Societal benefits of tourism

Societal benefits of tourism | Daily Tribune

This week, Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco shared the news that President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. transferred P400 million of his contingency funds to the Department of Tourism (DoT). This was seen as a move to restore and boost that department’s promotions for Philippine tourism destinations and translate them to more arrivals and tourist spending.

Earlier, from the proposed P500-million branding budget for DoT this year, Congress slashed the allocation down to P100 million in the 2025 General Appropriations Act (GAA).

The Tourism chief said the DoT in a meeting with President Marcos conveyed its “grave concern” over this huge budget cut, and thereafter the President immediately ordered the transfer of funds to restore the budget cut.

It will be recalled that in 2024, the funding for the DoT was slashed to P200 million from the P1.27 billion approved the previous year. Yet, despite a limited budget for promotions, Philippine tourism earned an all-time high revenue of P760.5 billion in 2024, which translated to a 126.75-percent recovery rate from the 2019 pre-pandemic level.

Revenue from inbound tourist expenditures, which represented the total amount spent by non-resident visitors, was 9.04 percent higher compared to the P697.46 billion in 2023.

Some people questioned this action of our President, commenting that the P400 million would have been better allocated to the poor for feeding programs or “ayuda.” Of course, all of us are entitled to our own opinions but let me share with you why I think this was a rather commendable move by our President and was much deserved by the DoT.

Let me start by saying that the benefits of a strong tourism sector are not as immediate as a feeding program or handing out “ayuda.” Its benefits take time to manifest but they are far-reaching and worth all the hard work spent promoting tourism.

First is a sustainable income and improved quality of life. Tourism can provide a source of livelihood directly to residents, or can fund local business activities via the income earned from tourism. The income may come from sources like lodging, food, local tours, transport, souvenirs and tips.

The more demand there is for these local commodities and services, the more jobs are created for the community. These jobs can provide better economic opportunities, especially for those who are in the marginalized sector.

Second is cultural empowerment and cultural exchange. Tourists certainly enjoy meeting local people and learning from traditional cultures. At the same time, local communities often feel greater self-esteem as a result of the respectful interest shown to them by outsiders. The exposure to visitors will boost their confidence and inspire locals to strive for a better life exemplified by a consistent display of productive behavior.

Third is local community awareness of conservation. Tourists take a fresh look and add value to local resources. As a result, local communities may feel a sense of growing appreciation and pride, which often increases local conservation efforts. Many residents become motivated to protect their areas and change for the better their patterns of resource use.

The beneficial effects of tourism are incalculable and varied, and it is worth continuing to support its growth in our country.