NGO appeals for President to sign 2009 Tourism Act

SUBIC BAY FREE PORT—A nongovernment organization appealed to President Arroyo to sign the Tourism Act of 2009 because it would boost the Philippine economy through the global financial crisis.

“That legislation, when enacted into a law, is expected to boost the tourism industry, in particular, and the economy, in general, highlighted by the inflow of new investments and the creation of new jobs,” said Robert Lim Joseph, chairman emeritus of the National Association of Independent Travel Agencies (Naitas).

Joseph said the country needs a partnership between the government and the private sector in order to sustain the economy.

Joseph said Tourism Secretary Joseph Ace Durano did a successful niche marketing strategy and the former tourism secretary now Sen. Richard Gordon had been effective backstopping the industry.

“The niche marketing strategy of Secretary Durano is paying off as shown by the influx of tourists in the provinces, such as Cebu, Boracay, Palawan and Bohol,” Joseph said.

The staunch advocate of fair skies cited Gordon, who is chairman of the Senate tourism committee, for shepherding the passage of the Tourism Act of 2009, which is now awaiting the signature of President Arroyo.

The founding chairman of the Tourism Educators and Movers (Team) Philippines and League of Tourism Students of the Philippines said Durano and Gordon recognize the important role that private-sector entities can play in promoting Philippine tourism.

Joseph noted that the strategic marketing campaigns of the government in the Middle East, China, Russia and key European markets are now paying off.

“To cite an example, in Cebu alone, arrivals in January 2009 of Chinese tourists rose by 204 percent, Russians by 133 percent, Hong Kong by 163 percent and Indians by 108 percent,” he said.

Joseph disclosed that Naitas, Team Philippines and other allied groups have programs that are in place and at work to maintain tourism growth and further develop the industry.

Among the programs, he said, are the strengthening of the hospitality management-training programs of schools and the promotion of medical-tourism highlighted at the recent fourth international medical tourism conference led by Naitas chairman Angel Ramos Bognot.

“One such program is Team Philippines’ Lakbay Aral program, which allows tourism and hospitality-management students to travel around the country to gain deeper understating of its rich culture, tradition and heritage, as well as appreciate the various tourism destinations,” he said.

Joseph said what Team Philippines is doing “is to make academe more responsive to the needs of the industry.” Written by Claudeth Mocon - Business Mirror

Senators OK tourism bill

SENATORS unanimously approved the proposed Tourism Act of 2008 on third reading before adjourning on Wednesday, voicing hopes this would bring large chunks of tourist dollars into the country and provide relief to millions of Filipinos reeling from inflation that soared to 9.6 percent in May.

Sen. Richard Gordon, its principal sponsor, said the Tourism Act has been potential to bring in billions of revenues to the country.” And by sending a signal to the whole world that we have a new tourism bill, we are creating landmark change in getting tourists into our country.”

“We must realize that prices will continue to go higher and our people will either have to tighten their already tight belts or depends on handouts from government, like the one-time P500 power subsidy,” Gordon added.” But jobs are the need of people.”

He said, “The important feature of the tourism bill is that we can now uplift the regulatory capability of the Secretary of Tourism as well as uplift our marketing capability.”