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Naitas lauds tourism secretary on efforts to maintain tourist arrival targets

10/26/2008

All concerned in the travel and tourism sectors should do their best to prevent a sharp decrease in the travel and tourism industries of the country due to the global financial meltdown.

Robert Lim Joseph, chairman emeritus of the National Association of Independent Travel Agencies (Naitas), lauded the secretary of tourism for taking the cudgels to diversify and intensify marketing efforts to maintain tourist arrival targets.

“Together we are implementing practical measures and not just come up with unfair open skies as a solution because it has been proven to be a failure in brining in tourists,” Joseph said.

He added the local tourism and travel industries expect to feel the pinch as people around the world have started to scrimp and save, refusing to travel and spend on luxuries like going on vacations by the 1st quarter of 2008.

Jojo Clemente, president of the Philippine Travel Agencies Association, echoes Joseph’s call, saying that travel agents, airlines, hotels and resorts should make the necessary adjustments this early because foreigners have started skipping the country as a tourist destination.

Tourism Secretary Ace Durano suggested that the country can build on its competitive edge as a value of money destination while exploring other opportunities like education and medical tourism.

While Philippine Airlines and Cebu Pacific have reduced fuel surcharge and fares to stimulate travel, they are coming up with attractive tour packages to promote the country.

Joseph said all these marketing programs are being consolidated into an over-all action plan under the office of the secretary of tourism.

Tie-ups among all these sectors are being expedited like tour packages involving airlines, resorts, hotels and restaurants, he said.

Strategic planning in the mapping operations is now being made for aggressive promotions.

Aside from Metro Manila, the focus is on Cebu, Bohol, Dumaguete, Palawan, Boracay, Bicol and Siargao Island.

New markets such as incentive travel, meetings conventions, exhibitions and trade fairs are being targeted with the private sector and the Philippine Convention and Visitors Corp. under the Department of Tourism.

“What we should be on the lookout for are the opportunists who are willing to give free traffic entitlements to foreign carriers who have no commitment to bring tourists to our country. This is the reason why we have to review Executive Order 500A because of the expected downturn in tourist arrivals,” Joseph said.