Tourism Key to Bring Wealth to Poor Countries - UN Report

New York, September 27, 2006 4:00PM - Marking Word Tourism Day, the United Nations highlighted the major role of the industry plays in combating poverty in developing countries.
“Tourism is now well recognized as one of the key ways to bring wealth experience from the richest to the poorest countries,” UN World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) Secretary General Francesco Frangialli said in a message.
The UNWTO, a 150-member special UN agency that acts as a global forum for tourism policy issues and serves as practical source of tourism know-how, released an e-booklet on its website underlining tourism’s multifaceted role in promoting development.
The organization recognizes the role of tourism in establishing contacts, recognizing diversity and practicing tolerance.
It notes that the industry is bigger than cars, agriculture or electronics; that it generates $800 billion a year in international tourist spending – a sum that will more than double by 2020; and that it creates millions of jobs.
In the Philippines, tourism generated US$1,990.81 million revenues in 2005, a 30.7% mark up growth from previous year showing that the industry is a major contributor to the growth of the Philippine economy.
This increase according to Tourism Secretary Joseph Ace Durano is due to the 20.1% growth of visitor’s arrival from 2003.
Time and again, it has been said by people who have been in and around the country, that the Philippines is equipped to take on the challenge.
We have one of the best tourist destinations from paradise-like clubs and beaches to wild-life sanctuaries.
Filipinos are very warm and have diverse cultural orientations. Ability to speak English is also an added advantage.
More importantly, Philippines has more than 8 millions ambassadors spread across the globe ready to promote the country by word of mouth.
All the government has to do is come up with a concrete program to effect all these. (S)

Start Business While Still Employed

Most books and gurus on entrepreneurship demand total commitment to a chosen business, including physical presence. But for Khriz Gueco, an architect in Saudi Arabia and owner of Gueco Farms in Capaz Tarlac which has more than 30,000 chic heads, he chose to do it a little bit smarter.

“I started this (poultry business) while I was in Al Khobar in 1997. Since then the growth has been steady.” he said.

Contract growing is ideal agri-business for people who have idle land. The size depends on the number of heads (chics) to be contracted.

In terms of risk, it is relatively low. “Basically, the supplier pays for the use of the facility, and payment is on volume or mass produced basis (by kilogram),” Khriz explains.

He claims, however, that the secret of his success lies primarily on his willingness to take the risks, and trust on the people he tasks to take care of the business. In his case, he engaged his family (including the extended ones) in the management.

“One of the smart ways of handling business while away is by having them (the people) feel a sense of ownership. Let them understand the consequences of its failure. That way, they will give due importance and proper care,” he said.

While Khriz continues his profession abroad in order to maximize further his earning potential, he tasked it upon himself to promote the value of entrepreneurship among his colleagues. Every now and then, whenever he is invited to share his insights to small groups or seminars, he reiterates the importance of having a business.

Accordingly, it saves a great deal of remittances, since the business is supposed to be giving livelihood and source of income to the family; and, it acts as a fallback in case something goes wrong with the employment

His advice however is to start a business while employed. “It is actually less risky,” he said. “Should the business turn unfavorable, then employment will provide a leverage to stand up and the capacity to start all over again,” he added.

For tours, and additional information on contract growing business, contact:

GUECO FARMS, Capaz,Tarlac
KSA:(+966)567492081
Manila: +63(02) 7421330 (S)

A Big Bird Venture

Lifestyle farmers are enjoying the fastest growing agri-business today - ostrich farming. With the ever increasing demands for its products - jewelry, leathers, accessories, and of course diet-friendly meat, ostrich is little by little making its mark in the market.

Although not really new in the Philippines, our ostrich farmers also recognize the big potential of the local and global market. Mr. Sulayman Mendoza, an Assistant Education Manager in Saudi Japanese Automobile High Institute in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, hopes to finally return to La Union where he hosts 87 full grown ostriches, aside from his Australian goats.

Sulayman is very optimistic of the great opportunity of ostrich farming that in 2004 he established a cooperative in the hope of sharing his enthusiasm with people of vision, experience and expertise in the field of livestock farming.

The reasons for this high growth rate in ostrich farming are:

First, the ostrich is a fairly easy animal to farm, requiring little land and small amounts of feed.

Second, the ostrich reproduces and grows quickly. In fact, compared to a cattle which produces two calves in a year, a female ostrich lays an average of 60 eggs in a year.

Third, the current price of the ostrich meat is extremely high, and can be quite profitable.

This is why in the US, Australia and New Zeland, lifestyle farmers have the command of the market.

We asked Sulayman on tips on how should OFWs spend their hard-earned money on a good business, he told us that it is always good to look for something new, and never be afraid of going ahead of the market.

Like any other business, one must be brave enough to face the risks, and certainly ostrich farming has its own peculiar challenges to deal with. But it is never wrong to invest your money in something you truly believe.

To know more about ostrich far-ming & Mr. Sulayman Mendoza’s farm, you may contact the following details:

Eng’r. Sulayman “Deo” O. Mendoza
(SJAHI): +966-2–2807777 ext 104
Mobile Number: 966 – 5 – 08686329
Farm Address: Pinoy Foods and Livestock’s Multi Purpose Cooperative Ostrich and Goat Farms
Butubut Este,
Balaoan, La Union (S)

(This article appeared in SAWALI E-newsletter. For your free subscription, e-mail us at sawalinews@yahoo.com.ph)

Posted by sawalinewsletter at 12:27