By Komfie Manalo
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. ordered the Private Sector Advisory Council (PSAC) Tourism Sector Group to streamline the e-visa system for Indian nationals, with the goal of boosting tourism through a seamless transaction.
"We don't have any such issues [with India]. So, I'm sure we can use their system," Marcos said.
Under the current e-Visa system, Indian nationals are still required to make a personal appearance before the Philippine Embassy in New Delhi, which reduces the system's efficiency, said Lucio Tan, LT Group president and CEO.
Tan, a member of the PSAC—TSG, said e-visa processing for Indian tourists can take around a month, making the Philippines less appealing as a destination.
"Given that, we recommend engaging in a third-party service provider that will establish, run, and maintain the e-Visa system under the guidance of the relevant government agencies," Tan told Marcos during the meeting.
"This will ensure that the program is consistently monitored and that any challenges in the process and the system will be immediately [addressed]. This will likewise streamline the application process and thus generate more applications due to the expedited process," he added.
Currently, the e-Visa system for Indian nationals is still in beta testing, piloted only for the Philippine Embassy in New Delhi's walk-in clients.
The PSAC Tourism Sector Group emphasized the need to improve the e-Visa system for Indian nationals, which helps boost the country's tourism industry. The group explained that they are "repeat visitors" who spend an average of eight nights and $100 per person per day in the Philippines.
PSAC added that 78% of Indian nationals stay in hotels. Their activities include shopping, sightseeing, beach holidays, diving, visiting friends and relatives, and investing in business.
The group said India's fast-growing economy and rising middle class are projected to help the number of outbound trips reach 30 million by 2025.
Comments