Tourism Act 2009 hopes to boost congress turnout

CEBU, Philippines - The Department of Tourism and tourism-related businesses are hoping that the implementation of the Tourism Act of 2009 will encourage more associations to join this year’s Tourism Congress.

The Tourism congress, as provided in Republic Act 9593 or the Tourism Act of 2009, “serves as the private sector consultative body to assist the government in the development, implementation and coordination of Philippine tourism policy.”

Tourism Congress Visayas vice president Jenny Franco said that there are already more than 12 associations from the region that have already sent their applications which is more compared to the previous congresses held last November 26 and December 16 both in 2009.

Franco said that the applications, which was due last January 4, would be sent to the main office for review and approval and for it to be included as nominees for the three boards in the congress.

These include the Tourism Promotion Board, Duty Free Philippines and Tourism Infrastructure & Economic Zones Authority.

According to Franco, once the applications are approved, members could already nominate any one of the three Boards and will be accepted by the Congress for evaluation from January 4 until January 17, 2010. The final set of nominees will be reviewed by the Tourism Congress Board of Trustees from January 17 until 24, 2010 before they submit it to the President through the Secretary of Tourism on January 25, 2010.

However, Franco said that despite associations not making it to the deadline for the submission of applications to be considered as nominees, they are still inviting associations to continue on submitting applications for membership, which is a continuing process for the Congress.— AJ de la Torre