LINGAYEN, Pangasinan, Sept. 22 (PNA)–A top official of the Department of Tourism (DOT) has confirmed that travel and tourism assumed a new dimension in the Philippines, evolving as top employment generators for the Filipinos in 2015.
Speaking during the kick-off ceremony of the Tourism Month in Pangasinan at Narciso Ramos Sports and Civic Center gymnasium on Tuesday, DOT Regional Director Martin Valera said that the tourism industry employed millions of people all over the country this year.
“Our innate sense of hospitality has made the country one of the most experienced destinations in the country, and this year, domestic tourists, some 58 million of them, are expected to continue to grow in the coming year, ” Valera said.
It has become a people’s industry, he said, assuring that this will continue to grow not just next year but in the coming years.
He said this year’s skills competition during the celebration of the Tourism Month was a right step in molding the necessary experience to meet the challenges of the industry.
Expectations are high that good and quality service, must be extended to tourists, either foreign or domestic travelers, Valera said, adding that value for money had become the buzz word and that quality service was tantamount to excellent experience.
“Our industry is one of the most competitive and I am not tired of saying that it demands perfection from our frontliners. Any bad experience would result in a loss of existing customers and a potential customer base, ” Valera said.
He said the tourism industry was also an exacting industry since it demanded perfection the first time and in order to stay in business, ” we have to practice to make it perfect.”
The kick off ceremony for the Tourism Month was led by Gov. Amado Espino Jr. represented by his son and namesake, Board Member Amado Eapino III, and Provincial Tourism Officer Malou Elduayan.
At the same time, Valera confirmed that of the four provinces of Region 1, Pangasinan registered the biggest number of arrivals last year.
He said this year’s Tourism Month’s theme in the Philippines is “One Billion Tourists, One Billion Opportunities”. (PNA)