ISTANBUL – About 6.5 million workers will fuel the tourism sector by the end of the Duterte Administration’s six-year term in 2022, as a result of job and business opportunities created under the Philippine Department of Tourism program.
Tourism Secretary Wanda Corazon Teo disclosed DOT’s projections as she addressed global leaders and tourism industry stakeholders at the World Tourism Forum–Global Meeting in Istanbul, Turkey last week.
Teo announced that the Philippine Department of Tourism has just completed its National Tourism Development Plan (NTDP) which will serve as the roadmap of the DOT through 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.
Conversely, the master plan targets to double the number of inbound visitors to 12 million and triple inbound expenditure to USD20 billion by the year 2022.
“As Tourism Ministers, we have the responsibility not only to promote our destinations but make sure communities benefit and harness their potentials as entrepreneurs,” Teo stressed.
The tourism chief also urged the delegates to share and exchange consumer insights, information, and knowledge to allow the development of diversified tourism activities and tour packages.
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.
Tourism industry in the Philippines accounts for 8.2 percent of the Philippines’ Gross Domestic Product (GDP) valued at P24 billion and employs over five (5) million people.
