The Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) Human Capital Development Committee organised a PATA Youth Symposium on the morning of Friday, September 4, at CHRIST (Deemed to be University), Bangalore, India.
Under the theme “Human Resources Challenges and Opportunities for Tourism’s Next Generation”, the Symposium commenced which aimed to attract hundreds of young professionals and students from overseas and around India.

The speakers for the symposium were:  
Dr Chris Bottrill, Chairman of the PATA HCD Committee;
Y. Bhg. Dato’ Haji AzizanNoordin, Deputy Director General (International Promotions), Tourism Malaysia;
Mr Philip Schaetz, Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing, Dorsett Hospitality International, Hong Kong SAR and
Mr Bert van Walbeek, Vice President Area Business Development Asia Pacific, Safehotels Alliance AB, Thailand.

The symposium included plenary talks on various topics including:

• Human Resources Challenges and Opportunities for Tourism’s Next Generation
• Social Media Management vs Traditional in Tourism and Hospitality
• Preparation and Opportunity within Tourism and Hospitality
• Special Destination Focus: Malaysia

The participants shared their views in roundtable discussions on the following topics:

• What do you believe makes a great tourism employee?
• How will your job in tourism change in the next ten years?
• In what ways could we enhance respect for a career in tourism?

There were a total of 6 round tables set up, each round table had a set of students seated around it with one PATA representative on each table to moderate the discussion. Time was allotted for the students to have a discussion within their respective tables, after which one student from each table would stand up and list the various points discussed within their table. The students with commendable points were awarded with prizes in the form of power banks and eco-friendly bags.

The programme began with an introductory talk by Dr Chris Botrill, the chairman of PATA Human Development committee. Dr Botrill mediated the round table discussions on the above 3 topics. His talk highlighted theHuman Resources Challenges and Opportunities for Tourism’s Next Generation.
The opening plenary talk was given by Bhg. DatoHaji AzizanNoordin, Deputy Director General (International Promotions), Tourism Malaysia. He spoke on the topic ‘How to Promote a Destination’, focusing upon Malaysia. He emphasized that, for the success of new products, creativity is needed.

The first round table session commenced with the topic “What do you believe makes a great tourism employee?” Students came up with suggestions like work commitment, providing customers with products that meet all their requirements, traits like ‘passion’ , ‘creativity’ and ‘excellence’ in a tourism employee.
Philip Schaetz, Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing at Dorsett Hospitality International, Hong Kong SAR, presented the second plenary talk on the topic ‘Social Media Management vs Traditional in Tourism and Hospitality’. He stated that social media and traditional marketing are complementary to each other. Contrary to common belief, social media management is expensive, and not free. It is more difficult to contain and regulate information that is once shared over social media. Social Media Management requireshighly advanced technological platforms and a highly skilled set of individuals.

The second round table session was on the topic ‘How will your job in tourism change in the next ten years?’ Students were of the opinion that, firstly, every operational aspect of the tourism industry will be more environmentally considerate. Sustainability of resources will be top priority in development. Technology will replace manpower. New tourism products will develop to focus on specific niche markets.
Mr Bert van Walbeek, Vice President for Area Business Development Asia Pacific, Safehotels Alliance AB, Thailand, addressed the audience on the topic ‘Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity’. He spoke about, practical skills being as important as theoretical skills. The tourism industry is a people oriented industry. In preparing for a career, Success in this industry depends more on an individual’s emotional quotient rather than his intelligence quotient. The progression from a student’s academic life to his work life needs attention in order for the individual to become more ‘selectable’ for the organizations. Attitude according to him is the most important selection criteria for the organizations. Better preparation will result in increased opportunity to have a more satisfying career in the tourism industry.

Mr Bert also gave the audience an insight into his personal life experiences. He compared the phases of his life with the Chinese Yin and yang, describing how apparently opposite or contrary forces are actually complementary, interconnected, and interdependent in the natural world.
The 3rd round table session was based on the topic “ In what ways could we enhance respect for a career in tourism” The main points that were discussed under this topic were, primarily increasing respect that’s given from the industry to the customer which will in turn generate respect for the industry as a whole. Respect for culture and ethics. Give respect to earn respect. Having transparency in the working environment.
To conclude the symposium, all the important points were highlighted and summed up by one of the PATA representatives.