FEATURES OF FORMATION OF CROSS-CULTURAL COMPETENCE OF HOSPITALITY SPECIALISTS IN THE PROCESS OF STUDYING PROFESSIONAL DISCIPLINES

Abstract

The study examines the concepts of «cross-cultural competence» and «cross-cultural communication», the features of the formation of cross-cultural competence of hospitality specialists (specialties «Tourism» and «Hotel and Restaurant Business») in the process of studying professional disciplines. Special attention is paid in this article to the importance of mastering cross-cultural communication skills in the system of professional education of hospitality specialists. In the process of analyzing educational programs in the above-mentioned specialties, professional disciplines were identified, the study of which can contribute to the formation of hospitality specialists cross-cultural competence, as well as methods and technologies of studying. Such educational components are: «Foreign language for professional purposes», «Second foreign language for professional purposes», «Tourism and recreation local studies», «Ethnic cuisines», «World art culture in tourism» etc. Factors and conditions under which the successful development of cross-cultural competence is possible have been identified. In particular, the standards of higher education in the specialties «Tourism» and «Hotel and Restaurant Business» of the first (bachelor’s) level of higher education have been analyzed and general and professional competencies related to cross-cultural communication of service sector specialists have been identified. It should be noted that during the period of deepening globalization and European integration processes, the issue of cross-cultural competence for hospitality professionals is becoming particularly relevant, since the daily performance of professional tasks and duties is directly related to the need to communicate with representatives of different nationalities who have their own cultural characteristics. An important aspect of intercultural communication is tolerance and respect for the characteristics of different cultures, avoiding «culture shock». Thus, possession of cross-cultural competence is an important condition for the successful professional activity of specialists in the specialties «Tourism» and «Hotel and Restaurant Business».