The first tourism jobs fair in Cebu

The first phase of the Department of Tourism's program on job opportunities and businesses was the hosting of the First Tourism Jobs Fair (TJF) 2006 which was held in Manila, Davao and at the Grand Ballroom of the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel.

In Cebu, among the 108 registered participants were the airline, shipping and transport firms such as Philippine Airlines and Malaysia Airlines, Isuzu Cebu, Magsaysay Maritime Corp. and Trans Asia Shipping Lines. The hotels and resorts were Alegre Beach Resort, Cebu City Marriott Hotel, Club Ultima, Badian Island Resort and Spa, Crown Regency Suites, and the Shangri La Mactan Island Resort and Spa. There were 8,39l jobs up for grabs with 8,411 applicants.

Other stake holders included travel agencies and tour operators such as Marist Royal Holidays, Southwind Travel and Tours, Travel vision, Inc, and Amadeus, the telecom firms, namely Globe Telecom and Smart Communications, call centers Convergys and Sykes Asia Inc., restaurants and food chains La Tegola Cucina Italiana, Tinderbox, Southern Ventures Food Services, and Golden Arches Development Corporation. The field of work available ranges from hotel and restaurant positions, airline staff, food service attendants, customer service agents, sales consultants, to graphic artists and business developments managers.

At the press conference that followed, guest of honor Tourism Secretary Joseph Ace Durano disclosed that the TJF is the Department of Tourism's pro-active response to President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo's 10-point agenda that includes the creation of six to 10 million jobs as a government priority. Organized by the Department of Tourism, the TJF is the first industry-specific jobs fair exclusive to the travel and tourism industry. It is a one-stop venue where establishments and suppliers of tourism oriented jobs and potential labor force from all over the Philippines can meet, assess each other's needs and create an employment match.

The Jobs Fair 2006 was supported by various professional associations, travel and tour-related companies and national government agencies such as the Commission on Higher Education, Bureau of Local Employment of the Department of Labor and Employment, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority and the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration.