department of tourism projects 2022

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Philippines’ DOT sets out 2022 recovery plan

MANILA, 8 September 2021: The Philippines’ Department of Tourism will pursue a 2022 recovery plan with an end goal of a sustainable, resilient, and inclusive tourism industry, the Philippines News Agency reported earlier this week.

Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat presented the plan as part of the DOT’s proposed 2022 budget to the House of Representatives appropriations committee.

The DOT has proposed a PHP3.52 billion budget for 2022 to support its plans and programmes, as well as a PHP63.71 million allocation for the Intramuros Administration and PHP203.79 million for the National Parks Development Committee.

The plan calls for more green tourism lanes first for domestic tourists in early 2022 once the Covid-19 situation in the Philippines stabilises. International travel should follow based on the country’s vaccination programme and stabilising Covid-19. Like its neighbours in ASEAN, the country is looking at ways to live with Covid-19 and establish policies for tourism that are not conditional on achieving zero virus outbreaks, but so far, there are no clear indicators on when the Philippines will fully open to vaccinated international travellers.

“As international borders start to open, the key, strategic and opportunity markets will be engaged and green lanes explored in preparation for revenge travel,” Romulo-Puyat said.

Romulo-Puyat said the DOT’s policy direction banks on the reformulated National Tourism Development Plan (NTDP) for 2016 to 2022, which has a three-pronged thrust of promoting safe, fun, and competitive tourism; pursuing sustainable, inclusive, and resilient tourism; and strengthening governance and destination management.

The DOT has also updated its Tourism Response and Recovery Plan (TRRP) with the main objective of mitigating the impact of the pandemic on the tourism industry.

She said this would guide the department and stakeholders in ensuring the protection of jobs and safety of travel workers, visitors, and communities, as well as support for tourism enterprises.

Among others, it will help rebuild confidence and growing demand in domestic and foreign markets.

“Under the Tourism Standards and Enforcement Program, we shall continue to improve service standards and restore confidence to travel, develop, and enforce tourism standards that are at par with global best practices,” she said.

Before the pandemic, the tourism industry contributed PHP2.51 trillion, or nearly 13%, to the country’s Gross Domestic Product. This dropped to PHP973.31 billion in 2020 at the height of the health crisis.

Based on the World Tourism Barometer report of the United Nations World Tourism Organization issued in May, the global travel industry suffered a decline of 72.9% in international visitor arrivals in 2020.

The Philippines registered a much steeper 82% slide from 8.26 million tourist arrivals in 2019 to just 1.48 million in 2020.

“Despite the challenges and limitations in 2020 and 2021, the DOT supports efforts to keep the tourism industry afloat while laying the groundwork for the industry’s recovery,” Romulo-Puyat said.

She said the DOT is focused heavily on providing immediate response to those displaced by the pandemic.

As of 26 August, Romulo-Puyat reported DOT had conducted 352 training courses for industry stakeholders with 19,871 participants.

“During the industry’s downtime, we were able to reskill, upskill, and retool the tourism stakeholders with the health and safety protocols and operations under a new normal environment,” she said.

Further, 44 new tourism circuits were established by the department, in addition to the 71 that are still undergoing development.

(Source: PNA)

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This was revealed by Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat during the deliberation of the Department's proposed 2022 budget before the House of Representatives' Committee on Appropriations on Friday, Sept. 3.

The DOT proposed P3.79 billion budget for the fiscal year 2022 for its plans and programs directed for the safe recovery of the sector.

According to Puyat, the DOT's policy direction was focused on the reformulated National Tourism Development Plan (NTDP) for 2016 to 2022 which has a three-pronged thrust to promote safe, fun, and competitive tourism; pursue sustainable, inclusive, and resilient tourism; and strengthen governance and destination management.

The DOT likewise updated the Tourism Response And Recovery Plan with the main objective of mitigating the impacts of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic on the tourism industry.

The tourism chief said this plan would ensure the protection of jobs and safety of tourism workers, visitors, and communities; support the recovery of tourism enterprises; and rebuild confidence and growing demand in domestic and foreign markets.

"Under the Tourism Standards and Enforcement Program, we shall continue to improve service standards, and restore confidence to travel, develop and enforce tourism standards that are at par with global best practices," Puyat added.

The country's tourism sector has been among the hardest hit by the ongoing health crisis due to travel restrictions to contain the spread of COVID-19.

