Local business leaders pledge support for new tourism chief

CEBU, Philippines - Private sector players in the tourism sector vowed to support and work closely with the new leadership at the Department of Tourism (DOT), business leaders said yesterday.

Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) president Melanie Ng made the announcement yesterday at the CBM 2016 "Tourism Forum" held at the Marco Polo Plaza Cebu.

Ng said the chamber will convene the sectoral groups to make a good presentation as industry voice, and give feedback to the new tourism chief.

Earlier this week, President-elect Duterte has appointed Wanda Corazon Tulfo Teo to take the reins of the Department of Tourism.

CCCI's initiative to lead a stronger tourism industry voice in Cebu, she said, aims at putting pressure to the DOT in crafting more promotional programs for Cebu.

CCCI has been putting the tourism sector as a top priority for the last few years now, in fact sectoral organizations under the tourism banner are now official chamber members, Ng said.

Aside from continuity of the programs introduced by outgoing Tourism secretary Ramon Jimenez Jr., Ng said the private sector expects to see more interesting tourism programs to be launched under Duterte's regime.

"We hope there will be more tourism programs that will benefit Cebu and the region," added Ng.

Eased  visa  processing

Airport operator GMR-Megawide Cebu Airport Corporation chief executive adviser Andrew Harrison said during yesterday's forum that the airport management is now talking with the government especially on how the Philippines can provide a relaxed and fast visa application and processing from other destinations around the world.

 Harrison said apart from its advocacy to curb traffic woes in Cebu, the company is also moving up on advocating electronic visa processing and other recommendations to the new set of government leaders in order to promote ease of entry to the Philippines, thereby benefiting the tourism sector.  (FREEMAN)