Philippine Tourism Network System PDF

TH2205 Philippine Tourism Network System The Tourism Network in the Philippines The tourism network is a partnership involving different interacting elements, such as tourists, enterprises, institutions, and host communities (IGI Global, n.d). The tourism industry is a network that includes both th...

TH2205 Philippine Tourism Network System The Tourism Network in the Philippines The tourism network is a partnership involving different interacting elements, such as tourists, enterprises, institutions, and host communities (IGI Global, n.d). The tourism industry is a network that includes both the public and private sectors. Public Sector The government sector of the tourism industry is responsible for formulating tourism policies, plans, and programs. It provides guidelines for the selection and development of destinations, promotes travel to and investments in the Philippines, and regulates the industry in collaboration with other government agencies. Republic Act No. 9593, known as “The Tourism Act of 2009”, is an Act declaring a national policy for tourism as an engine of investment, employment, growth, and national development and strengthening the department of tourism and its attached agencies to effectively and efficiently implement that policy, and appropriating funds therefore. The public tourism sector comprises national government agencies and local government units (LGUs). The national government’s role in the growth of tourism involves research, planning, development, monitoring, control, and implementation of policies, programs, and initiatives. On the other hand, the LGUs, under the Tourism Act of 2009, have the power to regulate, license, and supervise tour operators and accommodation facilities (Official Gazette, 2009). The Department of Tourism (DOT) shall be the primary planning, programming, coordinating, implementing, and regulatory government agency in developing and promoting the tourism industry, both domestic and international, in coordination with attached agencies and other government instrumentalities. It shall instill in the Filipinos the industry’s fundamental importance in generating employment, investment, and foreign exchange. According to Subchapter II-C s. 28-31 of the Tourism Act of 2009, the following are the different agencies and corporations attached to the DOT: National Parks Development Committee (NPDC) – It ensures fully developed and well-maintained parks for the wholesome recreation and socio-cultural education of the Filipino people for the enrichment of the country’s national identity and heritage through a partnership with the community, government offices (GOs), and non-government organizations (NGOs). Intramuros Administration (IA) – Intramuros has been a priceless heritage of the past for the City of Manila and a significant historical landmark of the Philippines. Presidential Decree No. 1616 (April 10, 1979) was established, creating the Intramuros Administration. IA is charged with a role and responsibility for the orderly restoration and development of Intramuros as a monument to the Hispanic period in Philippine history. It ensures that the general appearance of Intramuros conforms to the Philippine-Spanish architecture of the sixteenth to the nineteenth century. Philippine Commission on Sports Scuba Diving (PCSSD) – It shall undertake measures to provide the standard basic dive rules to all levels or kinds of divers, regulate scuba sports, and technical diving in the country and ensure the safety of the sport through the formulation of policies pursuant thereto, in coordination with the Office of Tourism Standards and Regulations, including the regulation of the accredited scuba sports and technical diving establishments. Philippine Retirement Authority (PRA) – It is mandated to develop and promote the Philippines as a retirement haven. This activity will accelerate the country’s social and economic development, strengthening its foreign exchange position while providing further best quality of life to the targeted retirees in a most attractive package. Nayong Pilipino Foundation (NPF) – It is mandated to promote, encourage, and initiate research and development projects and activities in social sciences, humanities, social and amelioration, and allied fields. The Foundation is a non-stock, non-profit public corporation organized, established, and operated in the public interest, and no portion of its funds and income shall take effect for the benefit of any of its members. 02 Handout 1 *Property of STI  [email protected] Page 1 of 5  TH2205 Duty Free Philippines Corporation (DFPC) – It shall have the exclusive authority to operate and/or franchise out the operation of stores and shops that shall sell, among others, duty and tax-free merchandise, goods, and articles in international airports and seaports, other ports of entry throughout the country and in Tourism Enterprise Zones (TEZ; a TEZ is a tract of land to be developed into a tourism complex to host tourism enterprise facilities and services within the property). Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA) – It is responsible for implementing policies and programs of the DOT pertaining to developing, promoting, and supervising tourism projects in the Philippines. TIEZA’s main tasks include building tourism infrastructure, designation, regulation, and supervision of TEZs, operation and management of TIEZA assets, and the collection of the Philippine travel tax (a levy imposed by the government on individuals [citizens of the Philippines, permanent resident aliens who have stayed in the country for more than a year] who are leaving the country irrespective of the place where the air ticket is issued). Travel tax collection is also the agency’s primary source of income. Tourism Promotions Board (TPB) – It is responsible for marketing and promoting the Philippines domestically and internationally as a major global tourism destination, highlighting its uniqueness and assisting the development of its tourism products and services, with the end view of increasing tourist arrivals and tourism investment. Specifically, it shall market the Philippines as a major convention destination in Asia. To this end, it shall take charge of attracting, promoting, facilitating, and servicing large-scale events, international fairs and conventions, congresses, sports competitions, expositions, and the like. Other Government Agencies Influencing Tourism These are the government agencies that indirectly participate in tourism but have a substantial contribution to its efficient operations (Tuazon-Disimulacion, 2016): Bureau of Immigration (BI) – It is responsible for administrating and enforcing immigration, citizenship, and alien admission and registration laws per the Philippine Immigration Act of 1940. It also plays a role in the enforcement of RA 9208, also known as the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003. Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) – It is the agency of the government primarily responsible for the pursuit of the State's foreign policy and the nerve center for a Foreign Service worthy of the trust and pride of every Filipino. It is also the primary representative of the Philippine government overseas. Department of Transportation (DOTr) – It is the primary policy, planning, programming, coordinating, implementing, and administrative entity of the executive branch of the government on the promotion, development, and regulation of a dependable and coordinated network of transportation systems, as well as fast, safe, efficient, and reliable transportation services. Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) – It is an agency granted the rights, privileges, and authority to operate and maintain gambling casinos, clubs, and other recreation or amusement places, sports, gaming pools, i.e., basketball, football, lotteries, etc., whether on land or sea, within the territorial jurisdiction of the Republic of the Philippines. National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) – It is mandated to encourage the continuing and balanced development of a pluralistic culture by the people and conserve, promote, and protect the nation's historical and cultural heritage. Other agencies may influence tourism in addition to the above such as the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), National Economic Development Authority (NEDA), and Philippine Coast Guard (PCG). 02 Handout 1 *Property of STI  [email protected] Page 2 of 5  TH2205 Private Sector Six (6) primary industries/sectors are directly involved in tourism. These tourism sectors include accommodation, food and beverage, transportation, attractions, MICE, and travel trade (Tuazon-Disimulacion, 2016). Accommodation Sector This sector includes facilities and amenities that offer guests a place to stay for rest and sleep. Aside from tangible products, such as rooms, beds, and meals, these facilities also provide services to meet guests’ needs and expectations. Examples of establishments in this sector include hotels, resorts, apartment hotels, motels/motor hotels, inns, bed and breakfasts, and hostels. Transportation Sector This sector brings passengers from their place of origin to their desired destination. There are several modes of travel: air, land, and sea. Air Transportation. It comprises scheduled and chartered air services. Airlines have enabled more people to travel to different destinations worldwide in a brief time. Examples of airlines in the Philippines offering international and domestic flights are Philippine Airlines, Cebu Pacific, and Philippines AirAsia. Airports are an integral part of this sector. Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), located in Metro Manila, is the country’s main airport that regularly caters to international and domestic flights. Mactan-Cebu International Airport in Cebu is the second busiest airport in the country, where international and domestic flights are also available (Cybulskie, 2022). Land Transportation – It is a safe, convenient, and cheaper mode of travel that enables the movement of people and goods without needing an airport or pier. Land transportation services include public transportation such as taxis/limousines, buses, rail, and private cars (Philippine Department of Tourism, n.d.). o Taxicab (Taxi) is a public passenger vehicle usually fitted with a taximeter, especially in automobiles. Metered taxis are available for service in the Philippines. o Bus services, either air-conditioned or non-air-conditioned, are available to nearly all major destinations in Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. Examples of bus companies in the country are Five Star Bus, Viron Transit, Victory Liner, and Bataan Transit. o Railway transport is available within Metropolitan Manila, which includes the Light Railway Transit (LRT), Metro Rail Transport (MRT), and the Philippine National Railways (PNR). It is the most economical and fastest means to travel throughout the metropolis. (Note: As of 2022, the Philippine government’s project, called North-South Railway Project, involves the development and revitalization of the long-haul and commuter railway network, which will be built on the PNR’s legacy track [North-South Railway Project, Philippines, 2022].) o Car and motorcycle rentals