WHEREAS, tourism boosts the national as well as the local economy and has become a source of foreign exchange receipts and livelihood and employment opportunities for the region;

            WHEREAS, data and information on the tourism industry are essential in the measurement of the contribution of tourism to the local economy, its sustainability and  its impact to the environment, as well as in providing vital links in the development and orchestration of campaigns aimed at promoting and strengthening the region as a tourist destination;

            WHEREAS, there is a need to improve tourism statistics to measure the tourism sector's contribution to the regional economy applying the Tourism Satellite Accounts (PTSA) framework; and the measurement of its impact to the environment thru the experimental Measuring Sustainable Tourism (MST) framework;

            WHEREAS, there is a need to operationalize this endeavor by creating a Task Force to coordinate with the local government units (LGUs), regional line agencies (RLAs), non-government organizations (NGOs), and other tourism stakeholders in the region;

NOW, THEREFORE, on motion duly seconded, BE IT:

RESOLVED, AS lT lS HEREBY RESOLVED, that the Regional Statistics Committee (RSC) duly convened approves the creation of a Regional Task Force on Tourism Statistics and be composed of the following:

Chair           :           Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA)

Vice-chair   :           Department of Tourism (DOT)

Members    :

1.      Baguio City Tourism Office

2.      Provincial Tourism Office – Abra

3.      Provincial Tourism Office – Apayao

4.      Provincial Tourism Office – Benguet

5.      Provincial Tourism Office – Ifugao

6.      Provincial Tourism Office – Kalinga

7.      Provincial Tourism Office – Mt. Province

8.      Baguio City Planning and Development Office (CPDO)

9.      Provincial Planning and Development Office – Benguet

10.    Bureau of Immigration (BI)

11.    Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA)

12.    National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA)

13.    Baguio Association of Hotels and Inns (BAHAI)

14.    Hotel Restaurant Association of Baguio (HRAB)

15.    Saint Louis University (SLU)

16.    Travel and Tours Representative

 RESOLVED FURTHER, that PSA-CAR shall serve as the TF secretariat and the TF may invite other agencies/institutions to sit as members of the TF depending on the needs;

RESOLVED FURTHERMORE, that the TF shall undertake the following functions: 1) study the PTSA Framework and MST experimental framework, (2) formulate measures to resolve data gaps and address other statistical issues related to tourism, and (3) prepare a report  of the activities undertaken and report to the Committee;

RESOLVED FINALLY, that copies of this Resolution be forwarded to concerned agencies for their information and/or appropriate action.

APPROVED this 17^th day of August 2018 in Baguio City, Philippines.

Certified True and Correct:

ALDRIN FEDERICO R. BAHIT, JR.
RSC-CAR Head of Secretariat
(Chief, Statistical Operations and Coordination Division, PSA-CAR)

Attested:

VILLAFE P. ALIBUYOG
RSC-CAR Vice-Chair
(Regional Director, PSA-CAR)

Approved:

MILAGROS A. RIMANDO, CESO II
RSC-CAR Chairperson
(Regional Director, NEDA-CAR)