Free flow of tourism manpower pushed

CEBU, Philippines - The Philippine government is called to take an active stance in preparing for the Association of Southeast Asian Nation (ASEAN) integration in 2015, specifically in the free flow of manpower in tourism industry within the region.

The Hotel, Resort and Restaurant Association of Cebu (HRRAC) has expressed apprehensions that if not given utmost attention, the country’s tourism sector may be affected by the integration, as fast turnover of manpower may cripple the growing tourism industry in the country.

HRRAC president Hans Hauri said that a joint standard in the hotel and restaurant management (HRM) curriculum must be agreed among ASEAN member countries to ensure quality of workforce in the region’s tourism sector.

“Consistent standard should be set among the ASEAN. The threat of people’s movement within the region is apparent,” said Hauri. “As early as now, action should be done.”

With the year 2015 so near, he said the Philippine tourism sector, for instance, is not yet ready to face the changes that the integration will bring.

“To people’s mind, 2015 is so far away. But it will just come like a volcano. It’s better to be prepared this early,” said Hauri.

He said a lot of good hospitality and well trained people are attracted to find good opportunities abroad and the Philippines, banking on tourism and targeting 10 million tourist arrivals by 2016, should protect the industry.

The Swiss tourism leader, who is also the area general manager for Marco Polo chain of hotels in the Philippines, said that as long as the country or the ASEAN will adopt standard and uniform classification in hiring people, the industry will fare very well.

Early this year, the business sector in Cebu submitted its position paper, asking President Benigno Aquino III to seriously participate in the global supply production network, particularly through the ASEAN Economic Community by 2015, which is designed to make ASEAN a single market and production base and a strong regional economic bloc in the global economy.

The business sector, led by the Cebu Business Club and Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI), among others, highlighted Cebu’s serious position in pushing further tourism development, informing the President the recently formulated Cebu Tourism Roadmap, which aggressively targets six million tourist arrivals in the next five years.

The letter emphasized that the Philippine government should deepen the involvement of the business sector in creating a “comprehensive action plan or roadmap” to prepare the country and its stakeholders for regional economic integration and the forthcoming ASEAN Economic Community.

Instead of competing with each other in terms of attracting world tourists, ASEAN should come up with a joint tour packages, promoting each country’s best attractions, the letter explained.

Likewise, in a separate interview, prime mover Robert Lim Joseph said instead of competing in luring tourists, ASEAN member countries should complement each other and work on a good package promoting the ASEAN as a preferred tourism destination.

“We should strengthen ties with the ASEAN. One destination package is more exciting and attractive for the international travelers,” said Joseph.

Joseph, who is also the chairman emeritus of the National Association of Independent Travel Agents (Naitas), said in an interview yesterday that even before the implementation of the ASEAN Tourism integration by 2015, the Philippines through private sector initiative should take the lead in initiating this move. /JMD (FREEMAN)