MANILA – Senate Deputy Majority Leader JV Ejercito has filed a resolution seeking an inquiry into the implementation of the National Tourism Development Plan (NTDP), amid public concerns over inadequate infrastructure and the high cost of domestic travel.

Under Senate Resolution No. 257, Ejercito directed the Senate Committee on Tourism, which he chairs, to conduct an inquiry, in aid of legislation, to assess whether tourism infrastructure development supports domestic travel and sustains the long-term growth of the tourism sector.

“Kung gusto nating umunlad ang turismo, kailangan mauna ang maayos na imprastraktura. Hindi rin dapat mas mahal pang maglakbay sa sariling bansa kaysa lumipad sa ibang bansa,” Ejercito said.

“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,” he said in the resolution filed on Jan. 26.

Launched in 2023, the NTDP aims to improve 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.

Despite steady growth in visitor arrivals and domestic tourism spending, Ejercito said the Philippines continues to fall short of its international tourism targets due to persistent infrastructure gaps.

He said tourism infrastructure remains one of the country’s weakest areas, citing global rankings that point to deficiencies in airports, seaports, road networks and essential tourist facilities.

Ejercito added that these shortcomings directly contribute to the high cost of domestic travel, making it more expensive for Filipinos to visit local destinations than to travel to nearby ASEAN countries.

“Kapag mas mura pa ang pamasahe papuntang Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, o Hong Kong kaysa sa sarili nating mga probinsya, malinaw na may mali sa sistema,” he said.

The resolution also cited reports of exorbitant domestic airfares, noting that such prices negatively affect domestic tourism and the livelihood of communities that rely heavily on the sector.

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

The Senate Committee on Tourism, jointly with the Committees on Social Justice, Welfare and Rural Development, and Finance, will hold a public hearing in aid of legislation on Feb. 3.