Marinakou, Evangelia and Giousmpasoglou, Charalampos ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9225-3475 (2015) Stakeholders' views on the development of a higher education hospitality program in Bahrain: challenges and opportunities. Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Education, 27 (2). pp. 85-92. ISSN 1096-3758

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Abstract

The hospitality and tourism industry in Bahrain is predicted to grow over the coming years with the development of new 5-star hotels, which will create new jobs for the Bahraini economy within the next 4–5 years. Currently there is limited provision of hospitality and tourism education, which is offered mainly at the vocational level. This article presents the challenges and opportunities of developing a hospitality and/or tourism program in higher education in Bahrain. In-depth interviews with key stakeholders were conducted to explore the potential of such a program in Bahrain. The findings suggest that there are skills gaps in 2 key areas: generic and soft skills. The article also proposes that there is an opportunity to establish a hospitality program at the bachelor’s level that should be supported with collaboration with an international institution to enhance the curriculum design and facilitate the program development. Finally, public awareness is vital to support the image and the prestige of employment in the sector.

Item Type:	Article
Identifier:	10.1080/10963758.2015.1033104
Keywords:	hospitality, tourism, higher education, Bahrain
Subjects:	Hospitality and tourism
Depositing User:	Babis Giousmpasoglou
Date Deposited:	31 Jan 2016 14:26
Last Modified:	04 Nov 2024 12:20
URI:	https://repository.uwl.ac.uk/id/eprint/1535

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