LGUs urged to work with National Government on tourism

• 
  

THE Department of Tourism (DOT)-Eastern Visayas called on local government units (LGUs) to work with the National Government to develop tourism.

DOT regional director Karina Rosa Tiopes said the National Government is currently finalizing its national strategy for the tourism sector, which sets priority areas of the department until 2016.

“In the plan, DOT is also updating the standards of delivery of the LGUs,” Tiopes said during the weekly Express It At the Park media conference on Saturday.

Tiopes said that LGUs have roles in the development of market competitive tourist destinations and products, which is one of the key priorities in the national tourism development plan.

Other strategies focus on improving market access and connectivity and improving tourism institutional, governance and human resource capacities.

“In the development of market competitive tourist destinations and products, DOT will work with LGUs to implement a sustainable tourism transportation and destination infrastructure development program in the strategic destinations,” Tiopes said.

Tiopes added the agency will also facilitate the development of mixed-use tourism complexes and community-based tourism programs in strategic destinations and implement a mandatory tourism enterprise accreditation and certification system.

“We will also facilitate tourism investment and simplify business set-up and licensing procedures, enhance efforts to safeguard natural and cultural heritage sites and vulnerable groups, and roll out a major public-private sector funded marketing campaign targeting key growth markets,” Tiopes said.

To improve tourism institutional, governance and human resource capacities, DOT will sit down with the LGUs to clarify institutional roles and responsibilities between the DOT and LGUs and undertake awareness and capacity building programs at the local level.

The department will also work with the private sector, Department of Labor and Employment (Dole), Commission on Higher Education (Ched) and Technical Education Skills and Development Authority (Tesda) to develop a highly competent, well-motivated and productive tourism workforce; and improve governance in the area of safety, security and in dealing with tourists, tourism investors and tourism enterprises at the national and local levels.

The agency also identified 25 strategic thematic tourism destination clusters covering 77 tourism development areas (TDA). It also plans to finalize the list of transportation and infrastructure projects to be done and their respective cost estimates; package these projects for implementation and financing, arranging and scheduling these packages of works, assess the broad economic returns of the investment; and deliver remaining non-infrastructure outputs.

Meanwhile, the DOT regional director said the tourism development plan is now being reviewed by the economic cluster of the Cabinet.

The National Tourism Development Plan outlines the key result areas for the DOT administration. (Leyte Samar Daily 

Express)

When in Cebu City, please visit gregmelep.com for your real estate and retirement needs.

Avail of the opportunity to own a condominium unit in Cebu City for only P12,000.00/month with its own parking lot. Hurry while the supply of units last. Just call the Tel. Nos. shown below.

Tel. Nos. (032)555-8464/09164422611/09173378637