India, Philippines to enhance cooperation in tourism sector

New Delhi, Sep 7 (ANI): India and the Philippines decided to enhance mutual cooperation in tourism sector following the second meeting of the Joint Working Group on Tourism Cooperation held here today.

Union Secretary for Tourism R.H. Khwaja led the Indian delegation, while the Philippines delegation was led by Maria Victoria V. Jasmin, Secretary, Department of Tourism, Philippines.

It was decided that both the countries will identify areas for working together and explore new opportunities in tourism sector specially in the field of research and development, education and training, promotion and marketing and destination development and management.

Both sides gave an overview of the tourism sector in their respective countries and emphasised on its potential for employment generation and economic growth. The increase in the tourist traffic between the two countries would strengthen the bilateral relations at people to people level.

It was decided to establish mechanism to encourage exchange of information and data related to tourist arrivals and tourism resources to understand the dynamics of tourism sector in each other's country.

It was also agreed to continue to exchange tourism data and information at regular intervals. The need for exchange of visits of tour operators, media persons related to tourism and opinion makers to promote tourism between the two countries was also underlined at the meeting.

It was also agreed that the tourism stakeholders from two sides may meet at regular intervals for exchange of views to promote two-way traffic between the two countries.

The information about investment opportunities in the tourism sector in both the countries was also shared. Both the countries agreed that growing opportunities in tourism sector should be showcased to attract investments from the private stakeholders of the two countries.

It was also agreed to explore the possibilities of enhancing air-connectivity between both the countries and assist each other country in carrying out promotion and marketing activities to increase the tourist traffic. This would include participation in travel fairs held in each country, as-well-as regional events such as ASEAN Tourism Forum and allow private sector to interact and network with their counterparts.

Union Tourism Secretary Khwaja earlier in his welcome address said that the meeting would be useful in enhancing tourism cooperation between the two-countries. He was also hopeful that the meeting will take tourism cooperation between the two countries to the next level and could be able to produce concrete results.

Maria Victoria V. Jasmin in her address appreciated the friendly relations between the two countries and emphasised upon the importance of pursuing a closer relationship based on the emerging potential in the tourism sector in the two countries.

An agreement on tourism cooperation was signed between India and the Philippines earlier on February 4, 2006. The first meeting of the Joint Working Group set up in this regard was held on July 4, 2008 in Manila. The third meeting of the Joint Working Group will be held next year in the Philippines.

Tourist arrival from the Philippines was 17222 in the year 2008, which rose to 21987 and 24534 in the year 2009 and 2010 respectively.

The Visa on Arrival (VoA) facility was extended to the tourist from Philippines in January 2011. 1956 VoAs were issued last year for the tourists coming from Philippines. Up to June this year, 966 VoAs were issued for the tourists from Philippines. (ANI)

Sourced: newstrackindia