Tourism players team up to lessen impact of crisis

Tourism industry players have pooled their resources to cushion the impact of the anticipated global tumult at the same time sustain the industry's contribution to the economy.

The association of tourism organizations composed of the National Association of Independent Travel Agencies (Naitas), SKAL and travel cooperatives and some 147 schools and universities in the Philippines, formed a group dubbed as the "Team Philippines," to primarily instill the culture of tourism in the country by educating the younger generation.

Naitas chairman emeritus Robert Lim Joseph said the team will bridge the gap between the academe and the industry by helping schools and universities improve the modules concerning hospitality, and accommodation sectors, so that graduates will be a "welcome" addition to the industry.

"The academe and the industry must work hand-in-hand. We produce 11,000 graduates every year. If the culture of tourism will be inculcated in these graduates, then our hospitality industry will be improved," Joseph said.

Team Philippines targets to raise at least P20 million this year to fund its tourism educators and movers program, via seminars for values and attitudes toward tourism, meetings, conventions and exhibitions organizing and improving business language.

Joseph, who is a hard-core promoter and believer of Cebu tourism, said that the team is going to pilot these seminars at the University of San Carlos (USC), here in Cebu.

"If there is a province that is akin to tourism, it is Cebu. And Cebu is already in the global map. This is why we feel that Cebu should be the pilot area," he stressed.     

Joseph said Team Philippines also plans to solicit support from the government institutions like the Philippine Gaming Corporation (Pagcor), Department of Tourism (DOT), Tourism Association and private companies like Philippine Airlines (PAL), Cebu Pacific, hotels and restaurants that have stakes in the industry.

According to Joseph, Cebu holds the hope for the entire Philippine tourism trade this year while the global tourism business is adversely hit by the recession.

"Cebu is already in the radar screen of global traveling market," Joseph said expressing confidence that although there is a projected decline in the world tourism activities, Cebu will still remain as "destination of choice" for foreign tourists.

Sustainability of training and educational materials will not be as expensive, as the Team plans to make a recorded audio-visual-presentation to be distributed in every participating school.

He said the Team believes that continuous education and providing the academe with the right industry-dictated manuals will help sustain the manpower strength of the Philippine tourism industry, as it is currently challenge with the continuous exodus of workers.

In Manila, Joseph has offered his newly opened boutique hotel in Pasay City, called Hotel Vino as laboratory for hospitality and accommodation students, specifically that the hotel has establishhed the first "Wine Museum" in the Philippines. — Ehda M. Dagooc