Surapee Hemvanich. Competency development approaches adressing workers in the informal sector : a case study of the Thai traditional massagers at tourist seaside resorts . Doctoral Degree(Population Education). Mahidol University. : Mahidol University, 2006.
Competency development approaches adressing workers in the informal sector : a case study of the Thai traditional massagers at tourist seaside resorts
Abstract:
This investigation was to study the existence of workers in the informal sector; Thai
traditional massagers at tourist seaside resorts. These workers were able to adopt the cultural
capital of massage in the past to develop a career and make profit from tourism. This is an
important example of one way in which Thai people are using traditional idea to help make a
living in the contemporary global environament. The studies engulfed personal backgrounds,
necessary competency and approaches to improve competency of the Thai traditional
massagers at the tourist seaside resorts.
The total sample size was 219 people. The main areas studied were Patong, Phuket
Province; Koh Samed, Rayong Province; and Na Jomtien beach, Muang Pattaya, Chonburi
Province. It was found that 87.2% of the Thai massagers were female and 12.8% were male.
There were 40.7% lived in the eastern region, and 32.4% in the northeast. The recent careers
of 47.9% of respondents before becoming Thai traditional massagers were farmer, trader,
beauty consultant, and housewife. The longest duration in the massage career was 30 years
with the lowest income per head per month during the high season equal to 3,000 Baht ; and
the highest was 120,000 Baht. The lowest income during the low season was 800 Baht and
the highest was 36,000 Baht. There were 46.6% of the sample who obtained their massage
knowledge from their parents, teachers, and cousins; and 88.6% who owned no license to
practice medicine. Motivation to enter this career was to be richer to support their families
and to have a permanent career. The competencies that the massagers thought were important
were cleanliness, attentiveness, massage expertise, communication skills, additional service
from massage, and good service. Factors relating to “attitude” were smiling, endurance,
honesty, diligence, career-oriented. The approaches used to improve competency were
training organized by the government (50.7%) and informal development by self-training
from information from recipients (53.9%) observing the experts (39.3%) and inquires from
colleagues, including from documents(3.6%). Factors indentified as supporting success in the
career were the nature of the service environment: the service, which included generosity,
courtesy, and being service-minded: and offering a reasonable price compared to other kinds
of massage service.
It is recommended that for the Thai traditional massagers at tourist seaside resorts to be
developed into professionals, the government sectors should allocate budgets for training to
consistently improve competency, English use and professional ethics. A skills test should be
organized in order to upgrade to the national massage standards of the Thai traditional
massagers at tourist seaside resorts who retains the existence of the cultural capital of Thai
traditional massage.