Department of Tourism(DOT)

July 21, 2021 Dear Mr. Daya, We refer to your letter dated 20 July 2021 on data source of traveler arrivals, made pursuant to Executive Order No. 2 (s. 2016) on Freedom of Information in the Executive Branch. In order for us to work further on your request, we need more information from you. In particular, it would be helpful to know the particular subject on qualitative research you will use the requested information. Likewise, please ensure that your request is fully compliant with Section 12.3 of the DOT FOI Manual by providing the following: •Details of the requesting party, such as name, contact information, affiliation, company, or organization; •Reasonable description of the information requested. For this purpose, should tourism data or statistics be required, kindly include the area and period covered; •Specific reason for, or purpose of, the request for information. Please note that general averments such as “for research,” “for information,” or “for legal purposes” shall not be considered to have met the requirements of specificity. The DOT FOI Manual is accessible at http://www.tourism.gov.ph/files/DEPARTMENT%20ORDER%202019-115%20FREEDOM%20OF%20INFORMATION%20(FOI)%20MANUAL%2012-05-19.pdf. You may use the reply function on the eFOI portal at https://www.foi.gov.ph/requests/aglzfmVmb2ktcGhyHQsSB0NvbnRlbnQiEERPVC00NDQzNzQ0MzU2NTQM, for request with ticket number #DOT-444374435654, to respond. During the period of us awaiting your reply, your request will be put on hold. If we do not receive a reply on or before 13 October 2021 12:41:58 AM, your request will be closed. We hope to hear from you at the soonest possible time. Thank you. Respectfully yours, Dir. Lara Victoria Estevez-Austria DOT FOI Decision Maker

July 21, 2021 Dear Mr. Daya, Thank you for your response dated 21 July 2021 thru an FOI request with Tracking No.: #DOT-256044768013. As discussed thru telephone conversation earlier, we have now continued processing your request. Kindly give us until 11 August 2021 03:28 PM to respond regarding our findings. Should you have any questions regarding your request, kindly contact us using the reply function on the eFOI portal at https://www.foi.gov.ph/requests/aglzfmVmb2ktcGhyHQsSB0NvbnRlbnQiEERPVC00NDQzNzQ0MzU2NTQM, for request with ticket number #DOT-444374435654. Thank you. Respectfully yours, Dir. Lara Victoria Estevez-Austria DOT FOI Decision Maker

July 28, 2021 Dear Mr. Daya, Greetings! Thank you for your request dated 20 July 2021 03:28:19 PM under Executive Order No. 2 (s. 2016) on Freedom of Information in the Executive Branch. Your Request You asked for data source (travelers arrivals). Response to Request Your FOI request was approved. Per coordination with the Department's Statistics, Economic Analysis and Information Management Division (SEAIMD), the data gathering for the Regional Distribution of Overnight Travelers is consolidated through the Standard Local Tourism Statistics System (SLTSS). The SLTSS was developed in 2009 by DOT, JICA, and pilot local government units (LGUs) to establish a uniform reliable method of capturing subnational tourism statistics. The system is a standard data gathering co-operation amongst the private sector, LGUs, and national agencies and was formally launched in 2012 during the National Tourism Statistics Conference in Manila. The most fundamental information for tourism statistics comes from accommodation establishments (AEs). Following the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) International Recommendation on Tourism Statistics (2008), accommodation establishments are also one of the most common sources for tourism flows at the regional levels. In the data collection from AEs, orientation and commitment setting in data reporting are done. Recommended recording and reporting forms may be provided for AEs should they not have their recording system to meet the required data generation. Large scale hotels and resorts usually have a computerized managing system and they can generate the necessary information/data easily and should just fill the standard reporting templates. The number of overnight visitor arrival from accommodation establishments is first compiled by the city/municipality using the standard forms and systems for LGUs under the SLTSS. Gathering from commercial AEs can be implemented easily by cities/municipalities more effectively than anyone else because of their mandate (Local Government Code of 1991 and Tourism Code of 2009). Each city/municipality will then report the compiled data to the provincial government. Consolidated provincial reports will be submitted to the DOT Regional Offices who will forward the regional consolidated reports to the national office. These regional reports are then consolidated by the Statistics, Economic Analysis and Information Management Division (SEAIMD) of the DOT to produce the Philippine Regional Distribution of Overnight Travelers from Accommodation Establishments. In each level of consolidation tallying, error checking, and validations are done prior to processing and generating the reports. For a detailed workflow, attached is the Tourism Information System Workflow. Your right to request a review If you are unhappy with this response to your FOI request, you may ask us to carry out an internal review of the response by writing to Sec. Bernadette Romulo-Puyat at 351 Sen. Gil Puyat Ave., Makati City. Your review request should explain why you are dissatisfied with this response, and should be made within 15 calendar days from the date when you received this letter. We will complete the review and tell you the result within 30 calendar days from the date when we receive your review request. If you are not satisfied with the result of the review, you then have the right to appeal to the Office of the President under Administrative Order No. 22 (s. 2011). Thank you. Respectfully yours, Dir. Lara Victoria Estevez-Austria DOT FOI Decision Maker