that go beyond just gaming,
covering aspects of convention, exhibition, lodging business, food
and beverage, and health and spa activities.
And the classroom? Sentosa, home of the family-friendly integrated
resort.
With a training kitchen and restaurant, students at the tourism
academy will get to work with the island's visitors, including
those there for the integrated resort.
The Academy also hopes to attract more regional students now that
an integrated resort will be built on Sentosa.
Philip Lim, the Tourism Academy's Deputy Director said: "This is
something new to us, so we have to speak to the resort operators to
find out exactly what their needs are for the future."
With recruitment taking place in about a year, hospitality and
tourism students are naturally excited at the prospects and
challenges available.
One student: "I think the casino gaming industry would be slightly
more difficult because our syllabus does not cover the gaming
sector. So there will be more uncertainty and more challenge as
well.
"Currently, what we're studying or will be studying has got to do
with every sector that will be available in the integrated resort,"
said another.
The Tourism Academy at Sentosa opens next month.