By Brian Jules Campued
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Thursday, Jan. 18, ordered the consolidation of the country’s tourism services to align with the global tourism market.
The President issued the statement after the Private Sector Advisory Council’s (PSAC) tourism sector discussed their recommendations to attract more tourists.
During a meeting held at Malacañang, President Marcos cited an experience from a friend who opted to go to Thailand rather than the Philippines, noting that the country has “a more organized structure” for its tourism services.
His friend said that in the Philippines, on the other hand, the tourists have to arrange their own hotel, tour guide, and driver, among other tourist needs.
“So, there’s the thing. I guess, you know, consolidate the system. So that it’s because when you’re on vacation, you just want to stay at the beach and have a nice time. So, I think it’s the facilities that we have to develop,” Marcos added.
Meanwhile, the chief executive also directed the Department of Tourism (DOT) to study the potential of sports development and food tourism to further boost the industry.
“The one area that I think is easy is sports development because they (athletes) are here, we just have to make the facilities better. Also food tourism has huge potential but it is largely untapped, there’s a lot of room to improve,” he said.
PSAC head Sabin Aboitiz of Aboitiz Equity Ventures Inc. likewise suggested that the country may opt to host major sporting events as well as hold food campaign activities.
Thursday’s meeting also yielded several recommendations to make the tourism industry more competitive globally and ensure that tourists “visit, stay, spend money, and return” to the country.
The advisory council recommended a 30-day visa-free entry for tourists as well as tapping third-party service providers which can handle the eVisa system.
Improvements in airport connectivity by public-private partnership of regional airports are also recommended to help drive international demand and increase capacity for international airlines and routes, according to the PSAC. – cf
