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THE 2nd
Philippine International Tourism Fair (PITF) opened at
the Cebu International Convention Center in Mandaue City
Thursday with a promise that the government will soon
have a national framework to fully back the growth of
the industry.
Rep.
Edgar Chatto, chairman of the House Committee on
Tourism, said the national tourism framework bill is now
doing its final rounds at the Lower House and should be
approved when Congress resumes session.
“Right
now the Department of Tourism [DOT] is overseeing all
tourism promotions, but we have come to realize the
important role of the local government because they are
the major workhorse. When the local government is
involved, tourism flourishes,” Chatto told reporters.
He said
the national government wants the framework in place
before the country hosts the world’s most important
tourism-sector policy gathering—the United Nations World
Tourism Organization meeting, also in Cebu from October
22 to 25.
With the
theme “Now is the Time for the Philippines,” PITF
gathers more than 100 foreign tour buyers to have unique
one-on-one business-matching meetings with local tour
operators for the next two days. The event is supported
by the BusinessMirror.
The
Chinese will be sending the biggest delegation of
foreign buyers this year. They will be joined by buyers
from the United States, Russia, Japan, South Korea,
Singapore, Australia and huge European markets Germany,
France and Italy among others.
The
chairman of the event, Angel Ramos-Bognot, said it is
now time for the sector to work hard as the government,
through the DOT, has brought in numbers.
“Now
it’s the time for us to work, let us get those contracts
signed,” she told the local sellers during her speech.
“I hope the foreign buyers, after seeing what we can
offer, will prioritize the Philippines.”
Cebu
Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia formally welcomed the delegates to
Cebu, saying they should drop by other places on the
island during their stay.
The
governor espoused countryside tourism to spread the
benefits of the industry out of the metropolitan centers
and into the smaller towns and cities.
“Tourism
is about the people—the welfare of the people who serve
in it, the people who are being served and the people
who work for it,” she said.
Today
the side event of the PITF, the Philippine Travel
Exchange, will be opened by Secretary Joseph Ace Durano.
More
than 100 exhibitors have joined the exchange to showcase
their destinations and services to foreign and local
buyers.
Chatto
said the tourism policy framework will ensure long-term
directions while encouraging more investment in the
tourism sector.
“We also
want to streamline the operations and strengthen the DOT
by streamlining its operational relations, as well as
rationalize the programs and functions of the various
agencies attached to it.”
The
features of the law include reallocation of the proceeds
from travel tax for tourism development and promotions,
a service standardization policy, tourist safety and
security, and the provision of adequate tourism
information and services.
The
committee is also tackling with government line agencies
the matter on additional incentive packages to local and
foreign investors through the tourism enterprise zones
across the country. |
