OUTLINE

ASEAN Mutual Recognition Arrangement (MRA) on
Tourism Professionals

MRA “Infrastructure”

ASEAN Tourism Labor Divisions

Roles of DOT, TESDA and TIBFI

Impacts and Challenges to Governments and Industry
AS EA N 2 0 1 5 Re g i o n a l E c o n o m i c
I n te g ra t i o n
Areas of Cooperation
 Human resources development and capacity building;
 Recognition of professional qualifications;
 Closer consultation on macroeconomic and financial policies;
 Trade financing measures;
 Enhance infrastructure and communications connectivity;
 Development of electronic transactions through e-ASEAN
 Integrating industries across the region to promote regional
sourcing; and
 Enhancing private sector involvement for the building of AEC.
MRAs
Mutual Recognition Arrangements
are arrangements between two or
more parties to mutually recognize or
accept some or all aspects of one
another’s conformity with assessment
results
The ASEAN Mutual Recognition Arrangement (MRA) on Tourism Professionals was signed by the ASEAN
Member States on January 6, 2009 in Hanoi, Vietnam. Thailand signed on November 09, 2012.
MRA Objectives

To facilitate mobility of Tourism Professionals/
Workers;
 To exchange information on best practices in
competency-based education and training for
Tourism Professionals; and
 To provide opportunities for cooperation and
capacity building across ASEAN member
countries.
MRA “infrastucture”
REGIONAL LEVEL
1.
2.
The ASEAN Tourism Professional
Monitoring Committee (ATPMC)
The ASEAN Tourism Professional
Registration System (ATPRS)
NATIONAL LEVEL
1.
2.
The National Tourism Professional
Board (NTPB)
The Tourism Professional
Certification Board (TPCB)
ASEAN MRA on Tourism Professionals Awareness Seminar
MRA on Tourism Professionals
Schematic outline of a
mechanism to support an MRA
Legend:
•
•
•
•
ATPMC – ASEAN Tourism Professional Monitoring Committee
ATPRS – ASEAN Tourism Professional Registration System
NTPB – National Tourism Professional Board (National level)
TPCB – Tourism Professional Certification Board (National level)
Six Labor Divisions
Primary Labor
Division
Hotel Services
Travel Services
Secondary Labor Division
Front Office
Housekeeping
Food Production
Food and Beverage Services
Travel Agency
Tour Operations
Hotel Services (23 job titles)
Front Office
1. Front Office Manager
2. Front Office Supervisor
3. Receptionist
4. Telephone Operator
5.
Bell Boy
Housekeeping
1.Executive Housekeeper
2.Laundry Manager
3.Floor Supervisor
4.Laundry Attendant
5.Room Attendant
6.Public Area Cleaner
Food Production
Executive Chef
2. Demi Chef
3. Commis Chef
4. Chef de Partie
5. Commis Pastry
6. Baker
7. Butcher
1.
F&B Services
1.F&B Director
2.F&B Outlet Manager
3.Headwaiter
4.Bartender
5.Waiter
Travel Services (9 job titles)
Travel Agencies
General Manager
2. Assistant General
Manager
1. Senior Travel Consultant
1.
2.
Travel Consultant
Tour Operator
1. Product Manager
2. Sales and Marketing
Manager
1. Credit Manager
2. Ticketing Manager
3. Tour Manager
Department of Tourism
as NATIONAL TOURISM ORGANIZATION (NTO)

Develop, coordinate and implement work
programmes/plans to enhance cooperation in tourism

Provide a mechanism to promote participation from the
private or business sector and non-government
organizations

Establish working groups to assist in the development and
implementation of policies and work programmes

Represent the Philippines in the ASEAN Tourism
Professional Monitoring Committee (ATPMC)
Technical Education and Skills Development
Authority (TESDA) as TOURISM PROFESSIONAL
CERTIFICATION BOARD (TPCB)
 Tourism Professional Certification Board
 Government board or agency authorized by the
government of each ASEAN Member State
primarily responsible for the assessment and
certification of tourism professionals
Tourism Industry Board Foundation, Inc. (TIBFI)
as NATIONAL TOURISM PROFESSIONAL BOARD
(NTPB)
 National Tourism Professional Board
 Refers to the Board for Tourism Professionals
composed of representatives from the public and
private sectors including the academia and other
relevant tourism stakeholders as identified by the
ASEAN NTOs.
For Governments

