THE Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA) and the Caribbean Maritime University (CMU) have entered into a partnership that will see the tertiary institution supporting the regional tourism industry through training and skills development over a three-year period.

The partnership was sealed with the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) last month at a ceremony held at the Courtleigh Hotel in New Kingston, Jamaica. President of the CHTA Nicola Madden-Greig and president of CMU Professor Andrew Spencer signed the MOU on behalf of their respective organisations.

According to Madden-Greig, the engagement between the CHTA’s network of 30 member associations and the CMU is geared toward ensuring tourism sustainability in the face of several threats including global warming. While pointing out that the viability of several Caribbean economies is tied to the strength of the tourism industry, she added that the COVID-19 pandemic proved that “tackling regional issues through collaboration effectively addresses the challenges which we as a Caribbean [people] face”.

Notwithstanding the region’s recovery from the pandemic, Madden-Greig noted, “One of the current challenges stems [from] labour market constraints and developing Caribbean people to meet new paradigms presented by changing demands of the new breed of travellers, artificial intelligence and other technological advances.”

With this in mind, the CHTA president said that given the curricula, research and training capacity of the CMU, the partnership aims to promote the development of standards, policies and training through a range of activities.

“We are pleased to enter into this MOU with our partner organisation, CMU, to afford us with the opportunity to gauge the level of understanding and support which the Caribbean tourism industry has for standards, certification and credentialing programmes. Our areas of focus will be around leadership skills training; digitisation of the workforce; sustainability and environmental practices; marine-related safety, security and crisis management; and research and knowledge sharing,” she continued.

Speaking to the Jamaica Observer, Madden-Greig said that while CMU has been known to train students for marine-based and cruise tourism job opportunities, students can also find employment possibilities in the stopover tourism market, among others.

“A lot of times people see [a career in] tourism as the basic entry level [positions] and we know that there are full career paths all the way up to managing director positions, but also there are entrepreneurship opportunities, which is what I’m focused on. Part of what I’ve been saying since I’ve been president is that tourism is the driver of the economy but it also needs to be the driver of generational wealth for Caribbean nationals,” she said.

She added that the notion of tourism being only hotel work needs to change as the field incorporates transport, agriculture, logistics, among other areas.

On this note, Professor Spencer pointed out that an integral part of hotel operations is logistics, an area in which the CMU offers degree programmes. He also thanked the CHTA for involving the university in its “intervention” in the regional industry, especially since the institution is expanding its offering beyond marine-centred training.

“We have a lot to offer in terms of management training, supervisory training and all of the areas and facets that are involved in hotel and tourism; to connect the dots — watersports, marine environment, and issues of sustainability,” he said.

Within this year, a number of CMU students will be participating in community activities geared towards greater environmental sustainability, he added.

Spencer told the Business Observer that CMU is “redefining” itself with a view to offering training that covers all areas of tourism, adding that the institution has introduced airport operations in its catalogue of courses.

While noting that there are opportunities to enhance the tourism industry through digitalisation, Spencer pointed out that embracing technology as a game changer “can change the ethos of individuals working in tourism to be able to appreciate the value of that industry”.

CMU’s partnership with the CHTA follows on the heels of another MOU it signed with Carnival Cruise Line in May last year. The agreement was recently consummated with the landing of a Carnival vessel at the Falmouth pier.

As per the agreement, the cruise operator will employ 10 marine transport and five marine engineering cadets over 12-, six- and four-month periods.

“CMU students will have first preference for job opportunities as they arise. Jobs will be in the following areas: Guest services, engine and deck,” the document outlined.

The CMU has created a centre of excellence that will serve as a conduit for recruitment. It will offer training in basic safety, cruise ship safety and security, among others.