Canada, DOT, ADB give PH tourism a boost

To further boost the country’s global position on tourism, 22 hotels, resorts and travel groups were given training grants by the Department of Tourism (DOT), the Canadian government and the Asian Development Bank (ADB).

This was the second year that players in the local tourism industry, particularly in the provinces of Bohol, Cebu, Davao and Palawan, benefited from $1.7-million skills program that had already benefited more than 4,000 workers.

Benefits from the first batch of 25 awardees included increased bookings, room occupancy and revenues, and reduced operational costs.

In Monday’s award ceremony for 22 grantees at Fairmont Hotel in Makati City, Tourism Undersecretary Maria Victoria Jasmin said the program—called Tourism Industry Skills Grants Scheme (ISGS)—aimed to expand employment opportunities while boosting the skills of industry workers.

Rigorous evaluation

She said the program—part of the ADB project to boost competitiveness in tourism projects and funded by the Canadian government—is aimed to sustain the country’s gains in the tourism industry. She cited the rise in the Philippines’ ranking on the World Economic Forum travel and tourism competitiveness index.

Ranked 82nd in 2013, the country now ranks 74th of 140 countries.

Jasmin said the ISGS aimed to make the industry more competitive.

Jasmin said that in the first phase, some 4,130 workers were trained from July 2014 to June this year on customer care, front desk work, housekeeping, food and beverage preparation, and food hygiene and safety.

The new batch will be trained on hospitality skills, marine safety standards (for boatmen) and tour guiding skills.

The grantees, mostly from the tourist hubs of Bohol, Cebu, Davao and Palawan, underwent rigorous evaluation.

Up by 20 notches

“Investment in the development of people’s skills and talents is vital to a successful business in tourism and ultimately to a more competitive tourism sector,” said Tourism Assistant Secretary and technical assistance project director Rolando Canizal.

Tourism secretary Ramon Jimenez said in a message: “Competitiveness is not about how many skills you have. Competitiveness is an attitude because you think and believe that what you do is important.”

Canadian Ambassador Neil Reeder said the Philippines was among 25 countries in Canada’s special focus. He said it was incredible that the country had climbed 20 notches in ranking in just four years from 2011 to 2015.