Thursday, June 26, 2008 Upgrading workers’ skills must for further growth in tourism
STAKEHOLDERS in the tourism industry emphasized the need to improve the skills of its labor force and sustain its growth.
Department of Tourism (DOT) 7 Patria Aurora Roa yesterday said there is a need to continuously improve the tourism work force through trainings—like the one for tour guides—if Cebu wants to be a choice destination for tourists.
“Cebu happens to enjoy (being) a premier destination today,” she said.
The DOT has been conducting special and “upgrade trainings” for tour guides but Roa said there are not enough tour guides in the region, especially for Korean tourists.
Based on data from the DOT, the Korean tour guiding skills training program conducted from March 2003 up to present has attracted 600 participants, of which only 567 passed.
DOT also requires tour guides to undergo upgrade training before they can renew their accreditation with the department.
Last year, DOT conducted an upgrade training for 140 participants but only 54 passed. Those who did not pass the first round of the training were required to re-take modules that they failed.
Aside from tour guiding skills, stakeholders in the hotel industry also pointed out difficulties in getting qualified personnel, forcing them to provide intensive skills training to recruits.
Manny Gonzales, president of Plantation Bay Hotel, said the company no longer has a pre-conception of what a hotel employee should be.
To overcome the challenge of having personnel who are “square pegs in round holes,” the hotel management offers less qualified employees the chance to “learn the job.”
“There is never a perfect fit for most hotel positions. What’s important is we get the happy people,” Gonzales told Sun.Star Cebu in an interview.
He explained that getting the right attitude is more important. Besides, he said, the hotel offers regular training to upgrade the skills of its employees.
As an example, Gonzales cited Plantation Bay’s current general manager, who came from the housekeeping team, while its spa director started out as a secretary.
“Our pastry chef, which is one of the senior positions in the kitchen, started as a janitor,” he said.
But the hotel management also has to face the risk that the personnel who recently received training might be recruited by international cruise ships and hotels in the Middle East, the United States and Europe.
“It happens too often,” he said. But instead of forcing employees to stay with the hotel, management has to accept its role, which is to help improve the skills of Cebuanos and allow them to find better opportunities.
Roa said she agrees that Filipino talent cannot be kept within the country. “If they wish to go out, let them have the international exposure because one day, they will come back and work for us,” she added. (DME)