In May 2021, the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) reported that the global travel industry suffered a decline of 72.9 percent in international visitor arrivals in 2020.

The Philippines registered a much steeper 82 percent slide from 8.26 million tourist arrivals in 2019 to just 1.48 million in 2020.

Since the start of the quarantine in mid-March last year, the Department has been focusing heavily on providing immediate response to those displaced by the pandemic.

"Despite the challenges and limitations in 2020 and 2021, the DOT has been relentless in its efforts to keep the tourism industry afloat while laying the groundwork for the industry's recovery," Puyat noted.

According to the DOT, it has so far conducted 352 trainings for industry stakeholders with a total of 19,871 participants as of August 26.

"During the industry's downtime, we were able to reskill, upskill and retool the tourism stakeholders with the health and safety protocols and operations under a new normal environment," Puyat said.

Aside from trainings, 44 new tourism circuits in addition to 71 that are still undergoing development to date were established by the Department.

“The DOT will continue to stay attuned to the ever-changing tourism trends and preferences of our domestic and foreign markets through continued product and market research," Puyat assured.

"And as international borders start to open, the key, strategic and opportunity markets will continue to be engaged and green lanes explored in preparation for revenge travel that is expected to ensue," she added.

"Despite the challenges and limitations in 2020 and 2021, the DOT has been relentless in its efforts to keep the tourism industry afloat while laying the groundwork for the industry's recovery," Puyat stressed.

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National travel and tourism office (ntto).

In addition to providing statistics, the National Travel and Tourism Office (NTTO) creates a positive climate for growth in travel and tourism by reducing institutional barriers to tourism, administers joint marketing efforts, provides official travel and tourism statistics , and coordinates efforts across federal agencies through the Tourism Policy Council. The Office works to enhance the international competitiveness of the U.S. travel and tourism industry and increase its exports, thereby creating U.S. employment and economic growth. 

What Guides Our Work: The National Travel and Tourism Strategy

The Department of Commerce, on behalf of the federal interagency Tourism Policy Council, is launching the new National Travel and Tourism Strategy (Strategy) to recover and rebuild a U.S. travel and tourism industry that is more inclusive, equitable, sustainable, and resilient, positioning the sector to drive economic development and export revenue. The Strategy seeks to utilize the full efforts of the federal government to promote the United States as a premiere destination that is representative of the breadth and diversity of its communities, and to foster a sector that creates good jobs for more Americans and is a positive force for sustainability.  

2022 National Travel and Tourism Strategy

FACT SHEET: 2022 National Travel and Tourism Strategy

Our Engagement with the Private Sector: Travel and Tourism Advisory Board (TTAB)

The United States Travel and Tourism Advisory Board (TTAB) serves as the advisory body to the Secretary of Commerce on matters relating to the travel and tourism industry in the United States. The Board advises the Secretary on government policies and programs that affect the U.S. travel and tourism industry, offers counsel on current and emerging issues, and provides a forum for discussing and proposing solutions to industry-related problems. Visit the TTAB page

Our Work Fostering Diverse, Inclusive, and Sustainable Tourism:

As is laid out in the National Travel and Tourism Strategy, the U.S. government is working to increase not only the volume, but the value of travel and tourism to the United States. Across all of our work, we are striving to make sure tourism is accessible to communities, diverse across cultures and geographies, and a positive driver for economic growth and environmental protection. 

APEC Project “Assessing the Impact of Rising Sea Levels on Travel and Tourism in APEC Economies” : Our report looks at how rising sea levels and extreme weather events pose an increasing threat to tourism businesses and destinations, and how those businesses can prepare. It also examines best practices for governments and destinations to incorporate climate change into their tourism planning.  Access the Full Report Here.

How We Market the United States: Brand USA

NTTO is the official liaison to  Brand USA for the U.S. federal government. The Corporation for Travel Promotion (Brand USA) has a multi-language consumer website available whose primary purpose is to provide international travelers with a “one-stop shop” for travel information about the United States. This public-private partnership allows thousands of U.S. travel and tourism industry organizations to be exposed to traveling consumers around the globe, providing them with additional export assistance resources. It covers all 50 states, the five U.S. territories and hundreds of U.S. destinations. Visit the Brand USA page. 

