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Labour crunch crimps tourism
By Jacqueline Woo, My Paper | Tue, Apr 23 2013
SINGAPORE - Even as Singapore tries to woo bigger spenders with its attractions, tourism-industry players cautioned that manpower shortage is a key issue they will have to contend with.
Speaking to reporters at the Tourism Industry Conference held at Marina Bay Sands yesterday, hotelier-restaurateur Loh Lik Peng said that the manpower issue is a "real, acute challenge" in the short term.
"With over 10,000 hotel rooms opening in the next two or three years, Singapore just doesn't have enough staff," said Mr Loh.
"At the same time, all the costs are going up, whether it's manpower, rental, land or food. It's a squeeze on all resources."
Mr Chan Hean Tat, group managing director of Chan Brothers Holdings, was worried about the difficulty in hiring "quality staff".
The launch of a premier service customised to the needs of more-discerning tourists was delayed because of a lack of suitable manpower, said Mr Chan.
To provide such high-end services, he said "we have to bring in the right kind of talent, with the right kind of service attitude and a lot of product knowledge".
Second Minister for Trade and Industry S. Iswaran, who spoke at the conference, said that "capability upgrading and productivity enhancements" will be central to tourism growth here.
This will lead to "more diverse and higher-value job opportunities for Singaporeans", he said.
Mr Iswaran also said that growth in tourist-arrival numbers could moderate to 3 to 4 per cent on an annual compounded basis over the next decade.
The Straits Times reported online that this would be about half the rate for the past 10 years.
Still, Mr Iswaran said there could be 4 to 6 per cent more tourist receipts in the next decade.
This is if the country attracts more-discerning travellers who are seeking out and are willing to pay a premium for differentiated experiences, as well as build up Singapore's "software", such as its lifestyle offerings.
[email protected]
By Jacqueline Woo, My Paper | Tue, Apr 23 2013
SINGAPORE - Even as Singapore tries to woo bigger spenders with its attractions, tourism-industry players cautioned that manpower shortage is a key issue they will have to contend with.
Speaking to reporters at the Tourism Industry Conference held at Marina Bay Sands yesterday, hotelier-restaurateur Loh Lik Peng said that the manpower issue is a "real, acute challenge" in the short term.
"With over 10,000 hotel rooms opening in the next two or three years, Singapore just doesn't have enough staff," said Mr Loh.
"At the same time, all the costs are going up, whether it's manpower, rental, land or food. It's a squeeze on all resources."
Mr Chan Hean Tat, group managing director of Chan Brothers Holdings, was worried about the difficulty in hiring "quality staff".
The launch of a premier service customised to the needs of more-discerning tourists was delayed because of a lack of suitable manpower, said Mr Chan.
To provide such high-end services, he said "we have to bring in the right kind of talent, with the right kind of service attitude and a lot of product knowledge".
Second Minister for Trade and Industry S. Iswaran, who spoke at the conference, said that "capability upgrading and productivity enhancements" will be central to tourism growth here.
This will lead to "more diverse and higher-value job opportunities for Singaporeans", he said.
Mr Iswaran also said that growth in tourist-arrival numbers could moderate to 3 to 4 per cent on an annual compounded basis over the next decade.
The Straits Times reported online that this would be about half the rate for the past 10 years.
Still, Mr Iswaran said there could be 4 to 6 per cent more tourist receipts in the next decade.
This is if the country attracts more-discerning travellers who are seeking out and are willing to pay a premium for differentiated experiences, as well as build up Singapore's "software", such as its lifestyle offerings.
[email protected]
