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To increase foreign visitor arrivals, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has approved the Value-Added Tax (VAT) Refund Program for foreign tourists through 2024.

The Presidential Communications Office (PCO) reported on Sunday that Marcos had authorized the VAT Refund Program in response to the “Quick Wins” suggestions made by the Tourism Sector Group of the Private Sector Advisory Council (PSAC).

Also accepted by Marcos was the abolition of the One Health Pass (OHP) requirement and the PSAC’s suggestion to launch the e-visa program by 2023 with a focus on China and India.

Additionally, PSAC had advocated for the automatic inclusion of travel tax in all airline tickets as well as the repeal of out-of-date advisories and loudspeaker announcements in the nation’s airports.

Officials from the palace had stated that Marcos will issue an executive order to put the tax refund program, which is already in place in other nations, into effect.

The Quick Wins recommendations, which PSAC presented to the chief executive during a meeting in Malacaang last Thursday, are intended to further advance the nation’s tourism industry. These include enhancing airport operations and infrastructure, managing the national brand and image, and encouraging tourism investments, among other things.

PSAC representatives also disclosed to Marcos that they are developing the e-Travel mobile app, which will incorporate all of the data on quarantine, health, and customs.

They added that the database would also include information on tourist locations, transportation options, and lodging options, as well as traffic conditions and that the software, which could be used this month or in February, is being upgraded to allow groups or families to easily input data.

As long as they have an internet connection, tourists can complete the form using the app before boarding or while they are in the air.

Marcos has been outspoken about his desire for government to become more digital. He claimed that this would make it simpler for travelers to fill out the necessary paperwork and would also allow for border security.

The PSAC, which is made up of business executives and subject-matter experts, offers the President technical guidance for attaining the government’s economic goals in six important areas: agriculture, digital infrastructure, healthcare, infrastructure, job creation, and tourism.

From February to December of last year, 2.65 million tourists came to the nation, of which 2.02 million were foreign visitors and 628,445 were either balikbayans or Filipinos living abroad.

Although this number is greater than the 163,879 tourists who visited in 2021, it is still considerably less than the 8.26 million tourists who visited before the epidemic.

The Department of Tourism (DOT) hopes to get 4.8 million visitors this year, which might bring in PHP2.58 trillion.

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