Lim told to submit tourism development plan

MANILA, Philippines - President Aquino has instructed Tourism Secretary Alberto Lim to submit his tourism development plan for the remainder of the year and for next year as he continues to assess the performance of his Cabinet members.             

Earlier, presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said Aquino appeared to be satisfied with Lim after they talked last Monday amid speculations that he would be replaced for lackluster performance.

Palace sources said Aquino is looking at the plans of his Cabinet members for their agencies in measuring their performance.

“The secretary mentioned the tourism development plan and so the President had some questions. And he mentioned to Secretary Lim what he wants to see from the development plan. There’ll be further meetings with the President,” Lacierda said.

After word got out that he may be fired for inefficiency, Lim issued a press statement that the DOT is seeking assistance to create a new country brand.                                               

Several months ago, the department drew flak for the “Pilipinas Kay Ganda” slogan that was allegedly plagiarized and considered ineffective.

‘Local tourism is vibrant’

Tourism Assistant Secretary for International Promotions Benito Bengzon Jr. said local tourism is vibrant thanks to increased domestic travel.                                                           

 Bengzon said the Philippines is one of the largest domestic air passenger markets in Southeast Asia, with 16 million to 17 million passengers taking commercial flights every year to the provinces.                                                                                    

He said that just last year, 23 million Filipinos traveled domestically, 17 million of which flew.

He attributed the increased domestic travel to the entry of low-cost carriers into the aviation market.

The department targets domestic tourism to strengthen to 34 million to 35 million tourists by 2016.                                  

In terms of foreign arrivals, the DOT said 2010 was a banner year, with foreign tourist arrivals at 3.5 million.              

Bengzon said that for the first four months of this year, 1.3 million foreigners visited the country, 13 percent higher than the number of tourists who arrived in the country in the same period last year.

He said the DOT is looking at sustaining this growth rate until the end of  the year to achieve their target  of 3.7 million foreign arrivals before yearend. – With Sandy Araneta