Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco takes the UNWTO stage in Phnom Penh, Cambodia to represent the Philippines during the high-level discussion on the challenges and opportunities for tourism recovery in the Asia and the Pacific Region.
Asked about the country’s experiences in crisis management and emergency response, Secretary Frasco tackled the policies and the proactive measures of the Philippine government to prepare for such situations.
“The Philippines recognizes the necessity of having a proper framework in place, especially in terms of disaster risk, reduction, and management which is why we do have an umbrella organization from the National Risk Reduction Coordinating Council that consolidates the efforts of all government agencies in the Philippines in times of need,”said Secretary Frasco.
“However, we recognize the necessity of cascading that down to our destinations, especially those that are very easily affected by climate-related disasters. And that is why under the administration of our President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr., the Department of Tourism (DOT) passed a disaster risk reduction manual specific for tourism which is cascaded down to all our regional offices, and establishes regional operation centers that are activated as a measure of prevention and also of response,” the tourism chief added.
The Tourism Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Operations Manual was initiated by the DOT recognizing the potential impact of disasters on the tourism industry, and the importance of ensuring the safety and well-being of tourists and their stakeholders in emergency situations. It will serve as a comprehensive reference on tourism disaster management, incorporating risk assessment, preparedness, prevention and mitigation, response, recovery, and strategies.
“In this way, we are able to have a quick response for the protection of tourists on the ground. Having been a mayor myself prior to being a Secretary myself, we recognize the necessity of quick community action that is why we passed this manual for the Department of Tourism,” enthused Secretary Frasco.
The rollout of the tourism manual on disasters will be rolled out this year.
Secretary Frasco likewise noted that, like with other nations, human capital resources remain a challenge for the Philippines, sharing how the DOT, together with the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), mounted a series of Philippine Tourism Job Fairs last year. A first of its kind in the country, the job fair series sought to bridge the existing gap between unemployed tourism workers and tourism enterprises in need of workers.
“The challenge that we have faced in the Philippines at the onset of the pandemic and the subsequent thereto, has also included manpower. I believe this is the challenge that has been faced by many countries all over the world, with those previously employed in the tourism sector having gone to other employment. And that is, why in response to this, we held tourism job fairs all over the Philippines that offered over 19,000 tourism-related employment. Tourism has also generated over 5.2 million employment for the Philippines as for the year 2022,” Secretary Frasco explained.
Other panelists include Mr. Thok Sokhom, Secretary of State, Ministry of Tourism of Cambodia; HE Dr. Sandiaga Salahuddin Uno, Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy of Indonesia; Dr. Abdulla Mausoom, Minister of Tourism of Maldives; Mr. Mitsuaki Hoshino, Vice Commissioner of the Japan Tourism Agency; Mr. Ignacio Curbelo, Director General, Ministry of Tourism of Uruguay; Ms. Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes, Director of the Macao Government Tourism Office; and Mr. Peter Semone, Founder and President of Destination Human Capital Limited and Chair of Executive Board, Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA).
The discussion was moderated by Dr. Sok Siphana, Senior Adviser of the Royal Government of Cambodia.