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How We Represent U.S. Tourism Globally: Intergovernmental Organizations

NTTO represents U.S. tourism interests in intergovernmental organizations to lead the global efforts for travel and tourism policy concerns and issues, including chairing the Tourism Committee for the  Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development  

It also serves as the USG official head delegate to the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Tourism Working Group and the official U.S. government observer and participant on committees and activities of the United Nations World Tourism Organization.

TI News is an information service from NTTO providing up to date Travel and Tourism Industry news.  Visit TI News.  

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DoT launches 2nd phase of sustainable tourism campaign

THE PHILIPPINES has launched the second phase of its sustainable tourism campaign aimed at promoting more eco-friendly travels and responsible tourists.    

In a statement on Wednesday, the Department of Tourism (DoT) said the second phase called “ Keep the Fun Going ” builds on the “ Save our Spots ” campaign launched in 2019.

“ The DOT has been integrating sustainable tourism principles in its projects, programs and policies, even involving tourists to be part of these efforts. Through the Save our Spots campaign, we aim to raise awareness about responsible travel and emphasize that every small act goes a long way to ensure that future generations will continue to benefit from and enjoy nature ’ s abundance, ” Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat said.

Activities under the new campaign include encouraging travelers to walk, hike, or bike more often; reducing waste by avoiding single-use plastics and always bringing reusable containers; promoting volunteerism in community restoration efforts such as planting, clean-up drives, and wildlife preservation; and motivating tourists to book in eco-friendly accommodations.

The campaign involves a “ gamified experience ” wherein travelers can participate through social media platforms and win prizes, including a free trip for two to Palawan, one of the country ’ s most popular destinations. — Revin Mikhael D. Ochave

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FY25 Destination Development Capital Grants

The Executive Office of Economic Development (EOED) through the Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism (MOTT) is committed to helping communities contribute to the long-term strength and sustainability of the Commonwealth. The FY25 Destination Development Capital (DDC) Grant Program is a competitive grant program that will award funds to improve facilities and destinations visited by in state and out-of-state travelers, with the goals of increasing visitation, enticing repeat visitation, and increasing the direct and indirect economic impacts of the tourism industry in all regions of the commonwealth.

Eligible projects will enhance tourism resources and infrastructure and will aid in destination resiliency. Applications will be accepted for projects that include plans to expand, construct, restore or renovate Massachusetts tourism destinations and attractions. Applicants must demonstrate how the tourism capital project will work to promote the tourism goals of the Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism and the corresponding Regional Tourism Council. The DDC grant is focused on capital improvements with a direct relationship to tourism, and other physical/structural items with a greater than five-year lifespan. In accordance with the ResilientMass Plan , projects that include elements intended to increase the climate resilience of a tourism destination or attraction will receive consideration in the review process.   Projects with a presence in a Designated Cultural District, locations within rural communities, and nexus with commemorations of the 250th anniversary of American Independence may receive priority consideration.

The Destination Development Capital (DDC) Grant Program anticipates awarding up to $6,000,000 in FY25, subject to funding availability. 

The grant process opens on April 22, 2024 with applications due May 31, 2024.

Grant awards are anticipated to be announced in June 2024, subject to appropriation.

Projects must be completed by June 30, 2025

Please read the grant guidelines and attend the Q/A session on Wednesday, May 1, at 10 a.m. To register, please contact Marc Zappulla . If you have a specific question, please include that in your email.

APPLICANT ELIGIBILITY

• A public agency, municipality, or nonprofit organization incorporated in Massachusetts with 501(c)3, 501(c)5, 501(c)6, status from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) that does one of the following:     a. Produces, promotes, or presents tourism attractions and activities for the public.     b. Provides public access to physical collections and exhibits.
• In operation for at least two consecutive years since January 2020.
• Agency must be in good standing with the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and city/town: Must be current on all taxes due through December 31, 2022; and have active and valid state licenses/registrations, if applicable.
• Applicants must have spent at least $15,000 in a fiscal year on tourism related items.
• Applicant must indicate how they are addressing diversity, equity, and inclusion within their organization.
• Applications must be complete, must include all required documentation and be submitted through the online portal, by the deadline, in order to be considered.      Ineligible Organizations: 1) For-profit organizations 2) Any organization whose sole or primary purpose is to fundraise 3) Public colleges and universities, and entities that receive state-level operating support or non-project support directly from the Massachusetts General Fund 4) Organizations not located in Massachusetts

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Department Secretary

Hon. ma. esperanza christina garcia frasco.

