College of International Tourism and Hospitality Management

Legal Aspect in Tourism and Hospitality

Reaction Paper: The Tourism Decade
Submitted by: Ella Nicole Siladan

1. How important is the Tourism Act 2009?

In view of the potentials of tourism in poverty reduction within the framework of local administration, the
legislation RA 9593 Or Tourism Act 2009 was enacted. It is clear that tourism, in general, is concerned
with the establishment of employment opportunities, foreign exchange, and investments, with the ultimate
objective of poverty alleviation. The law's purpose actually contradicts supranational institutions'
development plans, which call for "interventions that should go beyond "trickle-down" theory yet yield
net benefits for the poor." In this situation, poverty alleviation is only a byproduct of job creation, foreign
exchange, and investment.

2. Site a specific example wherein the Tourism Act of 2009 helped a particular people, community, or
industry.

The Tourism Decade campaign marks the tenth anniversary of Republic Act 9593, most often known as
the Tourism Act of 2009. The campaign emphasizes how the tourist sector promotes inclusive growth and
long-term livelihood for all Filipinos, all of which is made possible by R.A. 9593. According to DOT
Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat in her keynote speech, the Tourism Decade celebration is an event
not only to commemorate the law, but also to honor the travel industry's contributions to the improvement
of the lives of the Filipino people, and to bring attention to tourism's functions as an engine of investment,
employment, growth, and national development.

It would have been impossible to notice the expanding influence of the tourist sector on the country's
economic success throughout the years if the Tourism Act had not been implemented, achieving a 12.7
percent contribution to the nation's gross domestic product in 2018. This continuing rise has demonstrated
tourism's direct links to numerous socioeconomic development initiatives that have helped improve our
people's quality of life, according to Sec. Puyat as he emphasized

Foreign arrivals have more than quadrupled since the Tourism Act was passed in 2009, rising from 3
million in 2009 to 7.1 million by the end of 2018. Domestic tourist spending increased as well, rising
from PhP 508.8 billion in 2009 to PhP 3.2 trillion last year.