MORE jobs in tourism related industries are opened for Bohol as the Department of Tourism is confident they can share in President Arroyo’s program to provide one million new jobs in the first six months of 2009.
In Bohol local tourism authorities eye an increase of 1nother 50,000 tourists this year to raise its 6,000 annual tourism arrivals as the DOT eyes 3 to 4 million tourist this year.
Despite the global financial crunch, Tourism Secretary Joseph Ace Durano is confident of continued tourism activities and that local authorities can attain its target this year.
Durano’s projection is based on the building momentum generated by the agency’s aggressive sales blitz in its major and emerging tourism markets including China, Russia and other European countries.
As the DOT secretary expects 3,000 new hotel rooms to be opened up this year, Bohol also see a raise in rooms as flurry of building activities is evident in Panglao and other resort towns.
The DOT expects 3,000 new jobs based on the one is to one ratio of tourist to a new job.
To make Bohol ready for the additional influx, the DOT through Durano, launched Tourism Apprentice Program as a new “investment” to train students of tourism-related course become DOT’s ambassadors.
It hopes to attain this by exposing students to tourism destinations in Bohol and in the country.
Aside from Bohol, DOT Aprentice program includes Davao, Palawan, Cebu, Boracay, Iloilo and Bacolod as destinations.
This as Durano stressed the Philippines has edge over its neighboring countries owing to its variety of choices in beauty and bounty.
The apprentice program will tap graduating students from private schools as well as state-owned schools with the support of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED). (rachiu/PIA)