ETHICAL ISSUES SURROUNDING THE HOSPITALITY AND

TOURISM INDUSTRY IN THE PHILIPPINES

Part I
 The Philippine tourist sector has been a significant contributor to the country's

GDP for a long time. The Philippines had one of the greatest proportions of the Asian

tourist sector's GDP. However, the COVID-19 epidemic interrupted the supply chain for

the tourism industry last year and brought about a recession in the Philippines. To

maintain tourism despite the closing of borders, the Philippine tourism sector has

created important internal travel strategies and plans this year.

Both the inbound and outbound tourism segments have historically contributed

significantly to the Philippines' tourism industry. According to recent figures, inbound

tourism expenditures total over 12 billion while outbound tourism expenditures are close

to 1 billion. Inbound and outbound tourism have both been significantly impacted by the

unrest in international travel, making domestic tourism a significant source of revenue

for the sector.

The Philippine domestic tourist market could aid the industry's recovery as the

COVID-19 pandemic continues to have an impact on it. The road to recovery will be

paved by local tour operators who respond to the crisis, comprehend tourist tastes, and

offer potent internet travel services. Online sales channels will account for more than

60% of all sales in the travel and tourism business by 2025, giving stakeholders more

options because they have historically been one of the most popular sales channels in

this sector.

According to the previous claims, the moral dilemma is whether it is still ethical to

provide leisure to people even in the presence of a sickness that is spreading. The

tourism stakeholders are offering solutions for themselves to overcome the grave

circumstances they are facing about COVID-19.

Part I
CURRENT EMPLOYMENT TRENDS IN THE TOURISM AND
HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY

Part II
EMPLOYMENT TRENDS
 Focus on hygiene and sanitation - The entire hospitality sector is now focused on

not only maintaining a clean, safe environment but also on demonstrating it to

visitors to build rapport and confidence. An auditor and a health supervisor are

needed for this. To take advantage of such opportunities, hospitality staff can

undergo further training, become HACCP certified, and learn how to audit and

track.

 Focus on health and wellness - Hotels are being asked by visitors to create food

and drink that emphasizes boosting immunity and overall wellness. The demand

for dietitians and other experts in health and personal welfare is rising as a result

of this potential.

 Content marketers and Storytellers for digital marketing - Every day, having a

strong online presence becomes more and more crucial. Hotels cannot

differentiate themselves from the competition in the digital era without good

content marketing and storytelling. Every hotel has a unique tale to tell, as does

every staff.

 Guest Experience Designers and Creators - Travelers looking for uncommon

experiences and adventures are predicted to increase as demand declines. To

draw customers and add value, hotels must be able to provide more than just a

place to sleep. The hotel industry gains new employment prospects as a result.

 Sustainability and CSR experts - Today, community support is considerably more

significant than simply doing what is necessary to comply with the rules. More

than ever, customers prioritize returning home, improving the area around the

Part II
 hotel, and protecting the environment. Hotels, therefore, need employees that

are knowledgeable about CSR and sustainability and can handle these concerns.

SKILLS AND COMPETENCIES REQUIRED FOR THE CURRENT JOB

 Multi-tasking Skills - Due to a lack of demand, management of labor costs is

prioritized, which leads to cheap prices and low profitability. In this case, hiring

managers prioritize hiring multi-skilled workers who can handle a range of duties

to fill open hospitality positions. People who struggle to learn new abilities will do

so until the circumstances are better than usual.

 Up-selling Skills - would be required to serve the majority of the current visitors.

Hotels must maximize their customers' time because there are only so many of

them. requires cross-selling, upselling, and persuasive sales tactics. Here, you

can develop your suggestiveness.

 Personal interaction with guests - To promote loyalty, improve guest service and

please guests by giving them unforgettable experiences.

 Problem-solving and Design thinking skills for creating experiences -

Understanding the needs of visitors and how to address issues can help hotels

develop novel experiences.

 Storytelling & Digital marketing Skills for a marketer - Digital marketing is largely

dependent on storytelling. To improve client interactions and support the

business's efforts in digital marketing, particularly on social media, all hotel staff

members should at the very least have a basic understanding of how digital

marketing and narrative leasing operate.

Part II
  Financial Analysis Skills - To understand how departments operate and where

they might improve, all hotel managers need to master and comprehend financial

analysis skills. You can analyze your yearly financial statements here. To

manage money in a crisis, you must also have sound financial judgment. Learn

to control your cash flow.

 Revenue management Skills - To increase a hotel's profitability, it's also crucial

and intriguing to understand revenue management. You can study the

fundamentals of revenue management right here.

References:

 Statista Research Department (July 29, 2021). Tourism industry in the Philippines - Statistics & Facts.

https://www.statista.com/topics/6012/tourism-industry-in-thephilippines/#dossierKeyfigures

 eHMS your hospitality learning partner (2021). News Trends and Upcoming Job Opportunities in

Hospitality Industry 2021. https://ehotelmanagementschool.com/trends-job-opportunities-in-

hospitalityindustry/

Part II