TO achieve its targets, the Department of Tourism (DOT) is proposing a bigger budget for next year.
Tourism Undersecretary for Tourism Planning and Promotions Eduardo Jarque Jr. said the DOT will propose a budgetary allocation of P1.1 billion for 2008, P130 million higher than its total budget this year.
Jarque said the proposed budgetary increase was to be discussed in the second budget hearing in the House of Representatives yesterday.
Jarque, during the 888 News Forum at the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel and Casino, said tourism stakeholders sought for an increase in the budget from the National Government for promotions and other services so that the DOT will be able to bring in more tourists to the country.
“The mandate of the DOT is to bring in warm bodies from other countries,” Jarque said in an interview following the news forum.
Marketing
He said 90 percent of the budgetary allocation will lure more foreign visitors through marketing promotions abroad.
DOT 7 Director Patria Aurora Roa said that of the intended P1.1 billion over-all tourism budget for next year, Central Visayas will get about P12 million.
She said P8 million of the region’s budget for next year which will be spent on marketing promotions while the rest are for personal services.
Jarque said he is optimistic that the increase in funding will help spur tourism activities and revenues for the country as the Philippines will become more visible among international travelers.
He said a 13-percent budget increase will allow more room to promote the Philippines as one of Asia’s premier vacation hubs among priority markets like Korea, Japan, China and the United States, he said.
European market
Earlier, Tourism Secretary Joseph “Ace” Durano said DOT’s marketing team is also reviving promotions in Hong Kong, Singapore and Taiwan.
“We also plan to increase the slice of the European market,” said Jarque.
He considered Western Europe travelers from countries like the United Kingdom, France, Spain, Italy, Scan-dinavia and Russia, that the DOT is starting to tap.
In previous reports, the DOT noted that Europeans are known for their fondness for diving sites in the Philippines.
Apart from being among the country’s longer-staying tourists, the Europeans are also known to be big spenders, averaging $95 per day, Jarque said.
During the forum, tourism stakeholders discussed two major concerns affecting the industry — accessibility and room availability.
While they agree that the budgetary increase would raise the influx of foreign tourists, they said the private and public sectors must first lay down the foundations, especially infrastructure-wise, to effectively position the country as a world-class tourism destination. (MMM)
