MANDATORY ACCREDITATION AND STATISTICS REPORT SUBMISSION OF TOURISM ESTABLISHMENTS IN LA UNION BEING CONSIDERED
[wp-svg-icons icon="user" wrap="span"] By: Rhea Matilde A. Ballesteros | [wp-svg-icons icon="camera" wrap="span"] By: Rhea Matilde A. Ballesteros | [wp-svg-icons icon="calendar" wrap="span"] Date: July 26, 2018
SP Committee on Tourism chaired by Board Member Christian Rivera conducts a Committee Hearing on the Proposed Policy on the Mandatory Reporting of Tourism Statistical Data and Department of Tourism-Accreditation of Tourism Establishments in La Union on July 26, 2018 at the Cong. Eufranio “Franny” C. Eriguel Hall of the Speaker Pro-Tempore Francisco I. Ortega Legislative Building and Session Hall, City of San Fernando, La Union.
The Committee on Tourism chaired by Hon. Christian I. Rivera conducted a Committee Hearing on July 26, 2018 at the Cong. Eufranio “Franny” C. Eriguel Hall of the Speaker Pro-Tempore Francisco I. Ortega Legislative Building and Session Hall.
In attendance were representatives from the Department of Tourism (DOT) - Region 1 headed by Dir. Martin S. Valera, Provincial Tourism Office, Sangguniang Bayan Chair on Tourism and Tourism Officers of the component city and municipalities in La Union.
SPM Rivera explained that the committee hearing was conducted in order to encourage the Sangguniang Bayan Members (SBMs) to formulate an ordinance that mandates the accreditation of tourist accommodation establishments and the mandatory submission of tourism statistics data as requirements for business permit renewal. Likewise, he informed that the tourism statistical data to be submitted by the LGUs will serve as basis by the Tourism Development Council in formulating policies and programs towards the development of the tourism industry in the province in support to the Agri-Tourism Development Strategy.
Provincial Information and Tourism Officer Mr. Adamor L. Dagang gave a brief backgrounder on their difficulty of gathering tourism statistical data particularly from accommodation establishments such as hotels, apartels, resorts and inns. That is why his office is proposing for a legislative measure for the mandatory reporting of tourism statistics to serve as legal basis of Local Government Units in gathering data. He informed that the measure will provide penalties and the inclusion of the submission of such report as one of the requirements for the renewal of business permits. Furthermore, Mr. Dagang informed that aside from their tourism programs, tourism statistics is also one of the indicators in the Seal of Good Local Governance by the Department of the Interior and Local Government.
“With your statistics you can plan,” Dir. Valera said explaining the importance of tourism statistics. According to him, tourism statistics can give indication on where did visitors, residents or tourists go and do which will aid them in coming up with programs such as enhancing traffic in their respective LGUs. It will also help them identify their priorities whether on agriculture, tourism or other industries that will best fit the city/municipalities. For the DOT, Dir. Valera said that they need the information on the number of visitors or tourists for the release of promotional funds which is predicated on the number of visitor or tourists. He gladly informed that tourist arrivals in the province have jumped to 591,000 from 200,000 and majority of which are from the municipalities of San Juan, Bauang and the City of San Fernando. He reiterated that statistics will assist them in identifying new programs and legislative measures to improve further the tourism industry.
To explain further, Mr. Edilberto Littaua of the DOT explained the data gathering tool that will be used by the commercial accommodation establishments. He said that the DOT has a manual and computerized system that will enable them to monitor sales and data. It is easy to operate and on a click of a button, data can be generated and e-mailed to the agencies concerned.
The committee hearing ended with the commitment of the SBMs present to support the proposal by studying the possibility of passing the proposed ordinance. Meanwhile, the Tourism Officers assured that the discussions and agreements during the hearing will be relayed to the official concerned also for their support and consideration.
The said proposal is under the program of work of the Tourism Service Standards Strategic Initiative of Gov. Francisco Emmanuel "Pacoy" R. Ortega III geared towards La Union becoming the Heart of Agri-Tourism in Northern Luzon by 2025.
Provincial Information and Tourism Officer Mr. Adamor L. Dagang explains proposed Policy on the Mandatory Reporting of Tourism Statistical Data during the Committee Hearing of the Committee on Tourism in La Union on July 26, 2018 at the Cong. Eufranio “Franny” C. Eriguel Hall of the Speaker Pro-Tempore Francisco I. Ortega Legislative Building and Session Hall, City of San Fernando, La Union
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