Philippines tourism group to create online portal

TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol, Philippines – A tourism group will create an online portal allowing stakeholders, students, and those interested in the tourism industry to interact and discuss issues related to the booming tourism industry.

Realizing the power of online communication or the internet as a powerful tool to gather public opinion, tourism advocate Robert Lim Joseph said he will be initiating the “Tourism Watch” online portal.

Joseph said the facility will create an online facility for tourism stakeholders and the general public to interact through discussions regarding tourism-related issues to help the tourism industry achieve a higher level.

“We will be inviting people from media, academe, students, and other stakeholders, to be active in the online tourism watch,” he said.

Joseph, one of the prime movers and founding chairman of the Tourism Educators and Movers and chairman of the Travel Cooperative of the Philippines, said it is important for the country to have a proper venue where issues and positive things happening in the local tourism industry are published online.

To be formally launched in January, 2011, Joseph will spend at least P500,000 to put up and run the online portal, He said he will immediately invite stakeholders to contribute their views, including complaints on Philippine tourism.