Local firm to open tourism school

MANILA, Philippines - Franchise Investment Holdings Inc. will open a Canadian inspired tourism school in the country to help Filipinos in the hospitality industry become more competitive in the global market.

“Filipinos are talented but they are not skilled,” Franchise Investment president Samuel Lim told reporters in an interview.

Lim said his company will open the Canadian Tourism and Hospitality Institute to train those who would like to enter the hospitality industry. The local school is an affiliate of the Canadian Tourism College.

Lim said that the school will teach everything connected to tourism except culinary arts. The school will open in May next year.

Earlier, players in the tourism industry are asking the government to create a strong tourism brand for the Philippines to attract eight million visitors by 2016.

Lim said that while this is challenging, this is certainly achievable provided that the efforts of the Department of Tourism is focused toward achieving this goal while at the same time, targeting quality tourists that will bring-in tourism receipts of about $10 billion.

Following the one is to 1.2 ratio of tourists to jobs generated, eight million tourists will create nine million jobs. Likewise, domestic tourism figures should also double in six years.

Lim added that the Philippines must have a strong tourism brand such as that of Amazing Thailand and Malaysia Truly Asia. The country brand should be nurtured until the optimum level of brand recognition is reached, he said.