Tourism revenues seen to hit $5.8 B

MANILA, Philippines – With intensified promotional campaigns especially in European countries, the Department of Tourism (DOT) said international tourism receipts are likely to hit $5.8 billion in 2008, up by one billion from last year.

Although he did not give a specific target for tourist arrivals this year, Tourism Secretary Joseph Ace Durano said the agency will continue to encourage more high-spending tourists, such as Europeans, for a longer stay in the Philippines.

Durano made the statement during the kick-off ceremony of the 15th Travel Tour Expo at the SMX Convention Center in Pasay City last Friday.

Durano said the DOT will work hard to maintain its 10 percent growth rate average in tourist arrivals per year.

Last year, the tourism industry generated a total of $4.8 billion revenues from 3.09 million foreign tourists, he said.

Durano said 3,000 additional rooms in places where tourist spots are located, are expected to open this year until 2009.

He also stressed the need for the passage of the Tourism Bill which he said would not only strengthen the industry but would provide opportunities to many Filipinos to travel around the world.

The DOT secretary pointed out the need to abolish travel taxes, which according to him affects mostly the country’s modern day heroes – the overseas Filipino workers.

“The biggest group that is traveling and paying taxes are the new heroes of the country – the OFWs. Why give them additional burden?” Durano said.

Senate Bill 1238 or the “Tourism Bill,” principally authored by Sen. Richard Gordon, seeks, among others, to create “Tourism Philippines, a corporation combining the functions of the Philippine Convention and Visitors Corp., the Philippine Tourism Authority and the promotions and marketing departments of the DOT to strengthen the promotion of the tourism industry.”

The bill also “seeks to encourage investments in new hotels, resorts and other tourism enterprises through tax breaks and fast, friendly and efficient governance to truly create world-class establishments in the most beautifully, historical and culturally significant areas of our country.” – Helen Flores