READINESS PREPARATION FOR TOURISM PROFESSIONALS TOWARD ASEAN MUTUAL RECOGNITION ARRANGEMENT: A PERSPECTIVE FROM TOURISM BUSINESS

Abstract

The purposes of this research were 1) to investigate the effects of ASEAN Mutual Recognition Arrangement on tourism professionals (MRA-TP) on top executives’ perspectives toward MRA-TP and readiness preparation for tourism professionals and 2) to provide guidelines for the development of tourism professionals based on ASEAN MRA-TP. The research methodology was qualitative research conducted using the in-depth interview with semi-structural open-ended questionnaire and asking 10 top executive officers, general managers or directors of human resources department in hotel services and 10 business owners or top executive officers in travel and tour services in Thailand. Non-probability sampling with purposive sampling technique was used by concentrating on businesses which have been operating in tourism industry for at least five years.

The research results showed that most of executives believed that MRA – TP and its competency standards were good, had many benefits for both business and workers, and would be useful for human resource management and development processes. Moreover, in order for tourism professionals to have job mobility across ASEAN countries, they must follow the tourism competency qualification and certificate. The important competencies to enhance competitiveness among ASEAN tourism workers included having knowledge and competencies related to job position, using various languages for appropriate communication, working with full capacity and diligence, having service mind and giving importance to customers, and being able to adapt to changes.