Senate Deputy Majority Leader Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito has filed a resolution seeking an inquiry into the implementation of the National Tourism Development Plan (NTDP) amid the growing public clamor on expensive domestic flights and lack of proper infrastructure that is hindering accessible travel.  

Ejercito said it is imperative for the Senate to assess the readiness of Philippine tourism infrastructure and its impact on domestic travel.

“There is a need to look into the implementation of the National Tourism Development Plan to address the gaps in the tourism industry that limits competitiveness, development, accessibility, and overall tourist experience,” Ejercito said under Senate Resolution No. 257 which he filed on January 26.

“If we want tourism to develop, good infrastructure must come first. It should also not be more expensive to travel within one's own country than to fly abroad,” he further said.

“When the fare to Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, or Hong Kong is cheaper than to our own provinces, it is clear that there is something wrong with the system," Ejercito stressed.

He said the Senate Committee on Tourism, jointly with the Committees on Social Justice, Welfare and Rural Development, and Finance, will hold a public hearing on the resolution tomorrow, February 3.

In the resolution, Ejercito is directing the Committee on Tourism, which he chairs, to conduct an inquiry, in aid of legislation, on the implementation of the NTDP to ensure that tourism infrastructure development supports domestic travel and sustains long-term growth of the tourism sector.

The NTDP, which was launched in 2023, aims to improve the country’s tourism infrastructure and accessibility, enhance overall tourist experience, diversify tourism products, maximize domestic and international tourism, and strengthen tourism governance through collaboration with national and local stakeholders.

But despite the steady growth in visitor arrivals and domestic tourism spending, Ejercito pointed out that the country continues to fall short of its international tourism targets, highlighting persistent gaps in infrastructure.

He noted that tourism infrastructure remains one of the country’s weakest points, citing global rankings that show deficiencies in airports, seaports, road networks, and essential tourist facilities.

Moreover, these infrastructure shortcomings contribute directly to the high cost of domestic travel, making it more expensive for Filipinos to explore local destinations than to travel to nearby ASEAN countries.

The Senate resolution also took into consideration reports of exorbitant domestic airfares, which have a “negative impact” on domestic tourism and the livelihood of communities that depend heavily on tourism.

“These prices for domestic flight fares seemed to have a negative impact for the Filipino citizens to explore their own country,” he emphasized.