DOT gathers tourism family for consultation and collaboration

AN INTIMATE gathering between the Department of Tourism (DOT) and the tourism stakeholders stirred the conversation on current issues and challenges of the tourism industry.

“This dialogue was organized to give us a venue to further stimulate the industry to be competitive, sustainable, and inclusive,” DOT Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat said.

Decision makers and senior executives from the accommodation and transportation sectors, service providers, and tourism associations joined the conversation with the DOT’s executive committee, regional directors, and attached agencies.

Convergence workshop and synergy sessions were also held between the travel industry representatives and the marketing officers of the DOT and Tourism Promotions Board (TPB) for key, strategic and opportunity markets. Exchanges were likewise made on niche markets for the Meeting, Incentives, Conventions, and Exhibitions (MICE), dive, English as Second Language (ESL), cruise, medical and wellness products.

“This is the perfect venue for both sides, the DOT and private sector, to touch bases with each other,” Tourism Congress of the Philippines President Jose Clemente III shared.

Concerns were raised on the DOT accreditation system, National Tourism Development Plan (NTDP) international tourist and domestic tourist arrival targets, sustainable tourism, carrying capacity, charter flight moratorium, and collaboration with local government units.

“This (tourism industry consultation meeting) is just the beginning of more engagement and cooperation,” TPB Chief Operating Officer Marie Venus Tan said.

Presentations were made on the 2020 Consolidated DOT and TPB Calendar of Activities, TPB Membership Program, and 2019 Branding Campaign.

DOT Undersecretary Benito C Bengzon, Jr. said that this consultative exercise, alongside other institutional mechanisms, will hope to sustain partnerships and facilitate achievement of NTDP goals.