Group of Filipino Businessmen to Set Up Asean Tourism School

FILIPINO businessmen, taking the initiative in ensuring that the Philippines and other Southeast Asian countries will no longer be dependent on foreigners to run their hotels and other tourism facilities, are establishing the Asean Tourism School, initially in Metro Manila, and later to be franchised in other capitals of the region.

Bohol beach.

Samie Lim, tourism committee chairman of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry, told the BusinessMirror he and other local partners were pooling together P100 million for the school, which is set to open in October.

The master franchise of the planned hotel will be launched at the Philippine International Franchise Conference and Expo of the Philippine Franchise Association at the SMX Convention Center from July 14 to 18.

The first school will be on Edsa in Mandaluyong; branches will established in key tourism destinations in the country, such as Boracay, Palawan, Cebu and Bohol.

“We already have interested franchisees and joint-venture partners. Two years from now, the franchise will be offered to other countries in Asean,” Lim said.

The school will offer certificate courses in tourism-related services, including management of hotels, restaurants, tour-and-travel agencies, as well as specialized topics such eco-adventure.

The certification courses are recognized in North America and Europe, Lim said, so those who finish them can pursue further studies and bachelor degrees in schools in other countries.

Lim noted that, at present, the Philippines depends on foreigners to man top-level management positions, including the general-manager posts, of hotels.

The Asean Tourism School, he said, aims to produce people who can run hotels, airlines, cruise lines, resorts and other tourism-related facilities.

Lim said the school will be a vital component of the proposed Asean Budget Hotel, which will also be spearheaded by Filipino businessmen.

The budget hotels will be a network of no-frills inns, with rooms available for only $50 a night. The Asean Business Advisory Council has already approved the concept.

Source: Business Monitor