Philippines optimistic over Tourism Act
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The Philippine government has passed the long-awaited Tourist Act, giving the private sector a greater say in how the country’s tourism industry is promoted and developed, according to a report in The Philippines Star. The bill will also see the creation of the country’s Tourism Promotions Board (TPB) and the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA). The Philippines’ Department of Tourism (DOT) will remain as the primary planning, programming, coordinating, implementing and regulatory government agency in the development of the industry; with the TPB sitting along side as a promotional tourist board, similar to the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) or TAT (Tourism Authority of Thailand).
“With the creation of the TPB, we achieve synergy between government and private sector,” Rose Libongco, President of the archipelago’s Hotel Sales & Marketing Association, was reported saying by the Star. “The promotions undertaken by the DOT under Secretary Durano are very good. Our goal is for a sustained and continued marketing of the destinations.”
The TPB will be headed by the tourism secretary and will be attached to the DOT. According to the report, it will have 10 directors; five from the government and five from the private sector. Annual arrivals into the Philippines current hit just 3.13 million last year, with a shortfall partially blamed on the inconsistent promotional activities of different governments. The new private sector involvement however, should change that. “With the Tourism Act the marketing and promotion of the Philippines domestically and internationally will be more sustained, as it should be,” Ms Libongco added.
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