are available in major cities in the Philippines. Booking a car or motorcycle is also convenient through online applications like Grab for cars and Angkas and JoyRide for motorcycles. Some motorcycle rentals in the country are called habal-habal (motorcycle taxis or motorcycles for hire). o Other land transportation like public utility jeepneys (PUJs) and tricycles are well-known types of public land transportation in the Philippines. Jeepney or jeep, a popular Filipino icon, is the most used method of transportation all over the country. Whether in Metro Manila or small towns and villages, commuters always choose a jeepney to take them from point to point as it is widely available and cheap. Tricycles, three-wheeled vehicles consisting of a motorcycle with a sidecar, are also a popular means of passenger transport. Water Transportation – It is a cheaper mode of travel for passengers with bulky luggage. Regarding travel and tourism, water transport refers to the movement of passengers and goods via water. The various means of water transport in the Philippines include roll-on/roll-off (RORO, a mode of marine transportation wherein the cargo is capable of being loaded and unloaded from the ship through 02 Handout 1 *Property of STI  [email protected] Page 3 of 5  TH2205 horizontal movements, that is, it can move on its wheels) or passenger ships between Manila and the country’s major ports. Fast sea crafts and ferry services are available to and from smaller islands. Island hopping by bangka (a small, local boat) is also offered by resorts. 2GO Travel is one of the largest sea travel providers in the Philippines, providing travelers with a wide selection of reasonably priced hotel accommodations, tours, and event packages. Food and Beverage Sector Food and beverage service refers to the preparation, presentation, and service of meals and drinks to guests. It is also through this sector that travelers can experience the culture and heritage of a destination country. Some examples of establishments in this sector are restaurants, bars, cafés, cafeterias, and clubs. Attractions Sector Attractions are the main reason travelers go to a particular destination and where leisure and recreation activities can also be provided. These also feature the heritage formations and structures that tell the history of a destination country. Attractions can be classified as natural attractions and man-made attractions. Natural attractions are geographic or geological features created by nature that attract people (the geographical features of the Philippines were discussed in 01 Handout 1). Man-made attractions are structures and sites either built for tourism or non-tourism purposes. Examples of attractions made for tourism purposes are theme parks, such as the Enchanted Kingdom and Star City, museums like the National Museum, The Mind Museum, and Pinto Art Museum, zoos like Manila Zoo, Avilon Zoo, and Baluarte Zoo, and casinos like Resorts World Manila, Solaire Resort and Casino, and Okada Manila Resort & Casino. At the same time, cathedrals and churches (e.g., Manila Cathedral, San Sebastian Church, and Paoay Church), castles, communities, and factories are examples of attractions built for non-tourism purposes. Meeting, Incentives, Conventions, and Exhibitions (MICE) Sector This sector refers to a fast-growing segment of the tourism industry dedicated to planning, organizing, booking, and facilitating conferences, seminars, and other events. The following are its components (Tuazon- Disimulacion, 2016): Meeting – It is a gathering of two (2) or more people with a common agenda. Incentive – It is a management tool used to increase the performance level of employees to meet organizational goals. Convention – It is similar to a meeting with the presence of an exhibit and other simultaneous activities. Exhibition – It is where products, services, or promotional materials are displayed and is focused more on business-to-business relationships. Common MICE events in the Philippines are travel and tour expositions, summits, and national and international conferences. Travel Trade Sector The travel trade sector comprises people and companies that resell travel products and services they have bought and/or reserved from other parties. It includes travel agents, tour operators, and tour guides linking buyers and sellers in tourism. In the tourism industry, both public and private sectors must collaborate and interact to develop a country’s tourism. The private sector must abide by government agencies' standards, policies, and regulations. At the same time, the public sector must create and enforce laws and guidelines for properly regulating the tourism industry in a country. References: 2GO Travel – about us. (n.d.). 2GO Travel. https://travel.2go.com.ph/about-us.aspx 02 Handout 1 *Property of STI  [email protected] Page 4 of 5  TH2205 Bureau of Immigration. (n.d.). Mandate, mission, and vision. Retrieved September 9, 2022, from https://immigration.gov.ph/the-bureau/vision-and-mandate Cabulay, D. A., & Carpio-Aldeguer, C. P. (2015). 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Discover The Philippines. https://www.discoverthephilippines.com/traveling-by-jeepney-in-the-philippines/ Tricycle history Philippines. (n.d.). Tricycles Philippines. https://tricyclesphilippines.blog/2020/03/03/tricycle-history- philippines/ Tuazon-Disimulacion, M. A. (2016). Principles of tourism 2. Books Atbp. Publishing Corp. What is tourism network. (n.d.). IGI Global. Retrieved September 28, 2022, from https://www.igi- global.com/dictionary/cooperative-optimization-of-tourism-networks/57353 02 Handout 1 *Property of STI  [email protected] Page 5 of 5