A higher budget for the Department of Tourism (DOT) is seen to help the country recover faster from the impact of the new coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic.
The DOT said in a statement it has obtained the support of the House of Representatives for its recommended budget amounting to P3.573 billion.
While this is 27.87 percent higher than this year’s budget, the amount is a mere .068 percent share of the government’s proposed 2023 National Expenditure Program (NEP) and pales in comparison to the tourism industry’s P2.5 trillion contribution to the country’s GDP.
DOT Secretary Christina Frasco said the final approval of the department’s budget will facilitate a more vibrant and active tourism industry.
Interpellators supported the increase in the budget appropriation of the DOT recognizing tourism as a major component in the country’s economic recovery from the impact of the pandemic.
In defending DOT’s budget, Faustino Dy V (6th District, Isabela) underscored the potential of the tourism industry in spurring economic activities further noting its significant 12.8 percent contribution to the country’s gross domestic product in 2019, before the pandemic when it reached an all-time high of 8.3 million foreign arrivals.
“As we continue to open our borders for tourism, it is highly necessary to protect the beauty and bounty of our tourist destinations, provide an impressive overall tourism experience and ensure the health and safety of our tourists, tourism workers and the entire Filipino people. We also hope to develop and promote other key tourist destinations and market the country globally through various branding, promotional and marketing strategies. The country’s tourism portfolio is at par with (its) Asean competitors; however, to further promote our tourist destinations, there is a need to further improve gateway access and other infrastructure for ease and convenience of travel, explained Dy.
In a prior hearing, Frasco said the agency originally requested P12 billion from the Department of Budget and Management to facilitate the successful implementation of the various programs aimed at the industry’s revival.
