The Malta Tourism Authority (MTA) is currently running a training programme entitled Advance Training Tourism Leaders, which is designed specifically for employees and managers in the tourism industry, helping them to develop their capabilities in innovation and change.

Gozo News spoke to Paul Sloane, one of the training programme’s international world-class speakers and a leading expert in creative problem solving and lateral leadership. He has written 17 books of which 2 million copies have been sold. Mr Sloane is also responsible for providing practical techniques to sharpen leadership and innovation skills for companies such as American Express, ARM, BT, Cendant, DWP, EADS, Lloyds of London, Motorola, Reckitt Benckiser, Shell and 3M.

“This course will help participants to analyse key trends and developments and assess their impact on Malta, interpret their findings in relation to their own business, and come up with creative solutions. Malta desperately needs creative solutions for the tourism industry if it is to compete and thrive. There is a real risk that Malta could be squeezed out by other holiday locations that offer lower cost, better facilities, more interesting activities or a combination. For Malta to refresh and renew its appeal it needs to combine its traditional strengths with innovative and high quality new offerings”.

Speaking about his lecturing in Malta, Mr Sloane said that the aim is to deliver cutting-edge training in all areas of business leadership and innovation for managers and supervisors, and those who want to enter the tourism field. Successful participants will be awarded a qualification equivalent to a University Diploma. It is expected that there will be a rush for the 450 slots available for participants.

The €3 million programme Advance Training Tourism Leaders, is funded by the European Social Fund with a contribution from the Maltese government. The courses, which are valued at some €12000 per participant, are being offered absolutely free of charge.

The programme covers key areas such as creative thinking, sustainable tourism, customer management, leadership and management styles, people management, strategic planning, quality assurance, e marketing, finance, health and safety and entrepreneurship.

Mr Sloane said that the course can significantly improve the competitive position of Maltese tourism, increase revenue, lead to better facilities, more employment and higher profits. He added that this is not an academic programme but an intensely hands on course to encourage creative thinking.

Participants will also benefit from one-to-one mentoring as well as a learning support network. The best performing participants will be given the opportunity to take part in an international study and work-practice visit.

Mr Sloane refers to our very own Edward de Bono as “the great guru of lateral thinking.” Lateral Thinking approaches problems from fresh perspectives. Sloane uses an interesting metaphor to put the message across. “The conventional approach to improving spectacles might have involved better lenses or frames. A lateral thinking approach would be to replace the spectacles with contact lenses or laser eye surgery.”

Mr Sloane spoke about the characteristics of tomorrow’s leader , saying that the leader will question, listen, empower, trust, set a vision, communicate, take decisions and manage risks. Such characteristics are described in his book The Innovative Leader (published by Kogan Page). Mr. Sloane goes on to explain that creative ideas may often fail, but it is through such failures that businesses grow and innovate. ‘Fail often and fail cheap’ advises Mr. Sloane.

Advance Training Tourism Leaders is now undergoing its second intake which starts in February 2011. Enrollment is limited and will be allocated on a first come, first served basis. More information is available by calling on 21456820 or at www.advance.com.mt.

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