Bohol First District Cong. Edgar M. Chatto congratulated DOT Sec. Christina Frasco for
her outstanding leadership in the Department of Tourism (DOT) and the country’s
recovery efforts amid the pandemic.
He made this remark during the budget deliberation of the DOT in Congress last August
15, 2023.
Chatto, who authored Republic Act 9593 or the Tourism Act of 2009, said that the
tourism industry’s revival is evident at the local level, especially in Bohol where more
international tourists and flights are arriving.
He also advocated for a higher tourism budget to help the DOT continue its initiatives to
improve tourism and maintain the industry’s progress under the Marcos administration.
Moreover, Chatto highlighted the travel tax collection share of the Commission on
Higher Education (CHED), which was intended to support the tourism industry through
education and training programs according to the Tourism Act.
Frasco, on the other hand, acknowledged the importance of tourism education as a way
to enhance hospitality and expand tourism.
She also welcomed Congress’ intervention in the ongoing accounting of the travel tax
share, including that of the Tourism Infrastructure Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA).
Last week, Chatto, who is also the Vice Chairperson of the House Committee on
Tourism, suggested to convene the DOT, CHED, National Commission for Culture and
the Arts (NCCA) and the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) to address
concerns on the limitations set by DBM on the use of the travel tax share of CHED.
Frasco reported that the Philippines achieved a 66.33% recovery rate in the period
January-June 2023, higher than the 54% recovery rate of the Asia Pacific based on the
UNWTO World Tourism Barometer.
The country’s economic managers identified tourism as the second top economic
growth driver in the country in the first half of 2023, registering 3,427, 149 international
tourist arrivals from January to August 14, 2023.
The 2024 tourism budget will support the implementation of programs aimed at
achieving the National Tourism Development Plan goals and objectives, including
improvement of infrastructure and accessibility; digitalization and connectivity;
enhancement of overall tourist experience; tourism product development and promotion;
multidimensional tourism; maximization of domestic and international tourism; and
strengthening governance and collaboration with industry stakeholders.