Micro-businessmen to train in drawing foreign shoppers

Micro-retailers will soon be trained on how to get tourists to buy their products and services under a joint government-industry initiative launched Monday. The TURISTA-ra Na! "Lakbay-Turo para sa Micro-Tourism Enterprise" -- launched yesterday by the Department of Tourism and the Philippine Retailers Association (PRA) and backed by the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) -- will both study prevailing business practices of micro-entrepreneurs in tourism spots nationwide and upgrade their knowledge. At the sidelines of the project’s launch, PRA Vice-Chairman Ma. Alegria S. Limjoco told reporters that "aside from the magnificent sites, visitors come to Philippines to experience the well-known Filipino hospitality and shopping experience." "...arming micro-retailers such as souvenir shop operators, vendors, with the skills, tools, and practices...contributes to making shopping a more pleasurable experience for the tourists who come here," Ms. Limjoco explained. She said training, which will be provided free to targeted micro-business owners in key tourism spots like Cebu, Palawan, Bohol, Baguio and Boracay island, will consist of one-day seminars given by retail specialists who will share best practices in the industry. Topics will range from marketing to customer relations to inventory management. "...our small and micro-entrepreneurs...can improve their services and think and create new ways...to attract tourists to buy...their goods and services, which in turn can make their businesses grow," a statement quoted Ms. Limjoco as saying. In the same event, PCCI Vice-President for Tourism Samie Lim told reporters that the project will teach trainees "on how to make people buy more." He said the program will initially run for a year. "Then, we’ll do an evaluation to see if we can bring it to the next level. There’s no doubt it’s going to be successful." -- CERS, BusinessWorld