Philippines Tourism

Tourism developed rapidly in the 1970s, with visitors numbering 1 million in 1980. Thereafter, the industry went into a slump, reaching the 1 million visitor mark again only in 1988. In that year, the average length of stay was 12.6 days, up from 8.9 days in 1987. Many of the visitors, however, were emigrant Filipinos returning for periodic visits with families and friends. In 1988 an average of 73 percent of Manila's 8,500 hotel rooms were occupied.

Estimates of tourist revenue varied considerably. In 1988 the Central Bank estimated it at US$405 million, 11 percent of the country's nonmerchandise exports. Using a different formula, the Department of Tourism estimated tourism earnings at US$1.45 billion. Most tourists entered the country through Manila, but the city had relatively few amenities and suffered from congestion, pollution, and crime. Intramuros, the colonial Spanish walled city, had not been fully restored since its destruction at the end of World War II. Political instability in the country during the 1980s also was a deterrent to tourism. The Medium-Term Development Plan called for promotion of both domestic and international tourism.

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FROM THE PTA

CORPORATE PROFILE

The Philippine Tourism Authority (PTA) is an autonomous corporate entity attached to the Department of Tourism (DOT). The PTA was created on May 11, 1973 by virtue of Presidential Decree No. 189 (P.D. 189) synchronously with the DOT as the latter's development arm.

Vision

The PTA is envisioned to be a self-sustaining government corporation contributing to national development objectives, serving as the epitome of public service as it pioneers sustainable, environmentally responsible, socially responsive and culturally catalytic tourism development.

Mission

The PTA is committed to effectively and efficiently implement tourism development undertakings as guided by the following national development thrusts: cultural awakening, countryside development, environmental conservation, foreign exchange generation, employment creation, and poverty alleviation.

Mandate

In pursuit of its mission as set in its revised Charter (P.D. 564), the Authority is mandated to perform the following functions:

* Develop identified tourism priority areas
* Operate, maintain and promote facilities in a pioneering capacity
* Provide technical and financial assistance to qualified tourism projects
* Generate revenues to fund national and corporate development undertakings

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