Press Release
October 22, 2008

ANGARA SEES HEALTHY INFRA PROGRAM AS A MAJOR BOOST TO RP'S TOURISM SECTOR

Senator Edgardo J. Angara today stressed that a healthy infrastructure program will help spur growth of the country's tourism sector, saying the country would not be able to meet its goal of attracting five million foreign tourists a year by 2010 should it fail to invest heavily on tourist infrastructure.

"We've got magnificent tourist spots but we don't have the proper logistics and convenient transportation system that's why we have fallen behind our Asian neighbors," Angara said.

He added, "Tourism is going to create jobs especially in the rural areas if we boost infrastructure development. The most successful tourist destinations - countries like Italy, Spain and France - capitalize on their history, culture and natural beauty."

Angara expressed fear that poor infrastructure facilities, political instability, extrajudicial killings, terror threats and financial crisis could spoil the hard-earned gains of the tourism sector. With this, he strongly suggests building tourist infrastructure like airports, seaports, hotels, railways and roads all over the country to attract foreign visitors.

In the recent 34th Philippine Business Conference, business leaders have also expressed its desire for the government to enact policies which aim to ensure improved transport infrastructure in the country. They also urged the government to expanding the capacity of commuter railways and increasing private sector participation in the construction and development of toll roads.

Angara - fully agreeing with the observations of business leaders - sees that the tourism demand will increase as more people are inclined and are willing to travel. Higher tourism demand will spell more employment opportunities for Filipinos.

"In the next five years, the agribusiness, cyber services, tourism including medical, health care services, the mining and aviation industries will generate more than 4 million employments places. In the agribusiness sector alone, more than 2 million jobs will be created from now until 2010," Angara said.

In 2007, among the largest Asean countries in terms of tourism performance and tourist arrivals, the Philippines was a sorry No. 6 to Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore, Indonesia and Vietnam.

Malaysia had 20.97 million tourists in 2007; Thailand had 14.8 million in 2007 and began to reposition itself as a high-end-not a cheap-destination so it might get less tourists this year but earn more money; Singapore had 10.3 million tourists in 2007; Indonesia had 5.51 million tourist arrivals in 2007, up from 4.87 million in 2006; Vietnam had 4.171 million in 2007; While, Philippines got 3.1 million tourist arrivals last year.

The Department of Tourism has recently launched the country as the newest destination for Japanese couples to get married. According to its estimates, over 450,000 couples choose to hold their wedding ceremonies outside Japan annually.

Japan is currently the third leading source of travelers to the Philippines. Arrivals from this country reached 185,431 between January and June, representing 11.5 percent of overall tourist traffic in the country.

"Tourism alone is a key factor in driving Philippine economy," Angara said.

Meanwhile, the UN World Tourism Organization, in its World Tourism Barometer, said international tourism was expected to grow by just 3-4% this year.

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