DOT seeks a fat budget of P1.967B for Apec

MANILA, Philippines—The Department of Tourism is seeking a larger budget in preparation for the hosting of the 2015 Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec).

During the budget briefing of the DOT in the House of Representatives on Thursday, Tourism Assistant Secretary Benito Bengzon said in a presentation that the agency is seeking a P1.967-billion budget in 2015, or up from P1.7 billion approved budget in 2014.

This is net of the proposed budget for DOT’s attached agencies, as well as net of the retirement and life insurance premiums.

Among DOT’s attached agencies, the National Parks and Development Committee is seeking P153.3 million, or down from P248.2 million, while the Intramuros Administration is seeking a P34.2 million or up from P32.7 million.

The increase in DOT budget is also for the development of niche markets and their branding campaign which among others aims to project the country as a “global venue for international events,” Bengzon said.

For the first half of this year, the DOT recorded 2.5 million international visitor arrivals, or ahead of the 2.4 million arrivals in the same period last year, Bengzon said.

The country recorded 4.7 million international tourist arrivals in 2013, up from 4.3 million in 2012 and 3.9 million in 2011.

Korea is the major source of tourist arrivals at 1.1 million in 2013, Bengzon said. This is followed by USA, Japan, China and Australia.

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