Malacañang rejects suggestion to abolish Tourism Dept.

A day after Tourism Secretary Alberto Lim announced his resignation, Malacañang on Saturday rejected the suggestion to abolish the Department of Tourism (DOT). “Parang hindi yata kaaya-aya ang [pag-abolish sa DOT]. Ang lumalabas, regression. [Tourism] is a recognized field. Ang turismo malaking bagay ‘yan," deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said. She also rebuffed suggestion that the private sector should run the department, or make it a bureau under the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI). “And while we understand the private sector plays a big role, the government also has a major role to play, too," the Malacañang official said. Earlier, the honorary Latvian Consul General to the Philippines, Robert Lim Joseph, suggested that the DOT be turned into a DTI bureau. Joseph said a tourism body can better function under the DTI because trade and tourism are interrelated and the DOT was once under the DTI. He was quoted as saying that even if a “better" secretary is appointed, the DOT will function better if it becomes a bureau of tourism and travel. Valte likewise said turning the DOT into a bureau would be a “regression" as tourism involves many things and not just ad campaigns to attract tourists. She chided some parties seeking the DOT’s abolition for treating tourism as just about branding the Philippines and enticing tourists. “Tourism, contrary to [what] some people think, is not just about branding or enticing tourists to come here. But it also involves building on the infrastructure we have," Valte said. She said a department is needed to coordinate with the Departments of Public Works and Highways for infrastructure, and Transportation and Communications for bringing tourists to destinations. — JE/VS, GMA News