‘Govt still leading tourism efforts’

WHILE the private sector is an integral partner, eventually it is the government that will spend and subsidize the private sector for the country’s tourism development.

Tourism Secretary Alberto Lim said this amid a call made by a Cebuano travel executive for the abolition of the Department of Tourism (DOT) and his resignation from the agency.

Lim, who received support from Cebu officials, declined to comment on the resignation call, saying he was in Cebu to promote the province as a premier destination for MICE or meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions (see Page 1 story).

“I come from the private sector before I was appointed and I am biased towards the private sector. Yes, they can engage in as much with even less red tape, but will the private sector raise the money for the promotions?” Lim said.

As tourism secretary, Lim said he learned it’s always the government that spends for the private sector.

“During international trade shows, it’s the government that spends for the booth and asks for minimal fee from the private sector, in fact subsidized, so that they can join,” Lim said.

Last Wednesday, travel executive Robert Lim Joseph said the private sector can better manage tourism in the country.

Joseph, who founded several tourism organizations, cited the failed launch of DOT’s tourism logo “Pilipinas,” which received criticism from stakeholders due to its similarity to Poland’s official tourism logo.

Instead of an agency, Joseph said the DOT could function like the Hong Kong Tourism Board that is led by the private sector.

He said the board could be represented by officials from the country’s hotels, travel agencies, resorts, retailers and passenger carriers.

However, Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia and Vice Gov. Agnes Magpale don’t share his sentiments.

Garcia said the government has a clear tourism campaign strategy and thus should not entertain the experiment of abolishing the DOT.

Garcia said resignation is out of the question. “As governor, I learned that not everyone will agree with you. Some have their own agenda, others are well meaning of their ideas and I respect them for disagreeing. It is their right or even their duty,” Garcia said.

Magpale declined to comment on the call for resignation.

“For the abolition of DOT, I think DTI is already saddled with jobs to do. It’s just right that we spread the tasks out,” she said. Reporter Aileen Garcia-Yap