DoT chief shares target of 34M tourism jobs by 2028

FOR Department of Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco, «becoming the tourism powerhouse in Asia» means that by 2028, the Philippines shall have 34 million Filipinos employed in the industry.

She shared this goal at the 10th Global Economy Tourism Forum (GTEF) in Macao last week, saying that "...by 2028, we foresee that tourism [shall] have been able to employ a total of over 34 million Filipinos in the country, and it is the be-all and end-all of the development of the Philippine tourism industry."

Frasco was one of several tourism officials and leaders invited to the «The Davos of Tourism.»

Notable guests included tourism ministers Hu Heping of China, Daniela Garnero Santanche of Italy, Celso Sabino De Oliveira of Brazil and Priantha Fernando of Sri Lanka, among others.

Also at the meeting were United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili, World Travel and Tourism Council President and CEO Julia Simpson, and GTEF Secretary Pansy Ho.

Other panelists included Natalia Bayona, executive director of the UNWTO, and Harry Hwang, director of the UNWTO Regional Department for Asia and the Pacific.

Hosted by the Secretariat of Economy and Finance of the Government of Macao Special Administrative Region (GSEF), and in collaboration with the UNWTO, GETF is designed to promote the sustainable development of the global tourism sector.

Since its launching in 2012, GETF has been committed to the promotion of global tourism, the deliberation of the most current topics, and the timely update of cutting-edge trends in the industry, with a particular focus on China.

Each year, GTEF advances its platform to explore innovative solutions, facilitate sustainable development, and develop new products