Competency-based hiring as a tool to improve the thai meeting and convention industry: A sales executive perspective

Abstract

Meeting and Convention represents the most important sector within the MICE (Meeting, Incentive Travel, Convention, and Exhibition) tourism industry in Thailand. In 2012, the Tourism and Travel Economy represented 16 % of Thai Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and employed 11.9 % of its working population. Despite a relatively high competitiveness of the Travel and Tourism industry as a whole and specifically the Meeting and Convention sector, Thailand should not be complacent with its success. The Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Index from 2009–2013 ranked by the World Economic Forum has shown a consecutive decline in Thailand’s rankings (from 39th place in 2009 to 41st in 2011, and 43rd in 2013). Lower competitiveness of the country can be attributed to several factors including the deterioration of tourism resources, better performance of competitor destinations, internal political problems and productivity of human resources in the Travel and Tourism industries. This study aims to identify competency sets necessary for Thai meeting and convention firms to stay competitive and to suggest human resource practices that help them select, retain, and develop their talents from a sales executive perspective.