The next three years are set to be one of the biggest steps the Philippine Government has done for tourism and the hotel and hospitality industry. Not only does this mean more places to visit and discover but this also means a boost in terms of jobs.

In fact, the Philippine Tourism Records P20 Billion Investments for 2009, and is set to rise more in the coming years what with the new hotels set up to be built in the country. The hotels and restaurants are not the only ones to be expected as parks and serviced residences look very promising for the coming years.

What does this mean for jobs?

This means that the hospitality industry foresee a promising landscape. More hotels, restaurants and theme parks mean more people are required in the workforce. While the economic downturn provides a very bleak future, the hospitality industry remains to be one of the beacons of hope for the work force in the country.

Peter Long, CEO of TUI Travel PLC, from a top-notch European leisure travel company, said "We expect to see another 600 to 700 million people traveling from and within Asia over the next five years – and mainly to other Asian destinations."

While more people are required in the workforce, this does not mean that the industry will receive more to fill the gap. The higher budget allocation for tourism demands a higher standard from those who are expecting to be part of the industry.

What must one do?

Globally competitive skills are the order of the day. The Philippines is well-known to be a country of hospitable and warm people. While this may be the case, it is still expected for us to perform at par with the global standards of excellence. The Philippines is said to be among the top choice in terms of industry.

"Our presence in this inaugural ITB in Asia is significant, as we maintain our mark in the Asian region, where a huge growth potential is certain," said Joseph "Ace" Durano, Secretary of the Department of Philippine Tourism (DOT).

It is imperative for one to be trained with only the best training which the hospitality industry has to offer.

Where does ASHA factor in?

The Asian School of Hospitality Arts is a chief advocate of training people under a global standard. This standard is what motivates the people behind the institution to teach nothing but the best, those skills which they have learned and acquired through the years from their affiliate companies such as Cravings, The Orange Place Hotel, C2 Classic Cuisine, Seven Suites Hotel Observatory, among many others.