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PKRU allays concerns of labor shortage in Spa and Health Tourism
PRPKRU: On January 20, 2023, at Srirajabhat Building of Phuket Rajabhat University (PKRU), the Center for Spa and Health Tourism Innovation organized a signing ceremony of a memorandum of understanding with the consent in production of personnel in spa and health tourism businesses under the development project of tourism and service excellence. Mr. Danai Sunantarod, Deputy Governor of Phuket presided over the signing ceremony together with Assistant Professor Dr. Hiran Prasarnkarn, Acting President of Phuket Rajabhat University, Dr. Boonsuppa Tanthai, Vice-President for Social Engagement Administration, as well as PKRU partners and involving persons, attended the ceremony.
After the signing ceremony, there was a discussion session on the topic of "Challenges in Labor Shortage Remedy in Spa and Health Tourism Business". The session shared by Dr. Puttaporn Boonna, Committee Chairman of Center for Spa and Health Tourism Innovation, Mr. Rangsiman Kingkaew, Chairman of Executive Committee, Phuket Tourism Business Association, and Mr. Ekarin Waritikorn, Professional Pharmacist of Phuket Provincial Public Health Office.
Assistant Professor Dr. Hiran Prasarnkarn said, “Phuket Rajabhat University has implemented a project to develop potential research and innovation for local development with the establishment of a specialized research and innovation center of excellence named ‘Center for Spa and Health Tourism Innovation’ aiming at increase of the competitiveness of the spa business and health promotion tourism in the southern region and development of manufacturing and service sectors on the basis of service innovation development towards tourism sustainability. The vision of the center is to be a spa innovation and health promotion tourism center upgrading quality and service standards to increase sustainable competitiveness in this kind of business. After the subsidence of COVID-19 epidemic, a large number of Thai and international tourists travelling into the country, resulted in a labor shortage in the tourism sector, especially for the hotel sector that has grown exponentially. The center as a central agency, therefore, organized the signing ceremony of the memorandum of understanding for the development of spa innovation and health promotion tourism and a discussion on cooperation of tourism personnel production to deal with labor shortages in Phuket area together with relevant agencies, both government and private sectors.” Mr. Danai added that “Phuket is a tourist destination that generates country income for more than 400 billion baht per year. There are over 4 million travelers—70% is foreigners and the other 30 % is Thai coming to Phuket. Therefore, tourism in Phuket can generate income of more than 180,000 million baht for the tourist season of the province. Phuket has experienced a labor shortage crisis in the tourism sector. So as not to be affected by the labor shortage crisis, tourism sectors or government agencies must urgently deal with the problem. Therefore, at this memorandum signing ceremony and discussion, it is a good opportunity to collaborate among tourism-related agencies and share solutions to diminish labor shortage, as well as support and promote relevant courses in developing the potential of health-promoting tourism personnel of the service sectors with the contribution of all related agencies.”
