Tourism Development Minister Signs Contracts with K.E.K
Tourism Development Minister Aris Spiliotopoulos has initiated contracts with 97 Vocational Training Centers (K.E.K) throughout Greece for the training of some 8,000 employees of the tourism sector with the aim of improving and upgrading respective skills and knowledge.
The program is part of operational program “Competitiveness” (ΕΠΑΝ) of the Greek Ministry of Development. It comes under the third Community Support Framework 2000-2006.
It incorporates a package of actions and subsidies designed to improve the competitiveness of the Greek economy and to promote the country’s social and economic convergence with the other member states of the European Union. The program is co-funded 75 percent by the European Social Fund and 25 percent through national funds.
This educational program will be completed in 16 months. It is realized by Vocational Training Centers that have been accredited by the National Accreditation Center for Continuing Vocational Training (Ε.ΚΕ.ΠΙΣ.)
The total duration of lessons is 40 to 120 hours and they will be delivered in classrooms of five to 25 students. Participants will attend seminars that cover topics of organizational skills, business competitiveness in the Greek and international market, development of business incentive, sales and marketing, the supply chain, quality service to clients and health and safety in the work place.
Participants are also entitled to educational subsidies that amount to five euros per hour of training, and transportation costs in the case of travel outside their municipality to attend training.