Tourism training seminars to benefit domestic economy - Gordon

Stressing the need to further strengthen the country's tourism industry, Independent Senator Richard J. Gordon has allotted part of his Priority Assistance Development Fund (PDAF) for the training of tourism students in Metro Manila.

Gordon, chairman of the Senate committee on tourism, allocated some P250,000 to SKAL International-Makati to help fund its training programs and seminars for tourism students.

"At a time when the world is faced with a serious financial crisis, the tourism industry can help us cope with the effects of this global recession," he said.

"We have to strengthen our tourism, we have to train our people, our students especially, so that they would understand and know what they must do to boost the country's tourism industry," he added.

Gordon handed out the check worth P250,000 to SKAL International-Makati President Robert Lim Joseph, Jr. during the organization's General Assembly.

Tourism students from the University of Santo Tomas, University of the East, Lyceum of the Philippines, San Juan de Letran University, and the University of Makati were present during the turn-over ceremony.

Gordon, a former tourism secretary, authored the Tourism Act of 2008 which is now at its penultimate stage as differences in the Senate and House versions of the measure are reconciled in a final series of bicameral meetings.

The Tourism Bill proposes to reorganize the Department of Tourism (DOT) and its attached agencies in order to make it better equipped to undertake a consistent and more effective tourism development and promotions plan.

It also seeks the establishment of "tourism enterprise zones" in strategic areas in the country which are expected to boost the Philippines as a premier tourism destination not only in the Asia-Pacific region but also to the rest of the world.

When he was tourism secretary, Gordon was successful in transforming the country's tourism industry then faced with problems, such as kidnappings, continued threat of terrorism, and the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) disease.

He launched the "WOW Philippines!" campaign, which featured all the premier tourism destinations in the country. Not only did it lure foreign and local tourists but it also generated jobs among the people, increased revenues of entrepreneurs and boosted the country's tourism industry.