A New In Tourism

By JACKY LYNNE A. OIGA

2012 signals a bright future for tourism and travel

2012 marks a more vibrant era for Philippine tourism, says Tourism Secretary Ramon Jimenez, Jr. (Photos from: www.philippinetourism.us; www. wikipedia.com)

MANILA, Philippines — After the successful launch of the Department of Tourism’s people’s campaign “It’s More Fun in the Philippines”,  2012 promises to be a vibrant and promising year for tourism as the department intensifies its efforts to reach its four million target for this year and optimistically 10 million visitors by the end of 2016.

 “People keep asking me why I raised the target from six million to 10 million in 2016. I always say that if all we have by 2016 is six million, we would have spent all this time only to end up with a bigger gap between us and Vietnam. The 10 million target mark is crucial not only for this administration, it is crucial for this country because at 10 million arrivals, tourism has finally become a serious source of business, income, jobs and pride for the Filipinos,” Tourism Secretary Ramon Jimenez, Jr. said.

To usher in a new era in Philippine tourism, the ever enthusiastic Jimenez shared the Department of Tourism’s (DoT) 2012 Tourism Roadmap during the recent Philippine Tour Operators Association’s (PHILTOA) 1st General Membership meeting.

According to the secretary, investments by government through PPP (public-private partnerships) will be poured into infrastructure development to address accessibility into and around the archipelago. Product development and enhancement will be aided by capacity building of local governments and communities and attractive incentives for businesses.

Thus, expect to see the DoT forging more convergence with key government agencies like DPWH, DOTC, DOF, as well as more partnerships with LGUs and the private sector.

 “For the first time in the history of the Philippines, the bulk of infrastructure spending for the year 2012 will be for tourism. We are looking at upgraded airports in Puerto Princesa, Mactan, Kalibo, Panglao and Clark. On the other hand, the NLEX-SLEX connector road project will help make road trips faster and more convenient. Also the seaport upgrading has now taken great significance because cruise lines all over the world are looking at Asia again,” Jimenez said.

He added: “We are now in very serious talks with Singapore so that together, Singapore and the Philippines will represent an incredible value known as the Sunshine Trail. When we are ready, we will brief the media on more news about it.”

 The Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA) will also be instrumental in making ready potential areas for development and investments. Also indicated in the NTDP is the department’s goal to be more competitive in a sense that we will be reviewing the pricing of all our tour packages and other offerings.

“"It’s more fun in the Philippines" is not just a slogan like the previous slogans. "More Fun" is a competitive marketing strategy which describes who we are and who we will be in the coming years. In fact, preparations are being done to optimize our web presence. We now have a famous campaign in which we haven’t paid a single peso in media money.”

As for DoT’s efforts in addressing airline bans and opening up accessibility, Jimenez said they are currently waiting for the audit of the FAA upgrade, which is expected to be ready by the end of the year. He also reported that the Finance Department has already agreed to no longer interpose any objections to the revision of the Common Carriers Tax. The Philippines is also in the forefront of supporting the ASEAN common visa to make it a reality in a year and a half.

“Through all of these efforts, the DoT will continuously and tirelessly endeavor to make the world see that the Philippines is not just a place to see, but a place to be, not only because of the beautiful destinations, but because of the warmth and hospitality of the Filipino people, that indeed, it’s more fun in the Philippines,” Jimenez concluded.