Tourism grads lack English skills, right conduct

CEBU CITY, Oct. 11 (PNA) – A tourism industry leader in Cebu has said most graduates in tourism-related courses lack proficiency in the English language and only a few end up in the tourism industry. ”Only about 11 to 12 percent are absorbed by the industry,” said Robert Lim Joseph, chairman emeritus of the League of Tourism Students of the Philippines-Cebu (LTSP-Cebu). Joseph, also chairman of the National Association of Independent Travel Agencies–Philippines Inc. (Naitas), said roughly 11,000 tourism graduates join the industry because of the stiff competition. ”Competition is tough” and tourism graduates have to vie against those from other courses for jobs in the industry, he said. However, Joseph pointed out that the tourism students’ grasp of English and right conduct were the main reasons that fewer tourism graduates... [read full story]