AGRICULTURE and tourism are two of the identified growth drivers of the economy under the Bongbong Marcos administration, and while we are lagging in agriculture, at least tourism is on the rebound and expected to carry the banner of economic recovery in the months to come.
Tourism Secretary Cristina Garcia Frasco has just painted a rosy picture for Philippine tourism in the international stage, particularly at the 22nd Global Summit of the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) where the tourism chief took note of how Filipinos showcase hospitality and excellence in and out of the Philippines.
This summit which was held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia is just the right place for our government officials to sell our tourism to the world because it was the most influential travel & tourism event on the calendar this year. At the summit, key officials and industry leaders met to strengthen and align their efforts to support the tourism sector’s recovery and move beyond to a safer, more resilient, inclusive, and sustainable future. It was a huge group of 2,800 participants representing 143 nationalities, 250 CEOs, and 52 tourism ministers from around the world.
It was there that Secretary Frasco announced that the agency is eyeing to train at least 100,000 Filipino tourism workers next year to strengthen the “Filipino Brand of Service Excellence.”
‘If all these well-intentioned plans are implemented, we can expect a surge in tourists visiting the country and more income for our workers and tourist-oriented businesses.’
Frasco unveiled the DOT’s goal to train 100,000 tourism workers harnessing the seven values of Filipino hospitality. “In addition to that, we will continue to train our people to be purveyors of happiness and, more importantly, purveyors of hope. And to build upon all of that in the sense of community, in the sense of the Bayanihan spirit,” she said.
The tourism secretary believes in the strength of the Filipino brand of service excellence as the core pillar of the tourism industry and aims to help the industry workforce become “beacons of hospitality to our 100 million Filipino population, ready and willing to receive tourists from all over the world.” The ambitious 2023 training program will involve coordination and support from the country’s 17 regions.
She also covered ecotourism, the inclusion of green practices in updated accreditation standards, labor standards for Filipino tourism workers, and sustainability.
If all these well-intentioned plans are implemented, we can expect a surge in tourists visiting the country and more income for our workers and tourist-oriented businesses.
