RE: Torba TVET Centre activity report - September - October 2016

Transcription

1 Mrs. Ketty Napwatt Secretary General Torba Provincial Government Sola, Torba Province 16 th November 2016 Dear Secretary General RE: Torba TVET Centre activity report - September - October 2016 TORBA Skills for Economic Growth Program is pleased to submit to you this monthly report for the months of September and October 2016 that outlines the skills development trainings delivered to our community members. We are pleased to inform you of the positive outcomes of these activities that have been achieved. Thank you Albert Ruddley Torba TVET Centre Manager Copies: George Mael Toka Johnathan, Director, Tertiary Education Directorate David Lambukly, CEO, Vanuatu Qualifications Authority Christelle Thieffry, Senior Program Manager, Australian High Commission Anna Gibert, Implementation Advisor-VSEG Program Sara Webb, Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist - VSEG Program Dorosday Kenneth, Director Women's Affairs George Borugu Director, Tourism Department Fremden S Yanhambath- Director- VSEG Program Michael Silona - Torba PGTB Chairman/Torba Provincial Planner Joseph Ridley Director, Department of Cooperatives and ni-vanuatu Businesses

2 Tourism Clients coaching and mentoring Skills for Tourism coaches and Torba Tourism office did the following coaching and monitoring with target clients: Vanualava Coaching From 29 th August to 3 rd September, industry coach Pascal Guillet and Torba Tourism officer with the coordination of Torba TVET Centre did coaching for new potential tour products on east Vanualava with accommodation clients in Sola. For the accommodation clients in Sola, a challenge was incomplete action plans that resulted in low improvement of services and infrastructure of the bungalows. A new approach between clients and the coach was to develop shorter monitored action plans which will be monitored on a weekly basis by the Tourism officer. Eight [8] new tours on Vanualava were confirmed during this coaching. These were Twin waterfalls, Alkata River & turtle conservation area, Ates Outrigger River & Twin waterfalls, volcano trek, Reef islands and the Megapode observatory. All tours were confirmed to be potential products and were registered as Skills for Tourism clients to be part of the coaching and training through the Torba TVET Centre. Gaua Coaching This coaching was done just before the launching of Gaua products. The aim is to explain the importance of launching their products and make sure all clients are ready for the launching. Coaching happened on 18 th to the 20 th September by industry coach Pascal Guillet. Gaua Tourism Products Launching. Torba Tourism office and Skills for Economic Growth Program [VSEG] celebrated another achievement which is the launching of Gaua tours and accommodation services. These tourism products were certified because they now meet the Vanuatu Tourism Operator Minimum Standards [VTOMS] of the Department of Tourism. Twelve [12] tourism permits were issued to Gaua tourism clients and this includes five [5] for Island Bungalow, two [2] for camp site category, two [2] for land adventure, two [2] for traditional and cultural activities and one [1] for Handicraft and Arts Shop.

3 From all these products four [4] females have leading roles as owners and managers of the products while others are owned and managed by couples. One of the great achievements during the launching was the launching of Chez Maureen bungalow which was part of the Skills for Tourism coaching and mentoring. This product started as an idea by one woman and went through coaching and mentoring and finally was part of the launch and is now marketed through Santo Travel Centre. The standards of these products has proven to be of high quality given the high number of tourists visiting Gaua recently compared to past years. Gaua volcano and lake with Siri falls are the main attractions being marketed through Santo Travel Centre. These has created a tremendous impact on the development of Tourism not only in Gaua but Torba as a whole. An evidence to these developments in Tourism is a new Twin Otter purchased by Air Vanuatu so that Torba can be better serviced by flights, now that there is increased Tourism demand. The launching of the products took place in Gaua on September 20 th with representatives from the Australian High Commission, National Government, Provincial government, community chiefs and leaders within Gaua Island. Santo Travel Centre [STC] Study Tour A study tour from 21 st to 26 th of September by Santo Travel Centre Officer Milla Jimmy, was to actually see and experience the tourism products in Torba. As Santo Travel Centre is marketing all Torba products, it is important that the marketing officer has some experience with the Torba products which will assist them in marketing these products. Milla visited Motalava and Sola products and is working on plans for her next visit to Gaua products. This was a partnership arrangement between Santo Travel Centre and Torba TVET Centre where cost for these arrangements were shared as we see it will be great benefit to our clients. Tourism Clients coaching and mentoring Motalava Coaching and Torres Scoping From 21 st to 26 th of September, industry coach Pascal Gavotto and Tourism Officer Olivet did the coaching and scoping which is again facilitated by Torba TVET Centre. On Motalava coaching was

4 focused on data collection and assisting clients to fix their water and solar systems which are essentials for their visitors comfort. Torres Coaching. Tourism officer coaching Diana, Kamalisa Bungalow manager. This was the first ever coaching in Torres, for Torba TVET Centre to identify clients who will be part of the Skills for Tourism Program. Two [2] clients were selected to be part of the coaching program in Phase 4 and they are Kamalisa and Twin beach bungalows. Torres has potential for Tourism business and with support from the Torba TVET Centre and the Department of Tourism through the Skills for Tourism, we will see an increase in the tourism development within the Torres Islands. Business Development Services Small Store Business Management Workshop Torba provincial office of Registrar of Cooperative & Business Development Services and Torba TVET Centre facilitated a small store business management workshop to help small store managers on West Vanualava with the skills and knowledge to manage their business. The workshop was conducted by Department of Cooperative & Business Development Services from 3 rd to 7 th October

5 There were 16 selected participants attending the workshop and 9 were females. The participants were so happy to attend such a workshop as it helped them to manage their business properly. Most of them started their business without having proper business management knowledge but with the knowledge gained it will help improve their business productivity. Acknowledgment Torba Skills for Economic Growth Centre would like to acknowledge all its stakeholders to continue in supporting and working together to provide demand-driven skills through training and workshops to Torba communities. Torba is now experiencing real economic and social changes in various areas through these partnerships.