Senator JV Ejercito: It shouldn't be cheaper for Filipinos to travel abroad than locally

Amid growing public clamor about local travel within the Philippines, a Senate resolution was filed seeking an inquiry into

why it has become more expensive for Filipinos to travel domestically than internationally.

“Kung gusto nating umunlad ang turismo, kailangan mauna ang maayos na imprastraktura. Hindi rin dapat mas mahal pang maglakbay sa sariling bansa kaysa lumipad sa ibang bansa,” Senator JV Ejercito said.

Ejercito wants to know if the country's National Tourism Development Plan (NTDP) is being implemented properly.

“There is a need to look into the implementation of the National Tourism Development Plan to address the gaps in the tourism industry that limits competitiveness, development, accessibility, and overall tourist experience,” he said.

Under Senate Resolution No. 257, Ejercito is directing the Committee on Tourism, which he chairs, to conduct an inquiry, in aid of legislation, on the implementation of the NTDP to ensure that tourism infrastructure development supports domestic travel and sustains long-term growth of the tourism sector.

Launched in 2023, NTDP aims to improve tourism infrastructure and accessibility, enhance overall tourist experience, diversify tourism products, maximize domestic and international tourism, and strengthen tourism governance through collaboration with national and local stakeholders.

Despite steady growth in visitor arrivals and domestic tourism spending, Ejercito pointed out that the country continues to fall short of its international tourism targets, highlighting persistent gaps in infrastructure.

Ejercito stressed that tourism infrastructure remains one of the country’s weakest points, citing global rankings that show deficiencies in airports, seaports, road networks, and essential tourist facilities.

He added that these infrastructure shortcomings contribute directly to the high cost of domestic travel, making it more expensive for Filipinos to explore local destinations than to travel to nearby ASEAN countries.

“Kapag mas mura pa ang pamasahe papuntang Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, o Hong Kong kaysa sa sarili nating mga probinsya, malinaw na may mali sa sistema,” Ejercito said.

The resolution also flagged reports of exorbitant domestic airfares, noting that these prices have a “negative impact” on domestic tourism and the livelihood of communities that depend heavily on tourism.

“These prices for domestic flight fares seemed to have a negative impact for the Filipino citizens to explore their own country,” he emphasized.

The Committee on Tourism, jointly with the Committees on Social Justice, Welfare and Rural Development, and Finance, will hold a public hearing in aid of legislation tomorrow, Feb. 3.

-Paraluman News