Philippine tourism in budget row

<p>MANILA: Philippine tourism secretary Richard Gordon is haggling </p><p>with the Arroyo Government to cough up additional funding for the task </p><p>of repairing the country's devastated tourism image. </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>Gordon wants the Government to take his agency's promotional budget from </p><p>US$600,000 to $20 million this year. The amount is still </p><p>relatively small - just 28 per cent of the $70 million that rival </p><p>destinations Malaysia and Singapore each spend in a year. Gordon </p><p>described the Philippine's budget as a pittance. </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>Last year, while the Philippines attracted only 1.8 million visitors and </p><p>another 400,000 'balikbayans' or returning Filipinos, Malaysia received </p><p>12 million visitors, Indonesia six million and Vietnam's more than two </p><p>million arrivals. "We used to be Asia's No. 1; now we are Asia's </p><p>used-to-be," said Gordon. </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>As a result of the political instability surrounding the trial of </p><p>deposed former president Joseph Estrada and the kidnapping of tourists </p><p>at a popular resort, he said he doubted if the country would hit its two </p><p>million target this year. </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>However, if the extra funding is forthcoming, Gordon is hopeful of </p><p>increasing tourist numbers to three million by 2003. </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>Part of his plan is to outsource advertising and PR functions to the </p><p>private sector. At the moment, the Philippine Information Agency handles </p><p>all advertising. </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>Gordon hopes to raise funds by privatising some of the Government's </p><p>tourist facilities, including the Luneta Boardwalk Project in Manila. </p><p><BR><BR> </p>