Tourism Congress to discuss amendments to charter on Thursday

MANILA, Philippines—The Tourism Congress’ constitution and by-laws are set to be amended during the two-day meeting of all accredited private tourism stakeholders scheduled to begin on Thursday, according to the Department of Tourism.

The changes would finally conform with the amended implementing rules and regulations of Republic Act 9593 or the Tourism Act of 2009, a move towards a “more certain legitimacy” for the Tourism Congress, said Tourism Secretary Ramon Jimenez Jr.

During the assembly, new members will also be accepted, new trustees and officers will be elected and a nomination of representatives to the boards of DOT-attached agencies will also be called.

“For the Tourism Congress, it is a way towards even more certain legitimacy and for genuine participation and representation by new members as conceived by law,” said Jimenez in a statement on Wednesday.

He added the meetings would unite the organization and move forward with the plans and visions of the tourism agency. “We at the DOT are pleased that the day for all stakeholders in the tourism industry to participate in plans for a common future has finally arrived,” said Jimenez.

The DOT said the expected changes to the existing constitution and by-laws of the Tourism Congress would allow two types of members: the existing member associations and the tourism enterprises accredited by tourism agency.

This was for the purpose of making the organization more inclusive and representative of the industry players and stakeholders, added the DOT.

However, only DOT-accredited enterprises would be allowed to vote and be voted upon, while existing member associations could merely participate in the deliberations, discussions and activities of the Tourism Congress as mandated in the Tourism Act, it added.

The tourism agency, under then Secretary Alberto Lim, had squabbles with the Tourism Congress, whose officials accused the former secretary of ignoring them.

Lim had questioned the membership of some of the group’s affiliates, saying that the congress was not really made up of tourism stakeholders in the country.

The Tourism Congress is a private sector consultative body assisting the government in the implementation and coordination, among others, of tourism policies, plans and programs.

It is also tasked to submit to the President nominees to the Boards of the Tourism Promotions Board, the Tourism Infrastructure Enterprise Zone Authority and the Duty Free Philippines—three of the attached agencies of the DOT.