ILO sees 296-M tourism jobs, DOT to lure 6-M tourists to PHL

The International Labour Organization (ILO) expects the travel and tourism industry to create 296 million jobs by 2019, which is definitely good news for the Philippines because the country intends to double last year’s tourist arrivals from three million to six million in 2016. An ILO report has urged governments to invest in the travel and tourism industry to address poverty and unemployment because the industry will soon make up more than a third of the total global services trade. It said tourism contributed at least 9 percent of total GDP and provided more than 235 million jobs in 2010, representing 8 percent of global employment. Here in the Philippines the Department of Tourism (DOT) has lined up several investments, including the establishment of international airports and seaports as well as building infrastructures such as resorts and hotels. Wolfgang Weinz, ILO senior technical specialist for the hotels, catering, tourism sector said the industry must address the growing significance of technology as well as customers who have become more demanding, specifically by upgrading of education and vocational training to make their operations effective. “Its [tourism and travel industry] workers tend to have limited professional qualifications, and a need for enhanced training and education, including health-related issues, has become visible," said Weinz. He pointed out that the competitiveness and productivity of tourism workers depend on their skill levels, professionalism, commitment, passion, and loyalty. The ILO report said that the Americas suffered a 1.7 percent decrease in employment, but employment in the Asia-Pacific region gained 4.6 per cent. “Today we have a shortage of qualified employees. Hotels need to train their employees. It is the only way to improve the quality," said Ghassan Aidi, President of the International Hotel and Restaurant Association. He explained that the tourism industry should hire talented workers and enhance their soft skills, such as languages, communication skills, courtesy, discipline, conscientiousness, self confidence, adaptability, creativity and punctuality. — MRT/VS, GMA News