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| Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco (second from right) and Trade Secretary Cristina Aldeguer-Roque (second from left) lead the ceremonial signing of the Memorandum of Agreement between the Department of Tourism (DOT) and Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) witnessed by DOT Undersecretary Shahlimar Hofer Tamano (rightmost) and DTI Chief-of-staff Englebert Chua (leftmost). (Photo Courtesy of DOT) |
by: Janna Pineda
QUEZON CITY, (PIA) – In a landmark partnership, the Department of Tourism (DOT) and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) streamlined efforts in areas of product development, business expansion, investment promotion, and capacity-building to support the growth of micro, small, and medium enterprises in both tourism and trade sectors.
Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco and Trade Secretary Cristina Roque signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) on Monday, April 7, to strengthen coordination between DOT and DTI in elevating the Filipino brand by enhancing the competitiveness and market access of local products and services both domestically and globally.
For her part, Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco underscored the interdependence of tourism and trade sectors which provides for a significant opportunity for mutual growth, especially in the face of evolving global tourism landscape and increasing demand for experiences that are both authentic and sustainable.
“In many ways, tourism is the gateway that introduces the world to the diverse array of products, culture, and talent that our nation has to offer. Trade, on the other hand, ensures that these products and experiences not only reach international markets, but also provide the foundation for a robust economic uplift at the local level,” said Frasco.
Meanwhile, in her message, Trade Secretary Cristina Roque highlighted that among the prospective gains of this partnership is the access of tourism MSMEs to the financing programs of DTI’s Small Business Corporation (SB Corp) which include loan offerings starting from P10,000 for their business development.
“By working together, we are enhancing the synergy between tourism promotion and enterprise development. This convergence aims to foster inclusive growth, empower local industries, and unlock opportunities that reach far beyond our urban centers and into the hearts of our communities,” said Roque.
The MOA also supports the integration of the DTI’s One Town, One Product (OTOP) offerings into the Tourist Rest Areas (TRAs) and the Philippine Experience Program of the DOT to further provide promotional and marketing opportunities for MSMEs.
In addition, the DOT will extend its Filipino Brand of Service Excellence (FBSE) training programs to MSMEs under the DTI to equip them with the necessary skills to elevate the quality of overall tourist experience.
The DTI, for its part, will implement product development projects for tourism MSMEs to improve the marketability of their offerings and help them create products that provide unique experiences to cater to the evolving preferences of tourists.
To date, more than 90 percent of tourism stakeholders belong to the MSME sector which provides 63 percent of national employment and contributes approximately 40 percent to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
It can be recalled that the DOT was once part of the DTI until 1973 when the tourism department was established as a separate entity, marking the formal recognition of tourism as a distinct sector. (JMP/PIA-NCR)
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