English language skills required by the hospitality and tourism sector in El Oro, Ecuador.

Abstract

The present study follows a qualitative research approach that analyzes the perceptions of people linked to the different fields in the tourism sector of the province of El Oro in Ecuador. Currently, this province has professionals who lack a good level of English proficiency to provide foreigners with the best service. The researchers applied semi-structured interviews, capitalization of testimony, and focus group discussions to 15 participants associated with the different activities in the tourism area. The present study aimed to explore the needs and uses of the English language in the tourism and Hostelry sectors of "El Oro," the implications of having staff with good English language knowledge, and the impact of knowing English in the tourism sector. The results revealed that staff required having an appropriate level of English proficiency to make tourists feel comfortable during their stay. For this reason, knowing English has a positive impact in all the areas of the tourism sector. The researchers suggest further studies regarding the effectiveness of different strategies and techniques to develop English for Tourism Purposes (ETP) at the university level and examine the impact of knowing English in the different fields of the tourism sector.