Friday 19 / April / 2024
Muscat: Known for their warmth and hospitality since ages, Omanis have now got a golden opportunity to sharpen their skills in the travel and tourism industry, thanks to the opening of Muscat Hospitality Academy (MHA).
As the first batch starts in January, the academy has already secured 350 to 400 job training opportunities for Omanis. Located in the picturesque Al llam Street in Bausher, the MHA offers Swiss quality training and education to students in the Sultanate of Oman.
In an exclusive interview with T TV, Xia Cai, the founder of MHA, said, “Tourism is very important for the future of Oman and we have brought one of the best schools in world here with the help from Écolehôtelière de Lausanne (EHL), the education group in Switzerland which is the global industry leader in hospitality education in four areas of specialisation-culinary, F&B service, Rooms and Hotel Administration, which represents over 80 percent of demand in the hospitality sector.”
“We hope this school is going to make a big difference to thehospitality industry in the country. Our aim is to provide Omanis with the right training and foundation so that they can work easily on the frontlines. The aim is to empower Omani youth and others so that they are able to participate in the industry and contribute to the national wealth,” Xia added.
Clearing the misconception about hospitality education, Xia said, “Hospitality does not mean only hotels and restaurants. Working in an operational environment creates lots of pressure. This education teaches you communication, life skills, how to manage different cultures and stress. As you move up the ladder, these managerial skills become very important for your career.”
“The goal is to provide right training and right environment to young Omanis so that they take their best lessons from here and excel in any sector they move on, Xia said, adding, “After an 18-month graduation from the institute they will have significant hands-on industry experience, full confidence, and language and communication skills. With good internship opportunity, the graduates are ready to work from day one.”
“Oman is a natural hospitality country. This is what makes Oman such a unique place. We want Omani youth to showcase their country’s beauty, and their warmth to travellers. Guests will come to experience the country, its heritage and hospitality, and we are excited to make that dream true with the help of our team,” the MHA founder said.
When asked about green shoots of recovery after the COVID pandemic, Xia said the tourism sector is picking up and we hope normalcy will return in the near future. The MHA is organising an Open Day on November 15, 16 and 17 so that guests can come and see the school and learn about its programmes.