Philippine Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco is a former three-term mayor of the Municipality of Liloan in the Province of Cebu before she was catapulted to the executive branch of government when President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. handpicked her to join his Cabinet and lead the Department of Tourism (DOT) in 2022. Born to a family of public servants, her legacy as a local chief executive saw the rise of Liloan as a top model and most resilient municipality in the Philippines. Her outstanding work did not go unnoticed, meriting a Presidential Lingkod Bayan Regional Award for Excellence in Public Service and ranking number 1 among all municipal mayors in Central Visayas. As the youngest member of the Marcos Cabinet, she has consistently been ranked one of the top-performing Secretaries of the Marcos administration, delivering solid outcomes and achievements for the Department.

From back-to-back international accolades for the Philippines to breaching tourism targets, her visionary leadership has propelled the country onto the world stage. Most recently, with the Philippines' election as vice presidency of the UNWTO General Assembly, a position once held by the country more than two decades ago, alongside the chairmanship of the UNWTO Commission for East Asia and the Pacific. As she makes a mark in the tourism industry, she has laid out some of the most groundbreaking innovations yet, leveraging on collaborative and shared governance that leaves no destination and people behind, with the Filipino at the heart of the industry. Lauded by the entire tourism industry, SKAL International recently distinguished her with the prestigious Tourism Good Governance Award. Since her assumption to office, tourism reclaimed its pole position in the Philippine economy as the 2nd top driver of the country's growth and development, employing millions of Filipinos. Their world-renowned brand of warm hospitality has made the world "Love the Philippines," bringing us a step closer to fulfilling the President's vision of transforming the Philippines into a tourism powerhouse in Asia.

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Tourism Management Grant Application Opens on February 1

The Colorado Tourism Office (CTO) will begin accepting applications for the Tourism Management Grant on Feb. 1, 2022. Colorado destination organizations and Colorado tourism industry associations are eligible to apply for up to $20,000 to support tourism-related projects that develop, manage, or enhance visitor experiences in Colorado.

Eligible projects include product development (agritourism maps, bicycle tourism guides, travel philanthropy programs), tourism workforce development, tourism-related strategic planning (stakeholder and resident engagement, destination management), tourism research, and infrastructure that directly enhances the visitor experience through increased access or engagement (wayfinding, educational or interpretive signage, trail maintenance).

"We received a lot of valuable input from partners who are looking to expand the scope of their tourism management strategies," said Andrew Grossmann, Director of Destination Development for the Colorado Tourism Office. "We hope that this grant provides our industry an opportunity to implement new ideas that keep Colorado on the cutting edge of tourism leadership."

Grants are for a maximum of $20,000 and funds are matched 4:1, meaning for every dollar allocated to the project by the grantee, the CTO Tourism Management Grant will provide $4 in matching funds.

Projects that advance low-impact travel experiences, foster inclusive travel opportunities, encourage responsible visitation, address seasonality, champion the value of tourism, or target conscientious travelers will be given additional consideration.

Applications for the Tourism Management Grant will be available from February 1, 2022, to 4 p.m. (MST) on Thursday, March 3, 2022. Grantees will be notified of their awards on March 22, 2022.

For more information about the Tourism Management Grant program, visit the website . 

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Bettendorf man sentenced on child pornography and gun charges

DAVENPORT, Iowa (KWQC) - A Bettendorf, Iowa man was sentenced Tuesday to federal prison on child pornography and gun charges.

Jakob Paul Newberry, 29, was sentenced to 12 years in prison for receiving and distributing child pornography and being an unlawful drug user in possession of a firearm, according to a media release from the United States Department of Justice. After completing his term he will be required to serve five years of supervised release.

The charges against Newberry stem from the following.

The Scott County Sheriff’s Office said they received a CyberTip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children that Newberry had shared files containing child sexual abuse material from an iCloud account.

After that, officers said they received another tip that Newberry had uploaded child sexual abuse material using a Kik account as well.

During the investigation, officers said they found that Newberry had also utilized Instagram to obtain nude photographs of minor females and had attempted to extort the minors into sending other sexual images.

As part of the investigation, Newberry was also found to be possessing firearms as an unlawful drug user, officers said.

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Two I-80 rest areas to temporarily close in Columbia County

MIFFLIN TOWNSHIP, COLUMBIA COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — Two rest areas will be upgraded and renovated as part of the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation’s (PennDOT) energy-saving project.

