LOOK: Highlights of the Philippine Tourism Investment Summit 2023 hosted by the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA) and the Department of Tourism (DOT) and co-presented by the Management Association of the Philippines (MAP), held on 11 October 2023 at Shangri-la, The Fort Manila in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig.
The first ever Philippine Tourism Investment Summit gathered government leaders, foreign dignitaries, tourism developers and investors, as well as business chiefs and executives to encourage partnerships between public and private key industry players in contributing to the economic development of the country through tourism investments.
TIEZA Chief Operating Officer Mark T. Lapid addressed hundreds of guests and potential tourism investors in his Welcome Remarks by emphasizing the importance of the collaborative partnership of TIEZA with the private sector. “TIEZA is continuously exerting efforts to make the Philippines not only a prime tourist destination anchored on the Filipino identity, but also a prime tourism investment destination within the framework of sustainable development,” he said.
Department of Tourism (DOT) Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco, meanwhile, highlighted the purpose of the event in her keynote message, “The purpose of this Philippine Tourism Investment Summit is to interlink and align the vision of both the public and private stakeholders spotlighting opportunities within TIEZA assets and Tourism Enterprise Zones all over the Philippines. This is your invitation to shape the future together with the Philippine government by way of joint venture and other modalities.”
Assistant Chief Operating Officer Jetro Nicolas Lozada followed by sharing investment options in TIEZA’s assets. Assistant Chief Operating Officer Atty. Karen Mae Sarinas-Baydo presented the function of TIEZA as the Investment Promotions Agency of the tourism industry and discussed ways to engage the private sector in Flagship Tourism Enterprise Zones.
To seal the deal, Mr. Cesar Mario O. Mamon, Chairman and President of Enchanted Kingdom, Inc., a tourism enterprise zone registered with TIEZA, shared their journey in the development of their amusement park for over 28 years and showcased how their partnership with TIEZA and DOT continues to play a crucial role in their development of an integrated tourism attractions destination. Ms. Nila Dimaguila of the Premier Islands Management Corporation, TIEZA’s private sector partner operating and managing the Iloilo Convention Center also spoke of how the private sector can contribute in the development of government facilities aligned with the government’s priority areas.
Other speakers of the event include distinguished private sector leaders such as MAP president Atty. Benedicta Du-Baladad, Private Sector Advisory Council representative Mr. Francis Nathaniel Gotianun of the Filinvest Hospitality Corporation, President & CEO of Air Asia Philippines Ricardo Isla, Cebu Pacific Chief Strategy Officer Alex Reyes, and Philippine Airlines President & CEO Capt. Stanley Kua Ng.#