The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) in collaboration with the Department of Tourism (DOT) conducted the 2020 Philippine Tourism  Satellite Accounts (PTSA) and Tourism Statistics Online Dissemination Forum on 19 July 2021 via Zoom video conferencing. The event was  participated by officials and representatives from various government  agencies, academe, and tourism stakeholders including representatives from regional offices of DOT. The forum aims to present the 2020 PTSA results and the performance of the tourism industry. It also promotes the  appreciation for and importance of tourism statistics in strategic decision-making and evidence-based policymaking, and raises awareness on the effect of Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)  pandemic on tourism industry. 

Gracing the event were Secretary Bernadette T. Romulo-Puyat who welcomed the participants and encouraged them to share their insights and suggestions not only for the enhancement of the PTSA report but also for the promotion of Philippine Tourism Industry. 

Undersecretary Dennis S. Mapa, Ph.D. rendered the Keynote Message stressing the PSA’s efforts on the compilation of PTSA results, the approval on the regular conduct of the Household Survey on Domestic Visitors (HSDV), and the generation of regional tourism satellite accounts for the Cordillera Administrative Region. 

One of the highlights was the presentation of the 2020 Tourism Industry Performance by Director Warner M. Andrada of DOT. It was followed by a presentation on DOT’s initiatives to improve data collection and processing of information to generate tourism statistics. Assistant National Statistician Vivian R. Ilarina of PSA presented the results of the 2020 PTSA, which provides information on the contribution of tourism to the Philippine economy. 

Mr. Angelo Mario Calma of the Philippine Hotel Owners Association, Inc. (PHOAI) and Atty. Lesley Jeanne Y. Cordero of the World Bank Group served as reactors to the presentations. They highlighted the importance of timely release of statistics on tourism, as it is a key for various institutions to respond accordingly and develop plans and programs that would promote higher productivity and sustainable development. They emphasized the need for a program to help the local government measure the developmental impact of local tourism in the environment. 

In closing, Undersecretary Benito C. Bengzon, Jr. shared DOT’s action in moving towards the development of the tourism information system and the formulation of the strategic development plan on tourism statistics, as a way to improve and innovate the generation of reliable and accurate statistical reports. 

Dr. Maria Cherrylyn Rodolfo of Asian Institute of Management served as the master of ceremonies of the forum and the moderator during the panel discussion. 

For more information on PTSA, visit www.psa.gov.ph/psa-press-release tags/philippine-tourism-satellite-accounts. 

-Macroeconomics Accounts Service, Sectoral Statistics Office