Travel agents call for airports redevelopment
The Philippine Travel Agencies Association (PTAA) yesterday urged the Department of Tourism to implement the recommendations made in the National Tourism Development Plan (NTDP) as a way of improving tourist arrivals in the country.
The PTAA is referring to the provisions in the NTDP calling for the redevelopment of major airports including the Ninoy Aquino International Airport along with the airports in Mactan, Cebu, Clark, Davao, Puerto Princesa, Iloilo, Laoag, Zamboanga.
Under the NTDP, an improved aviation landscape would result in more flight frequencies and an expansion of travel destinations being offered by airlines.
The DOT will introduce the new campaign internationally over the next four months and is expecting to have 4.20 million tourist arrivals this year.
In view of this, PTAA pledged its support to the DOT in its drive to improve international tourist arrivals in the country.
Aileen Clemente, president of PTAA, said with tourism still catching up with the country’s neighbors in the region, it has become imperative for both the government and private sector to work closely together.
The PTAA, as a leading partner of the government, will remain steadfast in its role to promote and assist in the development of Philippine tourism, Clemente said.
Clemente said that along with the new DOT campaign, it is important to improve the country’s airports and other tourism infrastructures.
Hopefully this can be tied together with other initiatives that are being undertaken by the government to further improve the Philippine tourism industry, Clemente said.
In the first 10 months of 2011, tourist arrivals were up 11.96 percent to 3.18 million compared with the same period in 2010. The bulk of the tourist arrivals came from Korea, Taiwan, and China along with emerging markets India, Russia and Saudi Arabia.
The PTAA has more than 500 travel and tourism member companies that have operations in key cities in the country.
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