Visa processing bottleneck restrains tourism growth
THE Department of Tourism warned over the weekend about losing P2.51 billion in industry revenues if the government fails to address the bottlenecks in visa processing.
“Airlines and charter operators have already approached us expressing grave concern of the present limitations. According to them, they may not be able to increase the flight frequencies that they are very much prepared to resume due to low passenger numbers and airfares and travel packages may become too expensive and therefore, not competitive,” said Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco.
The DOT said the limited access could dampen interest in the Philippines despite an anticipated surge in foreign visitors during the dry season.
Frasco said while the tourism industry recorded several achievements last year, there were still bottlenecks that could prevent the country from fully unlocking the potential of international tourism.
The country concluded 2022 with 2.65 million international tourist arrivals, surpassing the target of 1.7 million.
The DOT met with government agencies last week to discuss visa concerns for key and strategic tourism markets in the hope of finding solutions affecting the flow of entry of international tourists.
“For this reason, our President issued the directive to various government agencies to explore how the bottlenecks to travel into the country may be addressed. He indicated that one of the ways by which travel into the Philippines may be fully opened up especially to certain important markets, we must explore the provision of electronic visas,” Frasco said.
She said government agencies should explore the provision of e-visas to Chinese and Indian nationals.
The DOT noted that 58 percent of the Indian visitors are repeat travelers, thus the need to continue the efforts to sustain and increase their entry by exploring travel mechanisms, primarily an e-visa system, that would make travel seamless.