AS more and more foreigners are visiting the country, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) yesterday said there is a prevailing shortage in tourism industry workers.
In a statement, Labor Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma said they have been informed by the Department of Tourism (DOT) that it needs more hospitality workers to attend to the influx of tourists.
The DOT said a total of 1.1 million foreign travelers have visited the country since it reopened last February. The number surpassed the full-year arrivals in 2021 numbering to 163,879 tourists.
“Findings by the DOT revealed tourism stakeholders, led by hotel establishments, are lacking manpower,” said Laguesma, adding: “The workforce requirement is meant to address the growing tourism industry.”
