Unveiling a new brand identity: NTUC LearningHub for Tourism. Photo Credit: NTUC LHUB
In a strategic move to bolster the strength of Singapore’s tourism training industry, NTUC LearningHub (NTUC LHUB) has partnered with the Tourism Management Institute of Singapore (TMIS) to launch six new courses.
Along with this announcement, NTUC LHUB’s also launched two new initiatives at the Reskilling for the New Tourism Economy event at Sentosa Golf Club on 16 November 2023:
- A Curated Training Series as part of the refreshed Tourism Careers Hub initiative
- A ‘NTUC LearningHub for Tourism’ brand identity to champion Singapore’s tourism sector.
Besides a presentation by TMIS on wellness travel, event attendees also heard a panel discussion on digitalisation and technology for tourism.
In-Demand and Emerging Skills
Under the NTUC LHUB and TMIS partnership, four new professional certificate courses and two specialised courses will be offered to help professionals upskill in tourism segments.
The four professional certificate courses are:
- Certificate in Green Butlering
- Certificate in Hosting in a Sustainable Environment
- Certificate in Sustainable Tourism Product
- Services Development and Certificate in Digital Marketing (Travel Services)
The two specialised courses are:
- Wellness Travel: Sleep Tourism
- Foundations in Asian Spirits.
Designed with insights from Singapore’s tourism industry experts, the courses are aimed at addressing the growing trend in wellness tourism, and the need for the industry to integrate sustainability and digital technologies. Through hands-on demonstrations and practicum, professionals can acquire in-demand and emerging skills to develop and manage tourism products and services.
The Wellness economy is projected to reach nearly US$7.0 trillion in 2025. About 51.5 to 61.6 million visitors are interested in travelling to Singapore in a sustainable manner over the next decade, according to STB.
The Wellness Travel: Sleep Tourism course is designed for learners to gain a deep understanding of sleep tourism, its significance in the wellness tourism sector and to develop and manage sleep-related experiences for guests.
The four professional certificate courses also provide learners with a stackable credential pathway, where they can choose to take individual modules to obtain a Statement of Attainment (SOA) which will be reflected in their MySkillsFuture’s Skills Passport or stack the few modules to obtain a certificate jointly issued by NTUC LHUB and TMIS, which can be used towards advanced qualification for diploma courses offered by TMIS.
Steven Chua, CEO of TMIS, said, “By leveraging the strengths of both parties – the industry expertise of the Tourism Management Institute of Management, and the reach of NTUC LearningHub among Singapore’s workforce and the quality of curriculum delivery, we aim to empower our tourism professionals to keep themselves abreast of the latest developments in the global tourism industry and contribute to the rejuvenation of Singapore’s tourism sector.”
Tourism Careers Hub Initiative
The new Curated Training Series for in-demand and emerging skills under the Tourism Careers Hub (TCH) initiative is led by the Singapore Tourism Board, together with partners from NTUC and the five Tourism Trade Associations and Chambers (TACs).
Within the Curated Training Series, NTUC LHUB will develop training courses under three key pillars of the refreshed TCH initiative, namely Technological Enablers, Sustainability and Service Experience Excellence. Three of NTUC LHUB’s current courses will be placed under two pillars, with more courses for all three pillars to be available in 2024:
- Technological Enablers: Digital Event Strategist Certification Course and Technical Meeting & Event Production Course
- Sustainability: Certified Sustainable Event Advocate Certification Programme
Jeremy Ong, CEO of NTUC LearningHub, said, “Ultimately, we hope to help Singapore establish itself as a top tourism destination of choice through a skilled workforce that seeks to constantly reinvent and rejuvenate the sector.”
A new brand identity
To reinforce NTUC LHUB’s commitment to the tourism sector, the sector branding for tourism, NTUC LearningHub for Tourism, was unveiled at the event.
Ong said, “The launch of the tourism sector brand is part of NTUC LearningHub’s refreshed strategy that is hyper-focused on evolving with the changing economic landscape. By having a distinct and unique brand identity for the tourism sector, it will help NTUC LearningHub to better position itself as an active contributor to the sector.”
NTUC LearningHub has helped over 29,000 organisations and achieved more than 2.6 million training places across more than 2,900 courses with a pool of about 900 certified trainers.
