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The Influence of Tourism Educational Qualification Levels on Task Performance Behavior of Employees in Tour and Travel Firms in Nairobi

Received: 10 August 2023     Accepted: 7 September 2023     Published: 20 September 2023
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Abstract

The growth of tourism has increased the demand for qualified human resources across sectors of the industry. Tour and travel firms are among the beneficiaries of qualified human resources, based on their ability to demonstrate task competencies in their areas of specialization. However, the extent to which educational qualification levels are making an impact on task performance behavior in the tourism labor market has not been given much attention. This study, therefore, aimed to establish the extent to which tourism educational qualification levels (TEQLs) influence task performance behavior (TPB) among tourism-qualified employees in tour firms in Nairobi, Kenya. Nairobi is the business hub for both local and international tour and travel firms. Data was collected from one hundred and thirty-one (131) supervisors of tour firms, who rated three (3) randomly selected employees from each of the following levels of qualification: one holder of a bachelor’s degree; one diploma; and one certificate. Both descriptive and inferential data analysis was conducted to assess the extent to which TEQLs influence TJPB. The research findings show that TEQL explained 74.9% of the total variations in the TJPB (R2= 74.9%). The regression coefficient output showed that TEQLs positively and scientifically influenced TJPB at (β=0.786, p=0.001). The implication of these findings validates the fact that transitioning from a lower level of tourism educational qualification to a higher level improves task job performance behavior of an employee by 0.786 units. Even though the magnitude seems small, it is evidently worth investing in developing tourism professionals, for this has benefits to employers, employees, and the economy at large. This study recommends that governments keep investing more in developing tourism personnel as this boosts the competitiveness of the industry.

Published in International Journal of Hospitality & Tourism Management (Volume 7, Issue 2)
DOI 10.11648/j.ijhtm.20230702.16
Page(s) 97-104
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2023. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Tourism Qualification Levels, Task Performance Behavior, Tour Operations

References
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    Kathurima Mutimbi Jane, Imbaya Ohutso Beatrice, Ezekiel Ondabu Kiage. (2023). The Influence of Tourism Educational Qualification Levels on Task Performance Behavior of Employees in Tour and Travel Firms in Nairobi. International Journal of Hospitality & Tourism Management, 7(2), 97-104. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijhtm.20230702.16

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    Kathurima Mutimbi Jane; Imbaya Ohutso Beatrice; Ezekiel Ondabu Kiage. The Influence of Tourism Educational Qualification Levels on Task Performance Behavior of Employees in Tour and Travel Firms in Nairobi. Int. J. Hosp. Tour. Manag. 2023, 7(2), 97-104. doi: 10.11648/j.ijhtm.20230702.16

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    AMA Style

    Kathurima Mutimbi Jane, Imbaya Ohutso Beatrice, Ezekiel Ondabu Kiage. The Influence of Tourism Educational Qualification Levels on Task Performance Behavior of Employees in Tour and Travel Firms in Nairobi. Int J Hosp Tour Manag. 2023;7(2):97-104. doi: 10.11648/j.ijhtm.20230702.16

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  • @article{10.11648/j.ijhtm.20230702.16,
      author = {Kathurima Mutimbi Jane and Imbaya Ohutso Beatrice and Ezekiel Ondabu Kiage},
      title = {The Influence of Tourism Educational Qualification Levels on Task Performance Behavior of Employees in Tour and Travel Firms in Nairobi},
      journal = {International Journal of Hospitality & Tourism Management},
      volume = {7},
      number = {2},
      pages = {97-104},
      doi = {10.11648/j.ijhtm.20230702.16},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijhtm.20230702.16},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijhtm.20230702.16},
      abstract = {The growth of tourism has increased the demand for qualified human resources across sectors of the industry. Tour and travel firms are among the beneficiaries of qualified human resources, based on their ability to demonstrate task competencies in their areas of specialization. However, the extent to which educational qualification levels are making an impact on task performance behavior in the tourism labor market has not been given much attention. This study, therefore, aimed to establish the extent to which tourism educational qualification levels (TEQLs) influence task performance behavior (TPB) among tourism-qualified employees in tour firms in Nairobi, Kenya. Nairobi is the business hub for both local and international tour and travel firms. Data was collected from one hundred and thirty-one (131) supervisors of tour firms, who rated three (3) randomly selected employees from each of the following levels of qualification: one holder of a bachelor’s degree; one diploma; and one certificate. Both descriptive and inferential data analysis was conducted to assess the extent to which TEQLs influence TJPB. The research findings show that TEQL explained 74.9% of the total variations in the TJPB (R2= 74.9%). The regression coefficient output showed that TEQLs positively and scientifically influenced TJPB at (β=0.786, p=0.001). The implication of these findings validates the fact that transitioning from a lower level of tourism educational qualification to a higher level improves task job performance behavior of an employee by 0.786 units. Even though the magnitude seems small, it is evidently worth investing in developing tourism professionals, for this has benefits to employers, employees, and the economy at large. This study recommends that governments keep investing more in developing tourism personnel as this boosts the competitiveness of the industry.},
     year = {2023}
    }
    

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    T1  - The Influence of Tourism Educational Qualification Levels on Task Performance Behavior of Employees in Tour and Travel Firms in Nairobi
    AU  - Kathurima Mutimbi Jane
    AU  - Imbaya Ohutso Beatrice
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    DO  - 10.11648/j.ijhtm.20230702.16
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    JF  - International Journal of Hospitality & Tourism Management
    JO  - International Journal of Hospitality & Tourism Management
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    SN  - 2640-1800
    UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijhtm.20230702.16
    AB  - The growth of tourism has increased the demand for qualified human resources across sectors of the industry. Tour and travel firms are among the beneficiaries of qualified human resources, based on their ability to demonstrate task competencies in their areas of specialization. However, the extent to which educational qualification levels are making an impact on task performance behavior in the tourism labor market has not been given much attention. This study, therefore, aimed to establish the extent to which tourism educational qualification levels (TEQLs) influence task performance behavior (TPB) among tourism-qualified employees in tour firms in Nairobi, Kenya. Nairobi is the business hub for both local and international tour and travel firms. Data was collected from one hundred and thirty-one (131) supervisors of tour firms, who rated three (3) randomly selected employees from each of the following levels of qualification: one holder of a bachelor’s degree; one diploma; and one certificate. Both descriptive and inferential data analysis was conducted to assess the extent to which TEQLs influence TJPB. The research findings show that TEQL explained 74.9% of the total variations in the TJPB (R2= 74.9%). The regression coefficient output showed that TEQLs positively and scientifically influenced TJPB at (β=0.786, p=0.001). The implication of these findings validates the fact that transitioning from a lower level of tourism educational qualification to a higher level improves task job performance behavior of an employee by 0.786 units. Even though the magnitude seems small, it is evidently worth investing in developing tourism professionals, for this has benefits to employers, employees, and the economy at large. This study recommends that governments keep investing more in developing tourism personnel as this boosts the competitiveness of the industry.
    VL  - 7
    IS  - 2
    ER  - 

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Author Information
  • Faculty of Social Science and Technology, The Technical University of Kenya, Nairobi, Kenya

  • Department of Tourism Management, Moi University, Eldoret, Kenya

  • Department of Tourism Management, Moi University, Eldoret, Kenya

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