BAGUIO CITY (PIA) — The Department of Tourism – Cordillera recognized three local government units in the region for their initiatives in reporting tourism data in their localities.
The city government of Baguio and the provinces of Apayao and Benguet were cited for their tourism statistics initiative during the culmination activity of the 28th National Statistics Month last week at the University of the Philippines Baguio.
DOT-CAR Regional Director Marie Venus Tan, Philippine Statistics Authority-CAR Regional Director Villafe Alibuyog and University of the Philippines Baguio Chancellor Dr. Raymundo Rovillos awarded plaques to representatives of the three LGUs.
Tan said these LGUs have complied with the requirements set by the DOT particularly in reporting statistical data on tourism arrivals in their localities. She explained that having reliable data on tourism is very important as it is part of the economy of the LGUs and the country as well.
Despite the problem of not having permanent tourism officers in the LGUs, Tan encouraged all the LGUs in the region to comply with the needed data and statistics in their local tourism industry. This, she said, is also important for their budgetary requirements and other strategic planning for development of the LGUs.
She said local tourism officers should sustain the data gathering on tourism statistics and should be submitted in time as well.
Given the importance of tourism in the overall economic growth of the country, the PSA and the DOT are closely working together to measure the contribution of tourism to the economy through the institutionalization of the PTSA. **JDP/RMC- PIA CAR
