'Tourism, energy investments to boost Phl competitiveness'

The government must partner with the private sector to build the necessary infrastructure for key and rising tourism areas, particularly in terms of developing energy generation, transmission and distribution facilities, according to a lawmaker.

- CECILLE SUERTE FELIPE

Sen. Miguel Zubiri said the Philippines’ tourism sector would greatly benefit from private sector investments in infrastructure and public services, enabling the country to capture a larger share of foreign tourists flocking to Southeast Asia.

“We beat the beaches and the views of our neighbors here in Southeast Asia,” Zubiri said. “But they beat us in airports, power supply, public transport and connectivity. That’s why we are still left behind, even though it’s better here in the Philippines.”

Zubiri, who chairs the Senate committee on Economic Affairs, presided over the hearing on Senate Resolution 1121 or the inquiry into the economic impact of poor and inadequate infrastructure, frequent power outages and insufficient water supply on the tourism sector.