DOT to academe: Aid us in gathering data to sustain country’s tourism and hospitality industry
The academe is encouraged to work with the Department of Tourism (DOT) in obtaining data through research initiatives that may address issues within the tourism and hospitality industry, and aid in crafting policies to address it.
Speaking at the University of Mindanao’s event last Aug. 19 with the theme “Directing Research Towards Sustainability of the Tourism and Hospitality Industry”, DOT Assistant Secretary Roberto Alabado III said data from these research initiatives can aid the DOT in policy formation to best improve, market, and protect the businesses within the tourism and hospitality industry.
“Tourism cuts across so many sectors, but the bottom line is, how can we make the industry more competitive, more inclusive, and develop more products?” said Alabado.
He also presented the DOT’s Ten Tourism Product Portfolios, which are: Nature-Based Tourism, Cultural Tourism, Cruise and Nautical Tourism, MICE Tourism, Leisure and Entertainment Tourism, Education Tourism, Sun and Beach Tourism, Farm Tourism, Health and Wellness Tourism, and Diving and Marine Sports Tourism; wherein students and faculty can base their research.
Alabado added that taking up research in these areas puts a spotlight on the situation specific to the researcher’s community, and how it can affect the state of the country’s tourism as a whole. It is also a way for researchers to study not just the negative aspect, but promote the good that is also being done in their communities with regards to making tourism sustainable.
“We want you to become the marketers of the Philippines,” Alabado added.
He said the DOT can provide aspiring researchers with funding but that it would be subject to deliberation. He added that studies conducted need to be realistic and achievable in its scope and timeframe, so that data can be collected in the soonest possible time to best aid DOT in addressing the issues raised in the study.
The event was organized by UM’s Research and Publication Center (RPC) and was attended by sector representatives within the city and around the region, as well as students from UM’s College of Hospitality Education.
