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Friday, September 23, 2005
Spa owners plan to unite to strengthen industry
Some providers of spa services will take advantage of the first Beauty, Health and Wellness (BH and W) Show 2005 to encourage legitimate players in Cebu to formally organize an association that will strengthen their lobbying power.
Johnie Lim, managing partner of Body and Sole Spa, said he is willing to initiate the movement just so spa providers in Cebu could unite in resolving some issues such as unstable government laws that hamper the development of this emerging industry.
Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) vice president for development Lito Fruelda said during the press conference for the BH and W show at the City Sports Club Cebu last week that grouping together spa providers, as well as small and medium entrepreneurs who are in the BH and W business, is the silent objective of the first BH and W show, which will be held on Nov. 25 to 27 at the Trade Hall in SM City Cebu.
Organized
“We (the chamber) will be in a better position to help them in their concerns, such as access to funding, if they are organized. If they have a formal association, they will be able to do more, just like the association of software developers,” he said CCCI was instrumental in the organization of the Cebu Software Development Industry Association, which comprises local software developers in Cebu. Cebu Soft is now a recipient of financial aids from international organizations, such as the Canadian International Development Agency.
Prostitution
Lim, who has thought of formally organizing the industry last year yet when a spa operator was charged of allegedly making the spa service as a front for prostitution, said that another problem of the BH and W sector are the unstable laws that govern them.
“There are no specific guidelines that set the standard for spa operations, such as what is the standard building construction requirement. For instance, I was made to change a structure or a part of an outlet, which is already finished. I have invested on the construction already and now, I will have to destroy and rebuild,” he said.
Haydi King, part owner of Meddah Day Spa, confirmed Lim’s complaint, saying the government often changes rules forcing them to spend more.
In a separate interview, Dr. Jocelyn Abellana of the Department of Health 7 said their agency, through the Philippine Institute of Traditional Healthcare, is now in the process of laying down the rules that would govern the BH and W industry.
With regard to the accreditation with the Department of Tourism (DOT), Meddah’s King said the requirements for accreditation with the DOT are “difficult” to comply with.
Some are also illogical to the industry.
DOT 7 Director Dawnie Roa earlier encouraged spa operators to group together so that the DOT could have a dialogue with them.
She said the accreditation is needed to protect tourists availing themselves of the spa service, which is one of the attractions Cebu’s tourism industry is promoting. (JBN)
(September 23, 2005 issue)
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