A group of tourists visits Virgin Island in Panglao, Bohol . (File photo / LEO UDTOHAN)
Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco made the appeal during the launch of the Philippine Tourism Awards (PTA) in Pasay City.
“With every tourism transaction, there is a Filipino person and family that benefits from the time that he [a tourist] books his flight to the time na magbook siya ng hotel, pagdating niya sasakay siya ng tourism transport, kakain siya sa local restaurant,” Frasco said.
(With every tourism transaction, there is a Filipino, and family that benefit from the time that he [a tourist] books a flight to the time that he books a hotel; when he arrives, he will take a avail of transportation services; he will eat at a local restaurant.)
Frasco added that the suggested expanded participation of small organizations and groups is one of the objectives of the PTA.
PTA aims to build healthy competition among key players in the tourism industry, and it would be a win-win situation if businesses would tap the services of start-ups or individual service providers.
“That is the multiplier effect of tourism,” said Frasco.