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LAOS - Marking World Tourism Day with the launch of the Sabaidee English App to improve language skills in tourism and hospitality
World Tourism Day is globally celebrated on 27 September each year to raise awareness on the contribution tourism makes to sustainable development. This year, the theme is “Tourism and Digital Transformation”. It focuses on the importance of digital technologies in providing innovative approaches to skills development to prepare young people for their future of work. With this in mind, the Technical and Vocational Education Department of the Ministry of Education and Sports – with the support of the Skills for Tourism Project (LAO/029) – has created an English language mobile app, specifically designed for the tourism and hospitality sector.
© Phoonsab Thevongsa
Called Sabaidee English, the app aims to improve English language competences of students and employees in tourism and hospitality. Through a series of fun and entertaining exercises and games, users can practice and improve their communication skills in English. The app, which is available on both Android and iOS platforms, is completely free of charge and once downloaded, can be used offline. In its testing phase, Sabaidee English was very well received by students and teachers alike. It has also been welcomed by employers as an effective and accessible way to develop the English language skills of staff.
© Phoonsab Thevongsa
"As 2018 is Visit Laos Year, special attention needs to be placed on developing the capacities of people currently employed in the tourism and hospitality sector, as well as those undertaking education and training for future careers in the industry. Through the development of Sabaidee English, the Technical and Vocational Education Department is committed to improving English communication skills for employees in tourism and hospitality”, says Mr Nouphanh Outsa, Director General, Technical and Vocational Education Department.
© Phoonsab Thevongsa
Since 1980, the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) has celebrated World Tourism Day on 27 September each year. The purpose of the day is to raise awareness on the role of tourism within the international community and to demonstrate how it affects social, cultural, political and economic values worldwide.
The Skills for Tourism Project (LAO/029) is co-financed by the Governments of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg and Switzerland and implemented by the Ministry of Education and Sports of Lao PDR and the Luxembourg Development Cooperation Agency (LuxDev).
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