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Tourism chief bullish on English schools’ recovery
Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo–Puyat has given the directive for schools to continue online English as a Second Language (ESL) programs to maintain the country’s position as a leading ESL destination.
In a DOT–hosted webinar titled “Philippine ESL Industry Situationer” on Friday (July 10), the tourism chief said that the Department of Tourism (DOT) is committed to assist in the enhancement of educators’ skills and in exploring ways to promote the country’s ESL offerings.
“The students who have come here have returned to their home countries for now. While travel restrictions brought by the COVID–19 pandemic have affected the growth of the ESL industry, we know we can take back the gains we have achieved,” said Puyat in her opening remarks.
Puyat likewise disclosed that the DOT is closely working with the private sector and stakeholders in developing the official guidelines on health and safety protocols for the implementation of ESL schools once they are allowed to open by authorities.
Puyat said years of developing ESL as a key educational tourism product and market expansion efforts have lured students from foreign countries to the Philippines to learn English mostly coming from Asia, the Middle East, and non–English speaking countries of Europe.
The DOT webinar gathered professionals from the country’s leading ESL associations including Soyen Sameon–See from the Association of Language Academy (CALA)– Cebu, Reuben Aslor from the Baguio English Schools’ Association (BESA), Mike Cabigon, business development manager of the British Council–Philippines, Loida Flojo, director of Enderun Extension, and Eurena Geralla, president of English Philippines (EP).
English as a Second Language, also known as ESL, is classified under Education Tourism, a “niche” product of the DOT based on the National Tourism Development Plan (NTDP) 2016–2022.
Published:February 11, 2021
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