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
Sept 5 – Oct 5
National Teachers Month
“Pay teachers decent wages,
Pay attention to teachers!”
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
#Report Corruption #SearchPosts #TakePicturesVideos
September
Monthly Observances:
Health, Safety, and Sanitation Month
Clean-up Month
Civil Service Month
National Peace Consciousness Month
Social Security Month
Rule of Law Month
National Teachers’ Month (Sept 5-Oct 5)
Weekly Observances:
Sept 17 – 23:
World Clean and Green Week
Week 2: Education Week
Week 4: Medicine Week
Last Week: Family Week
Daily Observances:
Third Saturday: International Coastal Clean-up Day
Third Monday: World Health Day
Last Friday: National Maritime Day
Sept 8: National Literacy Day
Sept 15: Philippine Medicine Day
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