The first industry-specific expo was a one-stop venue where establishments and suppliers of tourism-oriented jobs and potential labor force from all over Cebu and its neighboring islands met, assessed each other’s needs, and created an ideal employment match.
In Cebu alone, there were 8,391 jobs up for grabs for the 8,4ll applicants. The field of work available ranged from hotel and restaurant positions, airline, shipping and transport staff, food service attendants, customer service agents, and sales consultants to graphic artists and business development managers.
Among the 108 registered participants were Philippine Airlines and Malaysia Airlines, Isuzu Cebu, Magsaysay Maritime Corp. and Trans Asia Shipping Lines, Alegre Beach Resort, Cebu Marriott Hotel, Club Ultima, Badian Island Resort and Spa, Crown Regency Suites, and the Shangri-La Mactan Island Resort and Spa.
Other stake holders included travel agencies and tour operators, such as Marist Royal Holidays, Southwind Travel and Tours, Travelvision Inc., and Amadeus; the telecom firms, namely Globe Telecom and Smart Communications; call centers Cenvergys and Sykes Asia Inc.; restaurants and food chains La Tegola Cucina Italiana, Tinderbox, Southern Ventures Food Services, and Golden Arches Development Corporation.
Tourism Secretary Joseph "Ace" Durano disclosed that the TJF is the Department of Tourism’s pro-active response to immediately fill up job vacancies with qualified persons.
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.