English and tourism in Philippines

[Harold F. Schiffman]

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English is well-spoken by tourist and hotel personnel in the Philippines.
That used to be the strength of the domestic manpower in the tourist
trade. This is not the case anymore. The majority of tourist arrivals are
no longer the English-speaking North Americans. They are not the Japanese,
Koreans, French, Germans and Arabs who will feel comfortable to travel in
a country where their language is spoken in the tourist establishments
like hotels, restaurants, resorts and airports. What is wrong in the
tourist language policy appears to be an effort to teach the visitors the
English language. If they wish to do that they would go to the US, Canada
or the UK. This should serve as food for thought in Philippine tourism.

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http://www.catanduanestribune.com/Mar-14-2007/Opinion/TheSixthSense/Detail.aspx?newsID=fH54ITn1ssIrTr

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