PTAA urges whole-of-government action to fix tourism woes

The Philippine Travel Agencies Association has called on various government agencies to do their part in addressing long-standing issues hounding the country’s tourism sector, stressing that industry revitalization requires a whole-of-government approach and cannot rest solely on the Department of Tourism.

PTAA Executive Vice President Evelyn Dy-Bondagjy, who represents more than 600 travel agency members nationwide, said the group continues to support and promote domestic tourism and fully concurs with the National Tourism Development Plan (NTDP) 2023–2028, conceptualized by Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco together with other stakeholders.

Dy-Bondagjy made the statement during the joint session of the Senate committees on tourism, social justice, welfare, and tourism development on Tuesday at the Senate of the Philippines, where she described the NTDP as a strong and well-crafted framework.

“However, for this plan to succeed, we respectfully urge other government support agencies, together with the DoT, to develop a comprehensive, inter-agency action plan that will create an environment truly attractive to tourists,” she said.

She pointed to several critical issues affecting tourist arrivals that need urgent attention, including peace and order to ensure the safety of metropolitan areas and tourist destinations, traffic congestion and accessibility affecting movement within cities and to and from airports, and high fuel costs, which she noted are among the highest in the region.

Dy-Bondagjy also called on the government to reexamine excise taxes and heavy tax burdens on carriers, travel agencies, hotels, and resorts; address airport infrastructure limitations that hamper efficient aircraft utilization; and expand seaport infrastructure to increase cruise ship visits and port calls in the Philippines.

She further cited the need for additional road infrastructure projects to improve access to key destinations such as Boracay, fewer transfers or delays upon arrival, and the resolution of frequent terminal changes for carriers that add costs and inconvenience, particularly for routes to destinations like Batanes.

The PTAA executive also urged a review of visa policies, advocating more relaxed entry requirements for travelers from key source markets, and called for stronger budgetary support to incentivize and assist local travel agents and overseas operators in promoting Philippine destinations.

“While we work closely with the DoT, many of these concerns fall outside its direct mandate. We therefore respectfully call on the Senate Committee on Tourism, together with the joint Committees on Social Justice, Welfare, and Tourism Development, to support tourism stakeholders and facilitate coordinated government action. Through these efforts, we can position the Philippines as a preferred destination of choice for travelers worldwide,” she said.