Improved infrastructure, connectivity seen to boost tourism

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Transportation (DOTr) and the Department of Tourism (DOT) have forged a collaboration for enhanced tourism infrastructure and increased connectivity to ensure sustained growth of the country’s tourism industry.

Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade and Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat signed yesterday the establishment of the Institutionalized Leveraging Infrastructure Program for Airport Development (iLIPAD), a program which aims to promote sustainable tourism through the productive utilization of airport assets of the country.

iLIPAD seeks to synchronize efforts of both agencies to boost airport and route development programs.

It likewise serves as the tourism industry’s platform for consulting the aviation sector as part of the mid-term review of the strategic actions on airport infrastructure and travel facilitation programs under the National Tourism Development Plan 2016-2022.

Puyat said the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA), which is the DOT’s implementing agency and infrastructure arm, is working with the DOTr on the possibility of funding several airports in the country to equip them with night-rating capabilities.

Puyat said a P1 billion funding is set for approval by the TIEZA Board in its next board meeting.

“We must make sure that it’s not only more fun in the Philippines, but much safer too,” she said.

“This gesture is very encouraging, because believe it or not, the capacity of all commercially-operating airports in the Philippines has and have to be night-rated in order that they make sense and the efficiency desired can be achieved,” Tugade said.

Puyat also underscored the relationship between tourism and transportation for sustaining economic growth in the country.