WESTERN BUREAU – The demand for multi-lingual recruits for the hospitality industry is expected to grow as the tourism sector widens its net in search of new markets overseas, particularly in Europe.

Industry and tourism minister Aloun N’dombet Assamba, in anticipation of new hotel projects soon to come on stream, told a batch of HEART Trust/NTA graduates last week that it would be to the advantage of those seeking jobs in the sector to be conversant with different foreign languages.

“We have to be more than bi-lingual,” said Assamba, speaking at the HEART Trust Northern Region graduation ceremony held at the Star Fish resort in Trelawny.

“These days, we better learn some foreign languages, especially those of you who are graduating right here today, because along this stretch from Montego Bay all the way back past Buff Bay and eventually getting you into Port Antonio, we are going to have so much hotels that people are going to come from all over the world, and we must learn to converse with them.”

Assamba noted that key among the languages to master were Spanish, French, German and Japanese. The minister did not mention Chinese, but that country’s government has indicated that it is willing to promote the region among its people as a tourism destination.

“This is very serious. I really, really believe we ought to be multi-lingual,” said the tourism official.

Assamba acknowledged that more foreign travellers were learning English, but she insisted that Jamaica ought to reciprocate by developing other language skills, both for personal advancement as well as better hospitality service delivery.

“We need to be able to converse with those people who are invited to Jamaica. It is true that more and more people are speaking English but it would be nice if we were able to be hospitable to our non-English speaking guests – to be able to converse with them even a little,” she said.

“So, I am going to challenge you, as your next project, to improve yourselves by learning a foreign language.”

She also challenged the trainees to seek ways of advancing their education beyond their high school and vocational certification.

Their high school certification, she insisted, would only have proved that they can write exams successfully.

“The experience that you have had (should) whet your appetite for more learning. It is those who prepare themselves for the challenges that they are going to face who will be successful,” said Assamba.

hinesh@jamaicaobserver.com