Group pushes ‘homestay’ program

Taking into account the global trends of the travel and tourism industry with emphasis on health and security concerns in today’s competitive marketplace, a company will be initiating a standard marketing and management of the tourism sector’s home stay program.

“The boom in domestic travel rapidly raised the level of accommodations so the concept of Homestay Philippines is to provide tourists the same amenities found overseas for a worthwhile and lasting experience of their stay here in the country which they can tell good stories about,” pointed out former Tourism Secretary Mina Gabor.

The homestay program will give visitors personalized attention, taste of our local authentic food products, and allow them to see our natural environment and countryside as well as participate in our traditional lifestyle and activities, added Gabor.

Gabor will be among the major incorporators of Homestay Philippines along with individuals from an airline carrier, hotel industry and the LGU sector and she will be sitting as the corporation’s vice-chairman and president. 

So far, there are about 37 countries worldwide that are doing homestay programs such as Malaysia and Thailand and these are usually initiated by the private sector.

Gabor stressed that for now, it will be ideal for the homestay program to be managed by a profit corporation to reap the desired result since they are still beginning to professionalize and institutionalize this tourism industry segment.

“Because of health, hygiene and security consciousness of people these days we incorporated good set-ups of different homestay programs we noted abroad. Through this program we will also be able to keep our landscapes alive,” she further added.

Homestay Philippines, Inc. as Gabor presented will be a franchise that incorporators are planning to begin initiation in smaller entity in specific areas in the country.

The areas will include: Tagaytay, Pampanga, Palawan, Batangas, Laguna, Ilocos Sur, Baguio and the National Capital Region in Luzon; Cebu, Bohol, Boracay and Leyte in the Visayas as well as Davao and Cagayan de Oro in Mindanao.

“We want every destination in the country to be included in the program but we will still see how our mechanisms will run,” she added.

Gabor stressed that applicants who can qualify as franchisees are those from the private sector and non-government organizations, who have a spare room, a whole house, an apartment, an extra condo unit, campsite or a restored historical site that can be converted into a globally competitive facility to accommodate the influx of both local and foreign visitors in the country.

However, franchisees will be limited to five rooms only to control the quality of service and attention they can provide to their visitors.

Gabor said that they will also be collaborating with the Department of Tourism especially on the creation of tour packages and promotional campaigns that will generate sustainable markets for the program and its franchisees.

Homestay Philippines is going to be launched around August or September of this year and Gabor also made mention during an interview with reporters that next year, the country will host the international conference of homestay program initiators around the globe.

Currently, a website for Homestay Philippines is being prepared and Gabor said that they are still looking for prospective franchisees, who can serve as their models.

Also Homestay Philippines labeled linens, towels and other accommodation facilities are now being produced. –/NLQ