PennDOT announced Tuesday that two Interstate 80 (I-80) rest areas in Columbia County will undergo energy efficiency upgrades and renovations as part of the “ Guaranteed Energy Savings Act (GESA) project, started by PennDOT and the Department of General Services in 2021 .

According to PennDOT, any building systems eligible for energy-saving upgrades within a GESA Project are leveraged by future energy savings.

Officials say the project will upgrade the heating and ventilation, air conditioning, and lighting to improve energy efficiency in the building.

While the upgrades are being completed, the following rest areas, including the parking lots will be temporarily closed to the public:

• Columbia County Roadside Rest Area – I-80 eastbound, in Mifflin Township;
• Both rest areas will be closed Monday, April 29 through Friday, May 24.

Drivers can check up-to-date conditions on major roadways by visiting 511PA online or calling 511.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PAhomepage.com.

Professor discusses Texas A&M’s renewed commitment to journalism, 3 veteran journalists hired

COLLEGE STATION, Texas (KBTX) -Texas A&M University’s journalism program is experiencing significant growth and progress despite facing controversies with restructuring. The program, which was thrust into the national spotlight for issues related to hiring, has now emerged with renewed vigor and a clear trajectory forward.

During a recent event at the Memorial Student Center, A&M proudly announced the appointment of three distinguished professionals to its faculty: Mariano Castillo, Flora Charner, and Paul O’Donnell, each bringing a wealth of industry experience, who have been appointed as professors of the practice. Officials say this strategic move aims to enrich the program’s educational offerings and further elevate its standing.

Dr. Nathan Crick, a professor who played a pivotal role in launching the program, emphasizes the importance of balancing theoretical knowledge with practical skills.

“We want news that matters, and we want truth that engages people’s lives,” said Crick.

“Although journalism has a long history here at A&M, these new hires represent a university commitment to bringing journalism to a national stage here at A&M.”

Crick says that being able to learn from veteran journalists with a proven track record of success will prove valuable for students in the program.

“It is one thing to study journalism from a distance. It is quite another to be a practicing journalist on the ground, dealing with people, studying how to interview, how to get information, how to be in situations that are often conflict situations, to be able to get to the facts and really extract from those stories the essence of what it means to be news,” said Crick.

“The new program has to balance practice with theory. We want history. We want an understanding of the relationship between journalism and the public sphere. We also want to know how to write news stories, how to operate cameras, and how to write and edit stories. So we’re trying to balance two sides of journalism,” Crick added.

Despite facing challenges in the past, including the controversy surrounding the mishandling of the hiring process for Kathleen McElroy , an esteemed journalist and Aggie, Texas A&M University says they’re determined to turn the page and forge ahead into the next chapter of its journalism program’s development. The university is setting ambitious goals aimed at further enhancing the program’s quality and reputation.

“We want to be one of the premier departments in journalism in the coming years, and I believe that we are going to be. Although journalism has a long history at Texas A&M, these new hires represent a renewed commitment by the university to this profession, and it’s going to expand three or four times the amount of faculty we have, as well as integrating it cohesively within our department,” said Crick.

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Taylor Swift’s ‘The Tortured Poets Department’ shatters streaming records

(Gray News) - Taylor Swift is once again shattering records.

Swift’s latest album, “The Tortured Poets Department,” became the most streamed LP on its first day across Spotify, Amazon Music and Apple Music.

The double album, with a total of 31 songs, was streamed 300 million times on Friday on Spotify alone, while its opening track, “Fortnight,” became the platform’s most-streamed song in a single day.

“The Tortured Poets Department. An anthology of new works that reflect events, opinions and sentiments from a fleeting and fatalistic moment in time - one that was both sensational and sorrowful in equal measure,” Swift wrote across social media when the album dropped at midnight on Friday. “This period of the author’s life is now over, the chapter closed and boarded up. There is nothing to avenge, no scores to settle once wounds have healed. And upon further reflection, a good number of them turned out to be self-inflicted. This writer is of the firm belief that our tears become holy in the form of ink on a page. Once we have spoken our saddest story, we can be free of it. And then all that’s left behind is the tortured poetry.”

This is Swift’s 11th studio album and she has literally outdone herself.

The Spotify title was previously held by her 10th album, “Midnights.”

Last year, Swift also became Spotify’s most-streamed artist overall with more than 26 billion streams worldwide.

Copyright 2024 Gray Media Group, Inc. CNN Newsource contributed to this story. All rights reserved.

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