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Employment opportunities for Spa specialists are expected to grow

Published by Afterschool.my on Sep 21, 2012, 09:44 am

  • Local spa industry is projected to contribute RM666.2 million to Malaysia's annual income by 2020
  • The shortage of trained local spa therapists due to negative perception has forced spa operators to hire foreign workers in order to meet demand
  • By 2020, spa-based jobs will reach to 6,000
Malaysia's spa and wellness is a booming industry and contributes positively to the growth of tourism and the economy. Its contribution is expected to reach RM666.2 million to the country's annual income. Along with this growth is the employment opportunities for spa therapists which is expected to grow at a faster-than-average rate.According to Assistant Youth and Sports MInister Datuk Jahid Jahim, spa therapists face a bright future with substantial spa therapy career choices and opportunities to work in public or private practice. Spas are almost in every healthcare and tourism establishment - hotels, resorts, cruise and even in hospitals or clinics.Moreover, career advancement is present for those with talent to move onto positions such as senior spa therapist, supervisor, manager and spa owner.However, the negative perception on spa therapists has hampered the expansion of this industry.According to the Tourism Ministry, Malaysia currently needs 1,650 spa practitioners but only 1,300 posts have been filled up, of which 60% are foreigners.To address this shortage, the ministry wants to align the society's perception to the career of a spa therapist to one similar to that of other healthcare professions, such as nuring."Spa therapy is the same as nuring where treatment is given to those who need it, " said Assistant Secretary Nadia Monira, Industrial Development Division of the Tourism Ministry."However the negative perception comes about when a woman spa therapist needs to provide a treatment to a male client or vice-versa. This profession is similar to other healthcare professions where treatment is given to any gender," she argues.With the industry's potential to grow, the Tourism Ministry has introduced the spa therapy programme in the Tourism National Key Result Area (NKRA) under the Economic Transformation Programme (ETP).The 6-month training programme aims to turn the spa industry into a more progressive sector that utilises local expertise, apart from reducing the dependence on foreigners for employment as spa therapists. Training includes three months eacy for theory and practical work, before being awarded the Malaysian Skills Certificate (Level 2) from the Skills Development Department of the Human Resource Ministry.Since January, 55 trainees have attended the programme. Each traineed receives RM1,000 monthly allowance and their subsequent remuneration would be between RM1,200 and RM1,800.For more information, visit www.motour.gov.my
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