Tourism forum to yield actions, not grand plans

The National Tourism Forum is geared to generate, not grand plans, but

actions, or ''immediately doable solutions'' to the lingering problems of the

tourism industry.

This, in a nutshell, is the thrust of that big multi-sectoral forum, which will be held at

the Philippine International Convention Center from Sept. 18 to 20 as part of the

country’s celebration of the National Tourism Week.

“The Action Plans will focus on ‘doables’, with specific timeframes within the next six

months, next year and the long term. The forum will not focus on problems and what

have been done before, but on what can be done now and in the future,” according

to a briefing paper from the Philippine Convention and Visitors Corp. (PCVC), an

attached agency of the Department of Tourism (DOT).

All the problems of tourism, the PCVC paper stated, had been discussed for the past

several years, at the DOT Industry Conferences since 1996 and at the Transport and

Tourism Summit in 1999.

“These fora have resulted in a covenant and a memorandum of understanding (MOU)

between the government and the private sector, which laid out the solutions.

“The covenant and the MOU contain general statements of intent and objectives.

What it needs now to strengthen it are action plans which should specify priority

programs, implementing guidelines, persons/entities in charge, as well as specific

timeframes,” the PCVC stressed.

Thus, the Tourism Business Forum that will be held on Sept. 20 will be divided into

two segments representing two specific areas of concerns — image and marketing,

and destination development.

The DOT starts off each segment with a presentation of its plans, which will be

discussed by undersecretaries Roberto V. Antonio for image and marketing, Evelyn

Pantig for planning, product development and coordination, and Orestes Ricaforte for

the eight anchor destinations.

Speakers from various tourism industry sectors will react to the DOT presentations.

Thereafter, the resource persons will give their comments on the issues pertaining to

their respective fields of expertise.

“Each segment will result in a resolution that is action-specific, time-specific, and

person-in-charge-specific. The resolutions must also be doable, workable and

realistic,” the PCVC said.

Among the invited resource persons are veteran newsmen, who will speak on “Media:

Friend or Foe of Tourism?”

Other forums scheduled at the PICC are the Youth Forum, Young Professionals’ Forum

and the LGU Forum.

The 3-day event begins on Sept. 18 at 8 a.m., with DOT Secretary Gemma

Cruz-Araneta opening the ceremonies and welcoming the participants, and President

Estrada delivering the keynote address as guest of honor.

Additional information can be obtained from the NTW secretariat (5253918-27).