DAVAO CITY — Companies involved in the Davao Region tourism industry signed a memorandum of agreement on Wednesday to strengthen the sector’s human resource pool by addressing gaps in the work force and expanding its skills.
“It is the best time to do a spring cleaning,” Tourism Undersecretary Alma Rita R. Jimenez said at the signing ceremony held at the Marco Polo Davao Hotel, noting the increasing interest in the region among international travelers.
Based on Department of Tourism (DoT) data, 3.36 million foreign arrivals were recorded for the entire country in the first six months of the year, up 13% from the same period last year.
Under the National Tourism Development of the Philippines plan for 2016-2022, the government aims to create 1.5 million jobs in the industry, in addition to the current 5.2 million.
Ms. Jimenez said the DoT has been given P100 million for the training of about 40,000 tourism employees this year.
The training program takes off from the initial run that started in 2014, which was funded by the Canadian government through the Asian Development Bank. The project, which lasted until 2015, was piloted in Davao City, Bohol, Cebu and Palawan.
Ms. Jimenez also said that local government units need to update or pass new laws to strengthen the tourism work force.
The DoT official also stressed the need to make the tourism industry more inclusive by giving attention to rural areas where access to training is limited.
“Our goal is also to help the 50 poor provinces,” she said, by developing the manpower skills in community-based tourism projects.
Brenda A. Ocampo of Eden Nature Park and Resort, one of the beneficiary companies, said her company will focus training on language, first aid and facilities maintenance. “This (program will) position employees to get the most of their dealings with their guests,” said Ms. Ocampo.
DoT-Davao Regional Director Roberto P. Alabado III, for his part, said the increasing number of flights to and from Davao City, including existing and planned new routes, opens the region to more local and international tourism markets.
“We need to strengthen our local industry, our human resources… We have to prepare (the tourism establishments and their employees) for this surge in the number of visitors,” he said.
Mr. Alabado also noted that the entry of new players in the health care industry provides an opportunity for Davao City to develop a medical tourism sector.
“Initially, what we are looking into is to focus on local tourists, and eventually find ways to attracting foreign visitors. Right now, local tourists come to the city for dental services and dermatology, but the entry of more medical facilities will help us lure more tourists,” he said.
Arturo M. Milan, trustee of the Davao City Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Inc., said the planned medical facilities will also provide an impetus for institutions to improve services and operations.
“We know that when new players enter an industry, they push the old players to make their presence still relevant,” Mr. Milan told BusinessWorld.
At least two major hospitals are planned for construction in the city: the St. Luke’s Medical Center within the Azuela Cove, a joint township venture between the Alcantara and Ayala groups; and the Lanang Premiere Doctors Hospital at the Davao Park District of Megaworld Corp. — Carmelito Q. Francisco
