Level of Skills Competencies of Tourism Management Students

Abstract

Tourism is a key driver of economic development and an important factor in job creation and opportunities. With this, the tourism industry recognizes the importance of and responds to the required skills and competencies. This study aimed to determine the level of skill competencies of the tourism management students of Saint Mary’s University based on CMO 62s 2017 based on students’ perceptions. This was a quantitative study wherein descriptive comparative design was utilized. A survey questionnaire adopted from the CMO 62s 2017 was used in this study. Results showed that female senior tourism students at SMU senior high school took the ABM strand. Researchers determined the level of skills competencies, namely, general, business and management, common tourism and hospitality, and core tourism skills competencies as a high level of skills competencies. Results indicate a significant difference in general skills competencies when respondents are grouped according to senior high school graduates. It indicates that general skills competencies are significantly higher than business and management skills competencies, common tourism and hospitality skills competencies, and core tourism skills competencies when grouped according to sex, senior high school graduated from, and strand in senior high school. Meanwhile, general skills competencies, business and management competencies, common tourism and hospitality competencies, and core tourism skills competencies are classified as high-level skills competencies.