In a continued effort to strengthen bilateral economic ties with Austria, the Philippine Embassy in Vienna explored new avenues for collaboration with the Austrian region of Tyrol during a recent working visit.
Ambassador Evangelina A. Bernas met with Innsbruck Vice Mayor Georg Willi and Tyrol State Councillor Mario Gerber, highlighting the Philippines’ impressive economic growth, and positioning it as an attractive destination for Austrian investments. The discussions covered potential partnerships in trade and investment, tourism, labor, culture, education, and people-to-people exchanges. The Philippine delegation also included Consul Candy Cypres-Bauzon and Honorary Consul Dr. Christian Traweger.
Tyrolean officials expressed an urgent need for skilled workers in the healthcare and hospitality sectors. They discussed facilitating employment opportunities for Filipino workers in Tyrol under the labor agreement signed between the two countries last year.
Ambassador Bernas emphasized the importance of revitalizing tourism cooperation between the Philippines and Austria, including sharing best practices in sustainable tourism.
The Philippine Department of Tourism and the Federal State of Tyrol had previously signed a tourism agreement in 2007 and a Letter of Intent in 2015, which provided scholarships for Filipino tourism students to study in Innsbruck and offered Austrian students training opportunities in Philippine resorts.
Ambassador Bernas also met with representatives from Tyrol’s travel agencies to explore ways to promote the Philippines as a destination for Austrian tourists.
