RSCC Resolution No. 21, s. 2003

ENDORSING TO THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS THE RECOMMENDATIONS DURING THE WORKSHOP ON DEVELOPING TOURISM STATISTICS IN SUPPORT OF PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT

            WHEREAS, the goal of the 2003-2010 Region I Tourism Plan is to develop tourism as a major and sustainable socio-economic activity in Region 1 comparable to the current status of industry and trade;

            WHEREAS, one of the strategies identified in the Tourism Plan is the strengthening and modernization of the database generation and management to support tourism planning and programming;

            WHEREAS, the above strategy will require the support of the local government units (LGUs) who are responsible in the issuance of licenses to build and/or operate tourism establishments;

            WHEREAS,  the NEDA Regional Office I, in collaboration with the NSCB and DOT, conducted a workshop in October 2003 to firm up existing tourism indicators and develop relevant tourism statistics in support of tourism planning and development;

            WHEREAS, the workshop was attended by critical stakeholders such as the users and producers of tourism statistics both from the government and private sectors including  representatives of LGUs with tourism focus in Region 1;

            WHEREAS, the following issues were raised during the workshop:

1.      Lack of cooperation of tourism establishments in the submission of reports on hotel guests resulting to undercoverage of data on tourist arrivals;

2.      Lack of data on tourists’ profile; and

3.      Limited data on existing and emerging tourist facilities;

            WHEREAS,  the workshop participants came up with the following recommendations for implementation by the LGUs to solve the above issues and thereby improve the quality of tourism statistics

1.       Implement the submission of reports on tourist arrivals by tourism establishments as a pre-requisite to the issuance of permit to operate;

2.       Deploy representatives to check the logbook of these establishments vis-à-vis the submitted reports;

3.       Request tourism establishments, in coordination with DOT, to devise a one-page survey form on tourist profile; and

4.       Request these establishments to provide data for the following indicators:

*  Accommodation classification by type of organization;

*  Occupancy rate;

*  Nationalities of recorded guests;

*  Food and beverage facilities;

*  Sports and recreation facilities; and

*  Travel agencies/tour operators/travel brokers by type of tour package

     available, type of operation and facility utilized in tour packages

            WHEREAS, the RSCC, as the highest policy making and coordinating body on statistical matters in the region, is mandated to resolve statistical issues/problems affecting the region and to provide direction to statistical activities;

            NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, AS IT IS HEREBY RESOLVED, to approve the recommendations during the workshop on developing tourism statistics in support of planning and development;

            RESOLVED, FURTHER, to endorse the recommendations to the LGUs for their consideration;

            RESOLVED, MOREOVER, that the RSCC shall provide assistance in the formulation of the survey form on tourist profile.

            RESOLVED, FINALLY, to provide copy of  the resolution to the RDC for its information and endorsement to the LGUs.

            APPROVED, this 8^th day of December 2003, San Fernando City, La Union.