Posted by: Editor on Sep 21, 2006 – 11:08 AM
newsandinfo  As the Ministry of Tourism aggressively works to diversify its markets, it will be essential to have Bahamians who are bilingual employed in all aspects of the tourism experience.

Glenda Johnson, who heads the new Latin American Department at the Ministry of Tourism, said the ministry is looking for qualified Bahamians to cater to the needs of visitors.

Ms. Johnson noted that, in particular, the ministry is aggressively targeting China, Latin America and India as areas that would diversify the tourism market from the United States. As a result, she said that it will become increasingly important to find Bahamians who can speak a second language, particularly in those areas.

In fact, noting the increase in the Chinese market the ministry has three persons who are currently in an emersion programme in China to learn Mandarin. “I have interviewed quite a number of them over the last month. We have a need for them. The timing is right and we have a priority list that we are creating with all the Spanish speaking or any foreign language,” she said.

Ms. Johnson’s comment came at a joint press conference on the eve of a joint trade mission her ministry will have with the Bahamas Chamber of Commerce to Panama to explore trade and tourism opportunities in Latin America later this month. The press conference was held at the Chamber.

Presently, the ministry is working to expand its English campaigns into Spanish to accommodate a potentially growing Latin American market. Noting the need to communicate with visitors, Bahamas Chamber of Commerce president Tanya Wright said the chamber is to launch a series of workshops designed to assist persons in language skills.

“I expect the business community to really be the drivers of the various programmes. They are the ones who will be able to articulate their needs.” For example, she said the vendors at Arawak Cay may decide as an association to get together and determine what we need to do as a group.

“In an evolution of relationships throughout the world, we are going to find that Bahamian business persons will adapt and seek ways to assist with the adaptation to be able to sell and service the growing tourism market. We will all on the business community to articulate what their respective business concerns are in terms of foreign languages interaction,” she said.

Mrs. Wright said that now is the best time to ensure that the interests are developed. “We will also work with the Ministry of Tourism and the Ministry of Education because we to bring back the human resources that are floating around the world so that their skills can be utilized in these services. The market has driven us in that direction.”

Gershan Major, a chamber member, added that there had been a change in world events. “We are more globalised and the demands of skills and competencies are far greater. The chamber has done a tremendous job in providing access to the market. The challenge in having access is that you have to enter through the door and once the door is opened and you are invited to come in, you need to be prepared to take advantage of the opportunity,” he said.

Source: The Tribune