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The main objective of the law is to strengthen the Department of Tourism (DOT) and its attached
agencies to efficiently and effectively implement tourism in the Philippines.
Who authored Republic Act No. 9593 otherwise known as the National Tourism Act 2009?
The law was sponsored by Senator Richard J. Gordon under consolidated Senate Bill No. 2213 and House Bill No.
5229, and was signed by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo on May 12, 2009.
Enacted on May 12, 2009, by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in Cebu City, R.A. 9593 recognized tourism as an
indispensable element of the national economy and an industry of national interest and importance. Tourism is
now a major revenue generator, a catalyst for socio-economic growth and a source of national pride.
Declaration Policy
The State declares tourism as an indispensable element of the national economy and an industry of national
interest and importance, which must be harnessed as an engine of socioeconomic growth and cultural affirmation
to generate investment, foreign exchange and employment, and to continue to mold an enhanced sense of
national pride for all Filipinos.
Laws are pervasive in the tourism industry in order to regulate, permit, promote, empower or ban the
commercial/leisure activities of both service providers as well as tourists. There are also laws to
recognize the rights of the tourists as well as contract laws to determine the relations within the
industry segments.
Food safety laws play a major role in the hospitality industry, and knowledge about how to clean and
store food can keep your customers safe and help your business avoid lawsuits and fines.
Tourism laws are a collection of state, federal, and international laws that govern different aspects and
functions of the travel industry. Travel law, for example, can include anything from hospitality to
employment to public health regulations.
The primary goal of tourism law is to create a regulatory framework for the correct use, development,
and control of tourist activities, which is backed by the United Nations World Tourism Organization
(UNWTO).