Evaluation of the Competencies of Graduates of Higher Educational Institutions, Engaged in the Training of Personnel for Tourism and Hospitality

The article examines the issues of assessing the competencies of graduates of higher educational institutions, including those that prepare personnel for tourism and hospitality. Within the framework of this research, general scientific methods of cognition were used, including methods of scientific and theoretical research (analysis, synthesis, aggregation) and empirical methods (observation, comparison), system approach method, desk and sociological research methods. The basic tendencies of the development of domestic and inbound tourism in Russia are substantiated, including in the field of personnel training and evaluation of their qualifications. Based on an expert survey of hotel managers and travel agencies in Moscow, the most common shortcomings in the training system were identified, and the competence of graduates who were trained in Russian universities in the areas of preparation "Hospitality" and "Tourism" (bachelor's degree) was identified as the most important for employers. The role of information technologies in the issues of the convergence of the tourism industry and the personnel training system has been substantiated, and the main directions of activity on application of computer knowledge and skills of students in the educational process are described. The materials of the article are of practical value for educational organizations engaged in the training of personnel for tourism and hotel business, and for the enterprises in this field.