Long weekends benefit tourism, says DOT Sec. Lim

SIARGAO, April 29. Tourism secretary Alberto Lim welcomed the announcement of Malacanang declaring June 20 as a special non-working holiday.

Lim revealed that they are studying the possibility of reviving the holiday economics of the previous administration where holidays were adjusted to create long weekends that encouraged domestic tourism and resulted in higher visitor arrivals and more tourism revenues for favorite local destinations.

“We just have to avoid the abuses of the past,” said the DOT chief.

He explained that creating new holidays is counter-productive. But, there is no loss in productivity by moving holidays in the middle of the week to a Friday or Monday and it is good for tourism, “You are actually enticing consumers to take trips and spend their money elsewhere.”

Lim added that a two-day weekend is too short for people who have to travel out of town and having long weekends is good for communities with local attractions.

“We will forward our recommendation to the president once it has been thought out thoroughly and finalized,” said the secretary.

As per Official Gazette post, President Benigno S. Aquino III signed Proclamation No. 154 entitled DECLARING MONDAY, JUNE 20, 2011, AS SPECIAL (NON-WORKING) DAY THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY.

According to the Proclamation No. 154, June 19, 2011 marks the 150th birth anniversary of Dr. Jose Rizal, thePhilippines national hero.

The proclamation further declared that to give all Filipinos the opportunity to commemorate Rizal’s patriotic deeds and sacrifices for the country, rekindle their admiration and respect for him, and to celebrate this milestone with appropriate ceremonies, the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) requested that Monday, June 20, 2011, be declared as special non-working holiday instead of June 19, 2011, which falls on a Sunday.