The Management Association of the Philippines is urging the government to allow the private sector to spearhead tourism promotion in the country to enable the Philippines to get a bigger chunk of tourist arrivals from all over the world.
In a statement issued Monday, the business group suggested the establishment of a privately run Tourism Promotion Board.
“To fulfill the promise of tourism—a 12-percent total contribution to the [gross domestic product] and a total of 5.6 million jobs generated by 2020—there must be a keener appreciation of the needs and wants of our identified tourism markets, from which will emanate a concrete, targeted, cohesive and innovative marketing strategy,” the group said.
Such a strategy could only be formulated with the cooperation of all relevant sectors. The Department of Tourism should not take on this task single-handedly.
MAP said that while the Philippines had so much going for it—beautiful beaches, diverse marine life, mostly young and educated population, English-speaking citizens, good food and state-of-the-art medical facilities—the country was among the laggards in the region in terms of tourism.
Citing data from a recent report by the United Nations World Tourism Organization, the group noted that the Philippines managed to attract only 3.5 million tourists last year, behind Vietnam’s 5 million, Indonesia’s 7 million, Singapore’s 9.1 million, Thailand’s 15.8 million, Hong Kong’s 20.1 million and Malaysia’s 24.5 million.
In terms of tourism receipts in the region, the country generated only $2.7 million last year, a huge difference from top tourism money-makers Hong Kong with $22.9 million, Thailand with $19.7 million, and Malaysia with $17.8 million.
MAP urged the government to take advantage of the Tourism Congress, a private-sector consultative body that would develop, implement and coordinate tourism policies. The Tourism Congress was created under RA 9593, or the Tourism Act of 2009. –Abigail L. Ho, Philippine Daily Inquirer
July 2025
Nutrition Month
“Give us much more than P50 increase
for proper nutrition!”
Invoke Article 33 of the ILO Constitution
against the military junta in Myanmar
to carry out the 2021 ILO Commission of Inquiry recommendations
against serious violations of
Forced Labour and Freedom of Association protocols.
Accept National Unity Government (NUG)
of Myanmar. Reject Military!
#WearMask #WashHands #Distancing #TakePicturesVideosturesVideos
July
3 July – International Day of Cooperatives
3 July – International Plastic Bag Free Day
5 July – World Youth Skills Day
7 July – Global Forgiveness Day
11 July – World Population Day
17 July – World Day for International Justice
28 July – World Nature Conservation Day
30 July – World Day against Trafficking in Persons
Monthly Observances:
Schools Safety Month
Nutrition Month
National Disaster Consciousness Month
Weekly Observances:
Week 2: Cultural Communities Week
Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprise
Development Week
Week 3: National Science and
Technology Week
National Disability Prevention and
Rehabilitation Week
July 1-7:
National Culture Consciousness Week
July 13-19:
Philippines Business Week
Week ending last Saturday of July:
Arbor Week
Daily Observances:
First Saturday of July:
International Cooperative Day
in the Philippines
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