Bohol’s plan eyed to improve tourism workforce

TAGBILARAN CITY, Philippines — Issues on human resources in the tourism sector, as well as their solutions are now contained in the Bohol’s Tourism Human Resource Development Plan, which was turned over by international organizations to the provincial government on Tuesday.

The plan outlines problems and solutions in tourism resources that will work well with tourism customers, employees and management.

Bohol Governor Edgar Chatto, together with the tourism service sector, such as tour guides association, travel and tours groups, received the plan as a guide in improving the lot of the human resources segment in the tourism industry.

Turning over the BTHRDP to the provincial government were Chito Salazar of the Philippine Business for Education, Narzalina Lim of the Asia Pacific Projects Inc. and representatives of the United States Agency for International Development,

Salazar, in his short message, said the plan’s ultimate objective is to create more jobs so that more people will have jobs in the tourism industry.

Chatto, for his part, said the plan will be integrated into the rehabilitation of Bohol following the slowdown of tourist arrivals here as a result of the magnitude 7.2 earthquake that devastated the province last year.

He said that the plan is a good guide to everybody and indicates success of Bohol in terms of the right jobs for the needed workforce though this might be a tall order.

Bellevue Hotel manager Rommel Gonzales, president of the Bohol Association of Hotels, Resorts and Restaurants, said he was happy that all his suggestions during the making of the plan were considered and included.

Based on Lim’s presentation of the plan, tourism contribution to Bohol’s economy is worth P3.43 billion as “direct expenditure” in 2013 and value-added income of between P3.38 billion and P5.13 billion. It created a total of 39,629 jobs with 8,615 people “directly employed in tourism.”

The study identified tourism markets in Bohol, such as overnight visitors, day-visitors who undertake a day extension mainly from Cebu, and cruise market who drop by Bohol ship calls. — Ric V. Obedencio (FREEMAN)