FOR Kini Jamata, hospitality and caring are not just words.
After providing palliative care for her aging mother until she passed 15 years ago, Ms Jamata entered the workforce but became disenchanted after a number of years.
“I finally sat down one day and had a hard look at my life and decided that I wanted to do something where I was in constant interaction with people from all over the world and I wanted to be involved in an industry where I could serve people,” the 38-year-old said.
“And only one industry could provide all that — tourism.”
She worked in a few tourism-related roles in a number of companies before making the decision to get proper skills training.
“I know I made the right choice when I opted for USP’s Pacific TAFE program because it is a well-known institution and the qualifications are recognised all over the Pacific including New Zealand and Australia.”
Ms Jamata is enrolled in the Certificate IV in Tourism and Hospitality Operations program at USP’s School of Tourism and Hospitality Management in Namaka, Nadi.
“It really has been an eye-opener for me and I am definitely going to enrol in the diploma program too because we receive training in every aspect of the hospitality industry from front desk to sales, food and beverage, audits and events.”
Ms Jamata said having a bit of experience in terms of working across a number of industries has helped her have a mature outlook in her studies.
“I would encourage other people who think that it is too late to obtain a qualification to seriously consider enrolling and taking up a course — it really opened my eyes to the possibilities that are out there.”
