More infra investments needed in tourism sector

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippines needs to invest in infrastructure as well as improve its statistical database and update some laws to allow the local tourism industry to enjoy benefits of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Economic Community (AEC), an industry official said.

Speaking at the Leaderspeak: ASEAN Tourism Integration forum held at the Asian Institute of Management, ASEAN Tourism Association Philippines deputy president Aileen Clemente said the Philippines still has to do for the tourism industry to benefit from the upcoming regional economic integration.

In particular, she said there would be a need to invest in infrastructure, particularly on airports able to accommodate more tourists.

“Are the current airports enough for 10 million tourists? How about for more? It (Philippines) always has to be prepared for more,” she said.

Aside from spending for the airports, she also said there is a need to invest in technology to make traveling within the ASEAN seamless.

For instance, she said there should be an ASEAN lane in airports to make it easier for tourists from other Southeast Asian countries traveling to the Philippines.

She said the government likewise needs to improved its statistical database on tourism.

“At present, there is minimal data. It is important to work on this because under the ASEAN (economic community), we are supposed to share data with other countries,” she said.

She added there is a need to update some laws, particularly the Immigration Law to be prepared for the AEC.

“The Immigration Law we use is outdated. It was passed during the Commonwealth,” she said.

Aside from the Immigration Law, the government will need to pass some laws which are still pending which may affect the tourism industry such as the rationalization of fiscal incentives bill.

The AEC, which will be in place by 2015, will transform the ASEAN into a region with free movement of goods, services, investment, skilled labor as well as flow of capital.

Clemente said the Philippines can benefit from the AEC in terms of greater connectivity as well as in learning from best practices of its neighbors.

 The Philippines is aiming to attract 10 million foreign tourists in the country by 2016.