THE tourism industry is on track in creating about 6.5 million new jobs by the end of the Duterte administration in 2022 as a result of the programs currently being implemented by the government, the Department of Tourism said Monday.
Tourism Secretary Wanda Teo announced DoT’s projections as she addressed global leaders and tourism industry stakeholders at the World Tourism Forum–Global Meeting in Istanbul, Turkey last week.
Teo said the DoT has just completed its National Tourism Development Plan which will serve as the roadmap of the DoT through 2022.
“Poor people in dire need of jobs and income to support their families are the focus of DoT’s inclusive and sustainable program under NTDP which aims to create employment and livelihood,” Teo said.
Conversely, the master plan targets to double the number of inbound visitors to 12 million and triple inbound expenditure to $20 billion by the year 2022.
“As tourism ministers, we have the responsibility not only to promote our destinations but make sure communities benefit and harness their potentials as entrepreneurs,” Teo stressed.
The tourism chief also urged the delegates to share and exchange consumer insights, information and knowledge to allow the development of diversified tourism activities and tour packages.
Among the community-based tourism initiatives undertaken by the DoT includes the provision of technical assistance to small and micro local ventures, training of local tour guides and development of tour programs.
Tourism industry in the Philippines accounts for 8.2 percent of the Philippines’ gross domestic product valued at P24 billion and employs over five million people.