Monday, December 19, 2011

Republic Act 9593 or the New Tourism Law

by Julie Fianza

Owners and operators of primary, secondary and related tourism enterprises in the city listened as Department of Tourism (DOT) Regional Director Purificacion Molintas and Baguio Country Club General Manager Anthony De Leon discussed salient points of Republic Act 9593 or the New Tourism Law at the City Hall Multi-purpose hall last Wednesday.

Mayor Mauricio Domogan, who delivered the welcome remarks, expressed appreciation for the audiences' concern for the industry and that such should be sustained.

The tourism law was signed mid-2009 by then President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, as a national policy for tourism as "an engine of investment, employment, growth and national development, and strengthening the Department of Tourism (DOT) and its attached agencies to effectively and efficiently implement the policy…"

The tourism law targets the making of the country as a "world class tourist destination," with links and a cordial working relationship with local and international tourism institutes. This should be done with public and private partnerships, without sacrificing environmental concerns, and that programs should be coordinated within the grassroot levels, Molintas explained.

The law also mandates the formation of a tourism congress, which shall serve as "the private sector consultative body to assist the government in the development, implementation and coordination of tourism policies, plans and programs."

No comments: