Philippine Congress Backs Tourism Reforms Proposed by DOT Secretary

Visit of DOT Secretary Alberto Lim in Aurora (March 4-6, 2011). L-R: Governor Bellaflor Angara-Castillo, Senator Edgardo J. Angara, Department of Tourism Secretary Alberto Lim.

Photo by edangara at Flickr.com

The House of Representatives of the Philippines is supporting Department of Tourism Secretary Alberto Lim’s proposal to change and amend the rules and regulations of the Tourism Act of 2009. The reforms should inspire tourism industry to fulfill and carry out the intent of making the tourism industry a major player to the country’s economic growth.

Read more at PhilStar.com

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Biggest Tourist Arrivals in Philippines This Year

The Philippines could hit a record in the history of tourist arrivals this year, expected to be above the 3 million mark. Alberto Lim, Tourism Secretary, says their 6-year targets include 6 million arrivals, generate P18.7 billion in tourism revenue and create 3 million additional jobs in the tourism sector.

Last year, tourism arrivals declined. The numbers include Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW) which number about five percent of total arrivals.

Optimism in the Philippines as today’s major tourist desination lays in its election of a new president and a new tourism law, the latter of which reorganizes and creates new resources and developments that directly promote tourism.

Read more at Business Mirror

Photo by richardhabi at Flickr.com