Tourism Act seen to yield good changes in the sector

CEBU, Philippines - The tourism regional offices are optimistic that there will be a lot of good changes in the industry once the Tourism Act of 2009, which was signed by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo here in Cebu last May, will be fully implemented next year.

During the weekly 888 news forum at Marco Polo Plaza Hotel, DOT Senior Adviser Phineas Alburo said there will be a lot of good changes once the act is fully implemented next year.

Alburo said that as early as now the Department of Tourism is conduction information drives regarding the tourism law while waiting for the law’s full implementation early next year.

He added that considering that the new law contains a lot of provisions, new agencies and sectors will have to work hand in hand with the DOT in its implementation.

Alburo said it is stipulated in the new law the new organizations under DOT will be well funded.

He explained that the new law would help solve the problem of lack of organization collaboration and funding, which play key roles in boosting tourism in the country.

Alburo said that the cooperation of agencies and other organizations concerned would be strengthened since RA 9593 mandates a collected effort of different groups in various programs.

He added that for the Department of Foreign Affairs, Department of Trade and Industry and Department of Transportation and Communications would be part of the Tourism and Promotions Board. Alburo explained that this would help them tap different concerns that affect tourism like prices of goods, which is under DTI. The TPB is in-charge of marketing and promotion of the country as a global tourism destination while focusing on different tourism products and services.

The Department of Public Works and Highways, Department of Environment and Natural Resources and the Department of Interior and Local Government will also be part of the tourism infrastructure and enterprise zone authority. They are assigned to designate, regulate and supervise tourism enterprise zones and build up tourism projects in the country.

Duty Free Philippines is now known as Duty Free Philippines Corporation tasked to operate the duty- and tax-free merchandising system in the country.

Aside from this, Alburo said that through the new law, the Philippine National Police would be strengthening their efforts as they are mandated to establish tourism security forces to high tourism traffic zones as well as have more tourist police assistance desks.

Local Government Units shall also prepare and compliment local tourism development plans said Alburo, which is a good way for them to build up their places and their products.

Outgoing DOT-7 Regional Director Dawnie Roa said that this will certainly invite more tourists in the country especially as this would also mean having strict standards for those that provide accommodations for the guests like the hotels and the condotels. —AJ de la Torre