Press Release
February 21, 2009

Gordon hopes tourism industry to boom with new tourism bill

Independent Senator Richard J. Gordon has called on women travel executives to take active part in the development of the country's tourism industry which would boom with the passage into law of tourism bill now on its penultimate stage before becoming into law.

Gordon, speaking at the induction of the new officers of Women in Travel - Manila (WIT-Manila), said the tourism bill would give the tourism industry a fighting chance but stressed that women travel executives must also do their part in the process of development.

"Tourism is high value. The tourism bill, which had been approved, will be a boost to the tourism industry because it will be given promotional and management capability and you will get incentives by way of tax holidays and you will be allowed to import new tourist buses," he said.

"But you will also have responsibilities. The government should not do all the work. As we have demonstrated in Olongapo, kapag pinagsama ang galing ng lider at ng tao, lalabas ang galing ng Pilipino," he added.

WIT is an organization of women executives of travel-related companies such as airlines, travel agencies, hotels, resorts, and car rentals among others.

Aside from WIT - Manila , the organization has chapters in Zamboanga, Cebu, Bacolod and Davao. WIT - Manila, presently, has 50 women executives as members.

Gordon recently hailed the passage by the Senate-House bicameral conference committee of the tourism bill he authored and sent it for Congress' ratification before it takes its month-long recess starting on March 7.

The chairman of the Senate tourism committee and head of the Senate contingent said he expects President Arroyo to sign it into law early next month.

The bill seeks to declare a national policy for tourism as an engine of investment, employment, growth and national development. It also aims to reorganize the tourism department and its agencies to effectively and efficiently implement that policy.

It also seeks for the establishment of "tourism enterprise zones" in strategic areas, such as Cebu, Davao , Bohol, Laguna, Cavite , Boracay, Palawan and Iloilo, in the country to lure foreign investors and tourists to visit places rich with history and culture.

Gordon, a former tourism secretary, also challenged the women, whom he said have always molded men, to be on the forefront of the change that the country must undergo in order to develop.

"Women can make the world a little more beautiful. And I would count on the WIT to be at the sword's point, cutting edge of change. I hope all of you can be part of this great experiment called nation-building. You must be the leader of the new Philippines, you must be at the forefront of the new Philippines ," he said.

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