Tourist trap

“TOURISM IS a gold mine waiting to be unearthed. Fortunately, we have Clark… Its development shall make Angeles City a tourist destination, both international and domestic. We are coordinating with the leaders of the industry and jointly, we will be crafting a city master plan for tourism.”

So declared Mayor Carmelo “Pogi” Lazatin Jr. within his first five days as hizzoner.

Walking his talk, Pogi has since advanced toward that direction he set, if only a step at a time.

“In order to prevent the negative response of tourists staying in Angeles City, the Angeles City government has deemed it necessary to abolish the collection of the P20 Tourism Promotion/Development Fee.”

So, he issued in an executive order immediately hailed by the Hotel and Restaurant Association of Pampanga (HARP).

“We will have an impressive city that is conducive for tourism and business…No minors working (in the clubs or in any business), no illegal drugs, and no prostitution…Tanggalin po natin ang prostitution, tanggalin po natin ang barfine. Napaka-simple lang. Magtulungan po tayong lahat.”

So, he exhorted his constituency only last Saturday as he led a clearing operation from infamous Fields Avenue to the garish Korea Town.

While at this, we suggest that the Honorable Pogi look into the proliferation of purported tour and travel companies in the city and their nefarious malpractices that have taken the industry down new lows of disrepute. Something that was already raised before the previous city administration, but for one reason or another remained unaddressed, thereby further compounding its complications.

Written over seven years ago, in February 2012, the situation reported in this Zona piece titled Night flyers has not remained the same, it has worsened. Therefore, the imperative of a response.         

FLY-BY-NIGHT. The very derisive term finds most fitting appropriation to tour and travel agencies that have flocked like bees to the honeycomb that is the Clark Freeport area.
Yeah, night flyers too – as in vampires – that suck to the last drop the blood of the innocent traveller.
Camp followers – like the prostitutes of old – are these unscrupulous traders wanting to make the fastest buck at the least or nil cost out of the burgeoning opportunities at the Clark International Airport.
The low-cost carriers proffered as their stocks-in-nefarious-trade to the born-every-minute-suckers lulled with the promise of paradise – at cheap, cheap prices – in exotic yet not-so-distant places.
Their modus operandi: tour and travel agency easily put up by proprietor multi-tasking as manager, clerk, booking staff, cashier, receptionist, janitor who arranges not only the ticketing needs of the client but venture into visa requests complete with the acquisition of fake bank accounts, fake income tax returns, fake TCTs attesting to fake real estate ownership – the works, that is.
Filipinas – not necessarily only the denizens of Fields Avenue – seeking marriage to their foreign fiancées make the bulk of the unwitting victims of these conmen, conwomen too, to be gender equal. Hard earned pesos paid for the pursuit of dreams that never come true make the most heart-rending sob stories now being told and retold over beer at the city’s foremost avenue.
The dubious and devious deals of these bogus agencies have impacted so much on the tour and travel industry that the integrity of even the most established travel firms have come under suspicion by the travelling public.
There is a need to stop this nefarious trade.
Comes now the call of the Alliance of Travel and Tour Agencies of Pampanga (ATTAP) for the Angeles City government to be more circumspect in issuing business permits to travel agencies.
Solve the problem where it starts. ATTAP simply states there.
Putting up a tour and travel agency is as easy as putting up a sari-sari store, a taho or fish-ball stall, or a mobile phone e-loading venture. What with the same basic requirements for the grant of business permits.
In a resolution sent to the city government, ATTAP enjoined the city to adopt and thereafter strictly implement the guidelines set by the Department of Tourism (DOT) for travel agencies, even as it proposed requirements to rationalize the issuance of business permits.
Gilda Padua, ATTAP president, said her intention in coming up with their resolution is to professionalize the industry as their contribution in attracting more tourists under the DOT’s initiative.
“This will also be one actualization of DOT’s new slogan ‘It’s more fun in the Philippines’ as it shall weed out the unscrupulous travel agencies that give a black eye to the industry,” Padua added.
Among the proposed requirements for the city government to adopt are: company profile, organizational chart, list of employees, list of suppliers, endorsement letters from international and local tour operators and airlines, proof of industry record of owner or general manager of at least five years working experience in a reputable travel agency, bank certificate showing financial capability of at least P500,000 capital investment, picture and location of office, and sample of tour packages.
Yes, no fly-by-night ventures can be set up under such rigorous requirements.
DOT Regional Director Ronnie Tiotuico has thrown his full support behind the ATTAP initiative.
“I agree with ATTAP to professionalize the industry beginning with enforcing the rules,” said the brains behind the Pinatubo trek and co-founder of the hot air balloon fest.
The ball is now in the hands of the city government.
Score big on this one, please.

MAYOR POGI, your move.