India, Philippines to mutually enhance tourism cooperation

India and the Philippines have decided to enhance mutual cooperation in the tourism sector. This was decided at the second meeting of the Joint Working Group on Tourism Cooperation held in New Delhi recently. The Indian delegation was led by R H Khwaja, Secretary – Tourism, Govt. of India, while the Philippines delegation was led by Maria Victoria V Jasmin, Secretary, Department of Tourism, Department of Philippines.

The two countries decided to identify areas for working together and explore new opportunities in the tourism sector, especially 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 sector in their respective countries, re-emphasising the sector’s potential for employment generation and economic growth. It was also agreed that increase in tourist traffic between the two nations could strengthen their bilateral relations on a people-to-people level. Both sides also exchanged views for establishing a mechanism to encourage exchange of information and data related to tourist arrivals and tourism resources to understand the dynamics of the tourism sector in each other’s country. The countries decided that they would continue to exchange tourism data and information at regular intervals.

India and the Philippines emphasised on the need to exchange visits of tour operators, media persons related to tourism and opinion makers to promote tourism between the two countries. The importance of interaction between tour operators and destination managers of the two countries was stressed upon to develop better packages for tourists. The countries decided that their tourism stakeholders may meet at regular intervals for exchanging views to promote two-way traffic. The nations also shared information about investment opportunities in their respective tourism sectors. Both countries agreed that growing opportunities in the tourism sector should be showcased to attract investments from private stakeholders of the two countries, and that possibilities of enhancing air-connectivity between the two countries should be explored. Further, the countries also agreed to assist each other in carrying out promotion and marketing activities to increase tourist traffic between them. Both countries gave their consent in participation in travel fares held in the other country, as also in regional events such as ASEAN Tourism Forum, to showcase their tourism products and destinations, and to allow the private sector to interact and network.

In his welcome note, Khwaja said that the meeting would be useful in enhancing tourism cooperation between the two countries, and take the same to the next level to produce concrete results. Maria appreciated the friendly relations between India and the Philippines and emphasised the importance of pursuing a closer relationship based on the emerging potential of the tourism sector in the two countries.

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

Tourist arrivals from the Philippines were 17,222 in 2008, which rose to 21,987 and 24,534 in 2009 and 2010, respectively. The Visa on Arrival (VoA) facility was extended to tourists from the Philippines in January 2011. 1,956 VoAs were issued last year for tourists from the Philippines. Until June this year, 966 VoAs were issued for Philippine tourists.

Sourced: travelbizmonitor