Big boost to industry: Arroyo signs Tourism Act

CEBU, Philippines – President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo yesterday signed into law, the proposed National Tourism Policy Act of 2009 or Republic Act 9593, declaring a national policy for tourism as an engine of Investment and employment, growth and national development.

The proposed law is seen as a big boost to Philippine tourism and the choice of Cebu as the setting of the signing ceremony is deemed highly appropriate considering that the province has recently been named as the top tourism destination of the country.

The Act declares that tourism is an “indispensable element of the national economy and an industry of national interest and importance, which must be harnessed as an engine of socio-economic growth and cultural affirmation to generate investment, foreign exchange and employment, and to continue to mold an enhanced sense of national pride for all Filipino.”

The tourism statute aims to promote the country as the premier tourist destination in Asia and to upgrade its level of international competitiveness through a system of accreditation, standards-setting and classification.

The new law empowers the Department of Tourism by strengthening its different agencies to more efficiently and effectively coordinate the functions and resources of government for promotion and development programs, as well as eliminate overlapping of functions.

Tourism Secretary Ace Durano said that the new law has just given the DOT the authority to collect additional revenue.

It has also secured the yearly budget support of P500 million for the promotion of the industry.

Durano said that they will try to make the new law operational at the end of the year.

“Right now, it is my responsibility, before my term ends, to ensure the smooth transition and application of the provisions of the law,” Durano said.

“This law institutionalizes our efforts to boost tourism for the last five years. We don’t want our efforts to be wasted if the next administration will not prioritize the industry.

“It is also our appeal to the next administration to continue what we have started especially in areas that are tourism-dependent like Cebu, Bohol and Davao among others,” Durano said. 

Senator Richard Gordon said that the country will now have a shield against the impact of the global economic recession with the enactment into law of the tourism bill.

Gordon, principal author of the Tourism Act of 2009, said that the law will equip the tourism secretary and stakeholders with all the power, funds, and tools that if used properly will lead to an exponential growth in foreign tourist arrivals.

Gordon attended yesterday’s signing activity during the One Visayas Summit on Climate Change in Imperial Palace Waterpark Resort and Spa in Lapu-Lapu City.

Gordon, who also once served as Tourism secretary, said that the new measure is expected to double the number of foreign tourist arrivals.

The Act also establishes “tourism enterprise zones” in strategic areas such as Cebu, Davao, Bohol, Laguna, Cavite, Boracay, Palawan and Iloilo, in the country to lure foreign investors and tourists to visit places rich with history and culture.

The tourism enterprise zones are expected to spur the creation of jobs and open additional channels for the infusion of much-needed investments in the country as well as enable the people to pull themselves out of the economic recession.

Covenant Signing

President Arroyo and the Regional Development Committee Chiefs of Western, Eastern and Central Visayas yesterday signed a covenant that signifies the commitment of these areas to address the problems brought by climate change.

The covenant was signed during the last day of the One Visayas Summit on Climate Change.

Cabinet Meeting

Acting Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Rolando Tungpalan reported in the cabinet meeting yesterday that the world economic crisis is not yet over, but the worst is over for the Philippine economy.

“The global economy seems to be turning the corner but the recovery will take time. OFW inflows will most certainly grow. The worst seems over. Let us now aim for the best,” Tungpalan said.

In a press briefing yesterday, Tungpalan cited several indications on why the country is now on the road to recovery as a result of the worldwide financial crunch. –/NLQ (THE FREEMAN)