Puyat to discuss tourism issues with Cabinet execs

Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat is set to meet with some Cabinet secretaries today to discuss issues on transportation, infrastructure and immigration as she targets seven million tourist arrivals in the country this year.

Puyat said the meeting with Cabinet secretaries, which is taking place for the first time, aims to realize sustainable and inclusive growth in the tourism industry and the country’s economy as a whole.

She will meet with Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade, Public Works Secretary Mark Villar, Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra and Customs Commissioner Isidro Lapeña. Under her leadership, Puyat said the DOT targets tourist arrivals of 7.4 million in 2018, which is 11.3 percent higher than the 6.62 million during the time of resigned tourism secretary Wanda Teo.

“We expect the increase to come from China and emerging markets like Australia. This is driven by more connections, affordable rates and aggressive market activation,” Puyat said.

She said the Department of Tourism, which is also a member of the Task Force Boracay, is working double time in diverting focus to other destinations, given the temporary closure of the island.

If all environmental laws are complied with, Puyat said Boracay could be opened to the public by Oct. 26, or a few days earlier than Oct. 31, the original schedule.