Edtech Cakap Joins Forces with NTB Government to Elevate Tourism Workforce Skills

Jakarta. October 12, 2023. Workers in the tourism sectors in the province of West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) have recently completed foreign language training, provided by Edtech Cakap. The foreign language classes offered English and Mandarin, with a specific focus on tourism-related vocabulary and phrases commonly used in the hospitality context. Tomy Yunus, CEO & Co-founder of Cakap, stated that the courses were designed to enhance the professional language proficiency of those working in the tourism sector, particularly within sub-sectors like hospitality and Small Middle Enterprises (SMEs) across the NTB province. “With the introduction of these foreign language classes, we aim to enhance communication skills and create opportunities for participants, especially as the NTB province has been designated as one of the government’s top-priority destinations,” said Tomy. The program commenced in May and was divided into three batches, with a total of 3,000 students participating in the classes. Participants included tourism vocational school students, hotel employees, and tourism-related SME operators from across the NTB province. Students had access to online learning, eliminating distance and time constraints while enriching the course content they had not previously had access to. The curriculum included practical subjects such as introducing hotel facilities and tourist locations to visitors, as well as basic conversation skills like answering foreign tourists’ questions about local customs, hotel amenities, and initiating conversations with foreign tourists. Amry Rakhman, Head of the Regional Research and Innovation Agency (BRIDA) West Nusa Tenggara (NTB), expressed appreciation for Cakap’s efforts in raising the standards of tourism workers in the NTB province. This will directly impact the progress of NTB tourism because the quality of human resources in the tourism sector is determined by foreign language proficiency. “This training provides significant benefits, especially in supporting NTB’s industrialization program and the mission of prosperity and self-reliance. Moreover, foreign language training, namely English and Mandarin, can generate competitive economic resources and development,” stated Amry. In the fourth quarter of 2022, the Central Statistics Agency (BPS) of NTB recorded the highest growth rate in the accommodation, food, and beverage sector at 24.68%. One of the significant tourism events in NTB in 2022 was the MotoGP at the Mandalika circuit, which, according to the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy, contributed an added value of Rp4.5 trillion to the national economy. In 2023, the NTB Provincial Government aims to attract 2 million tourists, both domestic and international. Foreign language skills and proficiency serve as a crucial foundation for the growth of the tourism sector. Therefore, having competent tourism human resources with strong communication skills is highly relevant to this industry. “Cakap remains committed to elevate the quality of national human resources in various regions, in line with our mission to elevate people’s lives,” concluded Tomy.