Quezon City Rep. Alfred Vargas on Monday described as a step in the right direction the incoming Marcos administration’s emphasis on reviving the tourism sector to boost economic recovery.
He also welcomed the plan of incoming Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco to strengthen ties between local governments and the private sector.
“Strong partnerships between local governments and private sector stakeholders in the tourism sector will provide both focus and synergy,” Vargas said.
“As a former local executive, Secretary Frasco can provide the dynamism needed to strengthen not only collaboration between LGUs and the private sector but public-private tourism partnerships at the local level,” he added.
Vargas said local governments and the tourism industry will also benefit from the priority to be given by President-elect Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to tourism and infrastructure in the 2023 budget.
“With tourism and tourism-related infrastructure projects, we can expect more jobs both in the short-term and in the long-term,” he said.
“The construction phase alone can provide immediate jobs, especially in areas affected by the pandemic and with strong tourism potentials,” he added.
In 2019, the tourism industry contributed 12.8 percent to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP). But Vargas said lockdowns and international travel restrictions since the start of the pandemic have drastically reduced the sector’s contribution to 5.4 percent.
Employment in tourism also dropped from 5.72 million in 2019 to 4.68 million in 2020, he added.
Vargas has filed two House Resolutions pushing for the revival of the tourism industry.
House Resolution No. 2552 calls for the consolidation of efforts aimed at supporting the full recovery of the Philippine tourism sector, while House Resolution No. 2560 urges concerned agencies to adopt the proper COVID-19 prevention measures in tourist destinations.
Vargas added that the incoming Tourism Secretary is “perfect for the job and more than well-equipped to lead the Department and catalyze the tourism industry’s recovery.”
“I have personally known Secretary Frasco since college and I am confident of her competence, experience, and heart to lead such an important national government agency. Without a doubt, she will deliver on the President-elect’s promise of unity and good governance to the Filipino people,” Vargas said.