Published on: January 29, 2023
By: Philippine Information Agency
✅ VAT REFUND FOR FOREIGN TOURISTS ✅ NO MORE ONE HEALTH PASS ✅ ROLLOUT OF E-VISA ✅ NO MORE LOUD SPEAKER ANNOUNCEMENTS IN AIRPORTS
1. Acting on the “Quick Wins” recommendations of the Private Sector Advisory Council (PSAC) Tourism Sector Group, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has approved the implementation of the Value-Added Tax (VAT) Refund Program for foreign tourists by 2024 in an effort to boost tourist arrivals in the country.
2. Aside from the (VAT) Refund Program for foreign tourists, other PSAC Quick Wins recommendations approved by the President include the rollout of e-visa by 2023, prioritizing China and India; and the removal of One Health Pass (OHP) or requirement of one form only for health, immigration and customs.
3. The revocation of outdated advisories and loud-speaker announcements in the country’s airports and the automatic inclusion of travel tax in all airline tickets were also among PSAC’s Quick Wins recommendations.
4. The Philippines recorded 2.65 million visitors from February to December 2022 (2.02 million foreign tourists and 628,445 Filipinos overseas). This figure is higher than the 2021 tourist arrivals of 163,879 but still significantly lower than the pre-pandemic level of 8.26 million.
5. The Department of Tourism - Philippines (DOT) targets to welcome 4.8 million visitors this year, which could generate P2.58 trillion in revenue.
6. The revenue from tourism is expected to further boost the growth of the Philippines, in line with the President’s immediate goal to bring the economy forward to surpass pre-pandemic levels.
Office of the President President Bongbong Marcos
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