PHL on track to create 6.5M tourism related-jobs by end of Duterte administration

The Philippine tourism industry remains on track in generating 6.5 million tourism-related jobs by the end of the current administration in 2022, the Department of Tourism (DOT) said. (Photo: Tourism Secretary Wanda Corazon Tulfo-Teo/Facebook)

MANILA—The Philippine tourism industry remains on track in generating 6.5 million tourism-related jobs by the end of the current administration in 2022, the Department of Tourism (DOT) said.

Tourism Secretary Wanda Teo made this projection in the World Tourism Forum–Global Meeting in Istanbul, Turkey last week noting that this will be one of the priorities under its new National Tourism Development Plan (NTDP) 2017-2022.

Teo announced that the DOT has just completed its roadmap which also aims to double the number of inbound visitor to 12 million and triple inbound expenditure from to USD20 billion by the year 2022.

“Poor people in dire need of jobs and income to support their families are the focus of DOT’s inclusive and sustainable program under NTDP which aims to create employment and livelihood,” Teo said.

She meanwhile urged her Tourism counterparts to have the responsibility not only to promote destinations but make sure communities benefit and harness their potentials as entrepreneurs.

Among the community-based tourism initiatives undertaken by the DOT includes the provision of technical assistance to small and micro local ventures, training of local tour guides and development of tour programs.

The NTDP aims to increase the contribution of tourism to the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) at 14 percent by 2022 from the current 8.2 percent.

In an earlier interview, Tourism Undersecretary Rolando Cañizal said the new NTDP is expected to be implemented by the first quarter this year.

When the NTDP comes full circle, Cañizal said that the department and concerned agencies will have to fuel more investments to create more economic expenses for both foreign and local tourists.

While the previous administration was not able to fully implement the projects and programs under the NTDP, Cañizal expressed confidence that these will be carried on and completed in the current administration.