A Scottish Government-commissioned review is going to look into the existing hospitality and tourism qualifications in Scotland, assessing whether they are adequate to meet the needs of workers and the industry.

As well as giving ministers an overview of currently available qualifications and what the sector believes is needed, the group will also be reviewing the call for a "rationalised" qualifications structure from the Economy, Enterprise and Tourism Committee.

The committee has also suggested that Scotland's tourism revenues could be increased by 50 per cent by 2015, a claim the Government will officially respond to after the qualifications review has been released.

"Tourism is a key sector in Scotland and the Scottish Government is committed to ensuring the right conditions exist to enable it to flourish, particularly in these tough economic times," said Schools and Skills Minister Maureen Watt.

"Ensuring that those within the industry and those seeking to join it in the future have access to the right skills and training is an essential part of that – both for employees and employers."

The group will also investigate the existing plans for hotel schools in Scotland, and provide the tourism and hospitality industry with a summary of the public sources of funding for training staff.

"Scotland has a fantastic tourism product. From our wonderful scenery, to our compelling history, diverse culture, and friendly people, we have so much to offer the world," added Enterprise, Energy and Tourism Minister Jim Mather.

"But if we are to continue to compete in one of the world's most competitive markets, we need to ensure that we have a new generation of well trained young talent who can take Scotland's reputation to the next level in years to come."

The group will hold two meetings, with the final report expected to be released in December this year.

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