Gordon bent on passing Tourism bill as RP lags behind Asean neighbors
The Philippines have the resources -- both natural and human -- and clear potential to make it big in the international tourism industry. Yet for Senator Richard Gordon, until the government gets really serious, then current efforts in existing tourism programs will not put the country where it should be.
Known and credited for the highly-successful "WOW! Philippines" tourism projects, Senator Gordon is bent on getting his brainchild, the Tourism Bill pass into law.
The former Tourism Secretary was in Iloilo over the weekend for the Dinagyang Celebration. In a meeting with members of the local press, Gordon addressed tourism concerns plaguing the country.
With the Tourism Bill, he said, balance is ensured in the realization of investments vis-a-vis employment to be generated and socio-economic growth. What is important though, he stressed, is for the national government and agencies involved to make the projects work alongside full implementation.
Such as Senator Gordon decried what he said were programs he started in the Department of Tourism (DOT) yet now discontinued or altogether changed.
What else is needed then for tourism in the Philippines to be at par in other Asean countries? Senator Gordon has two words as reply – "more promotions." Three more words followed suit – "Tourism means jobs."
The Philippines had a record of some 3 million in tourists last year, a far cry from Thailand's 16 million. It was during Gordon's term as Tourism Secretary in 2001 to 2004 that aggressive campaign was launched bringing about a "culture of tourism" throughout the country.
He was also instrumental in instituting the holiday economics scheme" for long weekends, a hit for locals.