With the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) outbreak now affecting the global tourism industry, Senator Dick Gordon stressed the need to implement the Holiday Economics Law to boost domestic tourism.
Gordon pointed out that with the warning from tourism experts that the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak on tourism now being felt across Asia, will linger past 2021, it would be advantageous to implement Republic Act 9492 or the Holiday Economics Law as it can boost domestic tourism.
“Domestic tourism thrived when it was implemented during the Arroyo administration. In 2018, domestic trips totaled to 111,350,293 or an annual growth of 15.1 percent,” the veteran legislator said.
“It would give families more time to spend together.”
“This figure could increase further if holidays that fall on weekdays would be observed on the nearest Monday instead because it would allow people more time for travel across the country. It would also give families more time to spend together,” the seasoned lawmaker added.
RA 9492 provides that in the event the holiday falls on a Wednesday, the holiday will be observed on the Monday of that week. If the holiday falls on a Sunday, the holiday will be observed on the Monday that follows: Provided, that for movable holidays, the President shall issue a proclamation, at least six months prior to the holiday concerned, the specific date that shall be declared as a non-working day.
“Implementing the law would open up more local business opportunities.”
The senator, who authored and sponsored the law which was enacted in 2007, noted that implementing the law would also open up more local business opportunities, especially if it would be announced in advance at the beginning of the year so that businessmen can prepare. He added that the previous implementation of the law also gave rise to the Airbnb industry.
During the 2020 budget deliberations, Gordon, a former Tourism Secretary and Senate Finance Vice Chairman, was tasked to oversee the fiscal 2020 budget of the DOT. He pushed for an increase in the budget of the tourism regional offices to boost regional tourism, similar to the WOW Philippines program that he launched during his stint at the DOT which showed the “best of the regions.”
In a related development, local air carrier Cebu Pacific earlier announced that it would use larger planes, add more flights and impose fare reductions for more than 70 domestic destinations to encourage local residents to travel and explore the Philippines.