Abstract:
Hospitality and tourism encounters a thriving protagonist in the Sri Lankan
economy for last few years and human resource development has been identified as a
foremost prerequisite in the momentous expansion of the sector. There is currently a severe
dearth of employees in the hotel sector in relation to catering the authorities' targets. Tertiary
academic stakeholders are currently crossing the threshold to fulfil the essentials fabricating
graduates in Hospitality and Tourism Management. Yet, very less number of bachelor
holders are working in the hotel industry as a paradigm. Initial career decision is a deciding
factor in order to recruit and retain desirable and devoted employee in today's competitive
labor market. The study investigates the initial career decisions of hospitality management
graduates of Sri Lanka. Sample was undertaken with most recent graduating cluster who are
ready to start their career after the four years special bachelor degree in the field of
Hospitality Management from the national universities of Sri Lanka. Graduates' career
prospects were identified by means of variouse dimensions utilizing a structured
questionnaire and graduates were asked to rate each. Many hospitality management
graduates have inadequate knowledge and unrealistic perceptions of the working conditions
in the industry upon the commencement. By discovering interests and prospects of the
recruitment pool, employers will be able to gain competitive advantages and develop
successful human resource strategies knowing what graduates looking for. Meantime,
Territory academic stakeholders would cultivate sustaining protocols to produce graduates
who are physically and mentally fit with the industry careers.
