Passage of tourism bill to create more new jobs - Gordon

Independent Senator Richard J. Gordon today underscored the urgency for Congress to pass an administration-sponsored Tourism Bill in order to stem the projected loss of 200,000 jobs in the next six months.

Gordon, chairman of the Senate tourism committee and head of the Senate contingent, sounded the call as members of the Senate-House bicameral conference committee rushed to put the final changes in the tourism measure.

"We need to pass this measure, especially that we expect to feel the effects of the global financial crisis. If the worst of the crisis does not hit us, we will be prepared to take advantage of opportunities in tourism," he said.

"If it does hit our country, on the other hand, we will be well equipped to generate job and business opportunities which our countrymen will need," he added during the bicameral conference meeting held at Coconut Palace this morning.

The Tourism bill is currently at its penultimate stage as differences in the Senate and House versions of the measure are reconciled in a final series of bicameral meetings.

Gordon's call came in the wake of reports that the country may face a loss of over 200,000 jobs in the first half of this year should the trend of job losses reaching 35,000 by the end of January would continue for six months.

While the job loss projections still need to be validated, the former tourism secretary explained that it does not diminish the very real need to prepare for the country's immediate and long-term future as a major player in tourism.

"We must remember that crises and opportunity come hand in hand. But only by preparing well can we hope to take maximum advantage of the opportunities in tourism and minimize the threats that lie in wait for us," he said.

The Tourism Bill proposes to reorganize the Department of Tourism and its agencies in order to make it better equipped to undertake a consistent and more effective tourism development and promotions plan.

It also provides for incentives to tourism industry players, giving the sector incentives and benefits that were once only accorded to manufacturing and other industries.

The reforms at the heart of the Tourism Act of 2008 are, namely: (1) to regulate and uplift the standard of tourism services, (2) to strengthen the promotional capability of our tourism industry, (3) to create infrastructure such as hotel development and beach resorts, (4) to encourage private sector participation, (5) and to facilitate faster cooperation among various agencies and institutions to ensure competitiveness and increase market share, and (6) to increase the people's purchasing power.