Tourism is 21st century mega industry– DOT

MAKATI CITY, Philippines – Tourism Secretary Ramon Jimenez told businessmen and media at the Manila Peninsula Hotel recently that tourism will be the world’s 21st century mega industry.

“Tourism will be a driver of many economies especially those of developing countries, like the Philippines,” the former top advertising man in the country said.

This year alone – tourists worldwide number about one billion people so “that the 10 million tourists target for the Philippines by 2016 is a small portion.”

Jimenez said the fighting target for the Philippines is 10 million foreign tourists and 35 million domestic tourists by 2016 – the latter constituting 29 million today.

The ploy to enthuse locals to travel in the country than abroad is one way of conserving our dollars and enriching the countryside, he said.

As of January to July 2012, the list of foreign guests has already hit 2.9 million, a 9.7% hike, and on track to achieving the dream of cornering seven million total tourists for the year.

Even the Chinese market – feared to be affected by the “Scarborough Shoal” controversy – defied fears here by registering a good 14.7% growth from last year, he said.

Jimenez described the “airport congestion” as an oxymoronic “good problem” which means the country does not have a lack of tourists, only lack of facilities. The NAIA 3 will soon be fully operational (from a half percent current utilization), the Davao airport is now operating and the Legaspi and Bohol airports are getting upgrades.

Even now, the country enjoys direct flights to airports like those in Manila, Davao, Mactan and even Kalibo, Aklan. It does not make sense that the country would only have one gateway (Manila) in a country of 7,100 islands (low tide). Thus, the direct flights, he said.

The P 7.4-B Panglao International Airport will soon join those ranks while the current Tagbilaran City airport makes do with limited facilities to accommodate nine domestic flights, with South Korea adding two more direct flights from Seoul, the DOT chief said.

Jimenez, known for his wit and humor, said:” Expanding and fixing an airport at the same time is like changing pants while going down the stairs.” It is never easy.

For security, special Tourist Police are being institutionalized in crowded tourist destinations but in the end it is the “natural talent of Filipinos for tourism” that makes the country a candidate for the next prime global destination.

Jimenez said tourism has a high multiplier effect on downstream industries so that it is a prime driver for “inclusive growth”. One restaurant that opens in a tourist area doubles the income of a corn farmer who has now one elite buyer.

According to the DOT chief, the president’s mandate to him is clear. Tourism is not for tourism’s sake. Tourism is not about how many people who get down the plane but how many jobs are created because of them.”

The DOT and DFA are working hard that visa applications are finished within 28 days. Even people from India (over one billion population) are induced to enter the country by allowing them “a 14 day visa-free stay in the country” as long as they possess seven of the named visas from overseas.

The Philippines is clear-cut in counting its inbound visitors because the country is separated by sea from other nations. But a tourist in Singapore, for instance, who crosses the land boundary and comes back, gets counted twice upon entering Singapore.

According to Jimenez, the Philippines is one of the world’s largest social network users (Internet, etc.) with 27 million Facebook users, and thereby some 75,000 versions of “It’s More Fun in the Philippines” are scattered through cyberspace. The “foreign business elite” is not really a prime target of the tourism drive.

Jimenez said the advertisement of Philippine tourism in CNN was just timed for the stay of the different governors of the Asian Development Bank who gathered here recently. “Our 30 and 50 seconder ads are spread worldwide even to the remotest section of Europe. It is a natural market for those who are escaping the cold season there.”

To attract investments in tourism the guidelines for TIEZA (Tourism Incentives for Entrepreneurship Zone Authority) is already in place, Jimenez stressed. –Bingo P. Dejaresco III, Philippine News Agency