FARM TOURISM PLUS SUSTAINABILITY ON LIST

Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo Puyat commits to “bring sustainable tourism on board” as the DOT promotes rural and farm tourism, while working with other agencies and private sector partners to improve access, connectivity, and security.

The Department of Tourism (DOT) will reach out to more destinations and communities through sustainable tourism programs, Tourism Secretary Bernadette Puyat said during her first visit to Cebu since being appointed to head the agency.

“Tourism will become an agent to reduce poverty and inequality... We will bring sustainable tourism on board,” said Puyat during the inauguration of Terminal 2 of the Mactan-Cebu International Airport last Thursday.

The former Department of Agriculture undersecretary said rural and farm tourism will be prioritized as these programs are mandated by law and are part of the Duterte administration’s 10-point socio-economic agenda.

“It is our commitment to elevate the development of tourism along the path of greater sustainability,” said Puyat, who earlier said in reports that she would put a limit on visitors allowed in a tourist destination.

She, likewise, promised to give the country’s food industry an opportunity to grow alongside other tourism products.

Besides rural and farm tourism, Puyat said her office would also maintain working closely with partners in government and the private sector to improve policies on access, connectivity, and security.

The DOT targets 12 million inbound visitors and 89.2 million domestic travelers by 2022. Secretary Puyat said these “are now within closer reach as we move to upgrade gateways, develop more destinations, and uphold international tourism standards.”

Sustainable at its core

Last June 6, the World Tourism Organization (WTO) released its “Tourism for Development” report, in which it called on governments to enforce inclusive policies for sustainable tourism, as well as urged businesses to “demonstrate their commitment to sustainability in core business models and value chains.”

Tourism industries have contributed 12.2 percent to the economy in 2017.

The country’s Tourism Direct Gross Value Added (TDGVA) amounted to P1,929.3 billion, the Philippines Statistics Authority reported.

Inbound tourism expenditure, which refers to the expenditure of non-resident visitors (foreign visitors and Filipinos permanently residing abroad) within the Philippines, grew by 43.9 percent last year, amounting to P448.6 billion, from P311.7 billion in 2016.

Compared to the country’s total exports, the share of inbound tourism expenditure was 9.2 percent.

Inbound tourism ranked third among the biggest export items in 2017, after semiconductors at 21.9 percent and miscellaneous services at 15.7 percent.

On the other hand, domestic tourism expenditure, which includes expenditure of resident visitors within the country either as domestic trip or part of an international trip, grew by 25.5 percent, from P2,108.2 billion in 2016 to P2,644.8 billion in 2017.

OPENING SOON.

President Rodrigo Duterte (center) prepares to unveil the marker for the new Terminal 2 in this photo taken last Thursday, June 7. Terminal 2 will serve international passengers going through Mactan Cebu International Airport starting in July.

SUNSTAR FOTO/ AMPER CAMPAÑA