SAN JUAN, Abra – The Turismo Isulong Mo Party-list group is pinning its hopes to the country’s tourism sector to secure the needed seats in the House of Representatives in the upcoming May 9, 2022 synchronized national and local elections to be able to contribute in bringing back the vibrance of the industry that will enhance the economy and provide sources of livelihood for the people.
Former Mayor Marco Bautista, who is the second nominee of the Turismo Isulong Mo Party-list group, underscored the need to revitalize the programs, projects and activities of the government to help bring back the pre-pandemic vibrance of the country’s tourism industry that is why the sector needs tourism advocates to represent the industry in policy-making and decision-making processes as they know the required legislation to lift the current situation of the sector.
He admitted that the country’s tourism industry has been one of those heavily impacted sectors by the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and it was the last allowed to open when community quarantine restrictions were being gradually eased, thus aggressive measures must be put in place to allow the industry to catch up with the other sectors that are now thriving with the lowering of the alert levels in the different parts of the country.
The Turismo Isulong Mo second nominee asserted that the gains of the tourism industry with the ongoing gradual easing up of restrictions should not be compromised by future actions in response to possible surges in COVID-19 cases primarily because the sector cannot afford another prolonged lockdown.
According to him, people need jobs and other economic activities to help them with their needs and the significant number individuals wanting to move around has contributed in gradually reviving the tourism industry and other related businesses, thus, government should find ways and means on how to avert possible surges in cases to prevent the implementation of lockdowns that will derail the gains of the country’s economy over the past several months.
Bautista asserted that the country needs people who are well aware of the issues and concerns confronting the tourism industry in crafting policies to address these to ensure the sustainable growth of the industry aside, from introducing the appropriate innovations that will entice foreign and domestic visitors to move around tourist destinations and contribute to the local economy through their spending.
Bautista served as the 3-term municipal chief executive that paved the way for its revival into a vibrant town from a previous sleepy one.
The Turismo Isulong Mo Party-list group is listed as No. 156 in the order of party-list organizations that had been permitted by the Commission on election to run for the available seats earmarked under the Party-list System Act in the House of Representatives in the upcoming May 9, 2022 synchronized national and local elections.
