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
March –
IT’S WOMEN’S MONTH!
“Respect and support women
every day of the year/s!”
Invoke Article 33 of the ILO Constitution
against the military junta in Myanmar
to carry out the recommendations of the 2021 ILO Commission of Inquiry
against serious violations of protocols of
Forced Labour and Freedom of Association.
Accept the National Unity Government (NUG)
of Myanmar. Reject Military!
#WearMask #WashHands
#Report Corruption #SearchPosts #TakePicturesVideos
Monthly Observances:
Women’s Role in History Month
Weekly Observances:
Week 1: Environmental Week;
Women’s Week
Week 3: Philippine Industry and “
Made-in-the-Philippines Products Week
Last Week: Protection and Gender-Fair Treatment
of the Girl Child Week
Daily Observances:
March 8: Women’s Rights and
International Peace Day;
National Women’s Day
March 4: Employee Appreciation Day
March 15: World Consumer Rights Day
March 18: Global Recycling Day
March 21: International Day for the Elimination
of Racial Discrimination
March 23: International Day for the Right to the Truth
Concerning Gross Human Rights Violations
and for the Dignity of Victims
March 25: International Day of Remembrance of the
Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade
March 27: Earth Hour
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