MRAs ensure commitment and agreement to
international trade, and encourage the sharing of
good practice and information between partners.
This can lead to:
 Reduced costs;
 Increased competitiveness;
 Increased market access; and
 Freer flow of trade.
For Tourism Industry





Facilitate mobility of tourism professionals based on
the tourism competency qualification/certificate;
Enhance conformity of competency based training/
education;
Recognize skills of tourism professionals
Improve the quality of tourism human resources
(graduates ready to work in the industry); and
Enhance the quality of tourism services
Challenges

“Brain drain” of trained tourism professionals



Trained TPs may choose to work overseas due to
better employment opportunities
Attrition/ loss of trained workers
Affect the service quality in the Philippines
Implementation Issues



Need to protect national interests especially to ensure
local employment is not affected
Readiness of member states in terms of establishment
of MRA – TP system
Support of concerned government agencies on
education & training, and domestic labor policies
Implementation Issues

Embedding ACCSTP/CATC in the Philippine Tourism
Curriculum and K to 12 school system



Tourism & Hospitality curriculum for Kto12 is under
Home Economics;
Training of teachers;
Equipping students with competencies for
employability.
CONVERGENCE
ACTIVITIES
 2013 ASEAN MRA Awareness Seminars
 DOT – initiated
- 13 seminars
 Industry - initiated
- 10 seminars
 2014 ASEAN MRA Awareness Seminars
 DOT – initiated
– 5 seminars
 Industry - initiated
- 4 seminars
Attendees: 6,389 pax
CONVERGENCE
ACTIVITIES
 National Master Trainers and Master Assessors
Training on Housekeeping
 TESDA Women’s Ctr., NCR - 35 pax
 Waterfront Lahug, Cebu
- 32 pax
 Trainig of Tourism Workers under ADB-CIDA
Project in 4 pilot areas
(Cebu, Bohol, Davao. Palawan)
 26 Project Grantees – est. 4,130 workers
trained
 23 Project Grantees (2nd Phase)- on going
CONVERGENCE
ACTIVITIES
Convergence Workshop (DOT, DOLE, DEPED, CHED,
TESDA, TIBFI)
Date: October 23-24, 2014 and February 3, 2015
Venue: Makati City and Bayleaf Hotel
Benchmarking Program (DOT, DOLE, DEPED, CHED,
TESDA, TIBFI)
Date: December 8-10, 2014
Venue: Singapore and Malaysia
Date: February 16-18, 2015
Venue: Cambodia and Thailand
CONVERGENCE
ACTIVITIES
 3rd Tourism Human Resource Congress
Date: March 23, 2015
Venue: Davao City (374 attendees)
Alignment of National Competency Standards with ACCSTP for
NCII Levels
(Housekeeping, Food Production [Cookery], Front Office and Food &
Beverage [Waitering])
CONVERGENCE
ACTIVITIES
National Master Trainers and Master Assessors Training on
Food and Beverage (FB)
Date: May 11-16, 2015
Venue: Diamond Hotel, Manila
 National Master Trainers and Master Assessors Training on
Front Office (FO)
Date: July 13-18, 2015
Venue: Subic, Zambales
 National Master Trainers and Master Assessors Training on
Food Production (FP)
Date: October 5-10,2015
Venue: TESDA Women’s Center, NCR
CONVERGENCE
ACTIVITIES
 ASEAN MRA Awareness Seminars
Date : June 29, 2015
Venue: Tagaytay, Calabarzon
Date : September 3, 2015
Venue: Mindoro, Mimaropa
Date : September 11,2015
Venue: San Fernando, La Union
CONVERGENCE
ACTIVITIES
 Assessment and Certification of Tourism Workers
in the 4 labor divisions (Housekeeping, Front Office,
Food Production, Food and Beverage) aligned with the
ASEAN Standards
Davao
Cebu / Bohol
Palawan

NEXT STEPS
ASEAN LEVEL
 Development of Toolbox on Travel & Tour Services
 Establishment of a Regional Secretariat
 Development of the ASEAN Tourism Professional
Registration System (ATPRS)
ASEAN Mutual Recognition Arrangement to
Tourism & Hospitality Education
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Thank You!