Industry players seek voice in Tourism Congress

Various tourism industry stakeholders, including a former tourism secretary, are seeking greater representation at the Tourism Congress, saying their voices have to be heard if the local tourism industry were to really advance.

Former Tourism Secretary Narzalina Lim, in a letter addressed to Tourism Undersecretary Daniel Corpuz, expressed disappointment that the current leadership of the Department of Tourism (DoT) did not seem to share this view.

Ms. Lim said in her letter dated November 8 that she and many other accredited tourism enterprises were all set to attend the Tourism Congress meeting Friday, as it was supposed to be the first meeting of a new set of Tourism Congress members.

Tourism Secretary Ramon Jimenez, she said, gave his assurance that the current Tourism Congress would be holding its general membership meeting on November 10 and wrapping up all their concerns before the officers’ terms officially end.

The November 11 meeting should already be with the new members—all active players in the tourism industry—of the Tourism Congress, Lim said.

She added that Jimenez also promised that an election of a new board of officers would be held on November 11, with professors from the University of the Philippines-Asian Institute of Tourism serving as the commission on elections.

“I was encouraged by Secretary Jimenez’s words and the announcement which DoT published in two newspapers on November 6, reflecting the agreement forged in his office on November 4,” Lim said in her letter.

“It is, therefore, with great dismay that I read the latest announcement of the current Tourism Congress, stating that November 11 is a continuation of their 3rd (general membership meeting) and that new members will be recognized by the chair of their committee on membership. This breach of trust is totally unacceptable to me and I cannot in all conscience participate in an exercise based on bad faith,” she added.

Former Tourism Secretary Ace Durano initiated reforms in the DoT during his time by allowing tourism industry associations and organizations to be represented in the DoT’s policy-making activities.

Immediate past Tourism Secretary Alberto Lim went to the next level by amending Section 137 of the implementing rules and regulations of the Tourism Act to expand inclusion to all accredited tourism enterprises.