As another proposed strategy to tourism, the national tourism development plan (NTDP) is expected to double tourist arrivals in the country to 6.5million and generate 2.9million new jobs before President Benigno Aquino III’s term ends in 2016.
Albeit the NTDP may seem “ambitious,” Department of Tourism (DOT) Secretary Alberto Lim said in an interview that the plan is not impossible to accomplish as records of the DoT showed significant improvement of tourist arrivals this year compared to the same season in 2010.
The tourism secretary is optimistic that DoT’s target of 3.7million by the end of 2011 is attainable with continuous visitors coming from the US, South Korea, and Japan within the first five months of 2011.
Another prized market by the DoT are the Filipino-Americans. Lim’s visit in the United States (US) last month encouraged Filipino-Americans to visit home especially now that 2010-2016 were proclaimed as “Pinoys Homecoming Year (Proclamation 181).” Through this campaign, Lim encouraged the Fil-Am communities in the US to come home, retrace their roots, and introduce Pinoy culture and traditions to their younger kins who have not visited the country yet.
Aside from using strong family ties to draw in balikbayans to visit their homelands, the DoT, through the NTDP, also plans to attract foreign tourists by working with various government agencies which will aide them in implementing infrastructure projects that include expansion of airports; addressing bottleneck traffic at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport and looking into the issues of access and connectivity.
With the NTDP ready to be submitted to President Aquino before the end of July,
Secretary Lim is confident that he can finally disprove allegations against him that he was one of the three cabinet members of President Aquino who was always causing the latter “headaches,” by always reporting problems without giving a ready solution.
Months ago, the DoT launched the tourism slogan “Pilipinas kay Ganda,” which was heavily criticized by the public upon observation that the slogan was not well-thought of; and the logo, plagiarized from that of Poland.
As part of the “action-oriented” and time-conscious new tourism strategy, Lim disclosed that the DoT already has shortlisted seven top advertising agencies of the country to come up with the most appropriate “country brand.”
Lim is hopeful that the birth of the NTDP will be able to address other issues that were hindering tourism growth in the past.
“To err is human,” so they say; but there are instances when it makes it hard to forgive especially when a grave mistake has been made. This is true especially in the case of appointed leaders and other public figures. For them, making mistakes seems to be a crossed-out option with the many eyes waiting to scrutinize their every move. What the public fail to realize is that sometimes, it is through these mistakes—no matter how damaging—that makes people learn; and it is by forgiving that sinners are converted and harmony is achieved.
(www.asianjournal.com)
(NYNJ July 22-28, 2011 Sec A pg.6)
