The Department of Tourism (DOT) in the Philippines is a government agency responsible for promoting tourism and overseeing its development in the country. The DOT is organized into several offices and units, each with its own specific functions and responsibilities.
Main Office:
The DOT’s main office is located in Makati City, Metro Manila, and serves as the agency’s central hub. The main office houses several key departments, including the Office of the Secretary, Office of the Undersecretaries, and Office of the Assistant Secretaries. These departments are responsible for setting policies and guidelines for tourism development in the Philippines.
Office of the Secretary
The Office of the Secretary is headed by the DOT Secretary, who serves as the department’s chief executive officer. The Secretary oversees all department operations and is responsible for developing policies and programs to promote tourism in the Philippines. The office also includes several divisions that handle specific functions such as planning and research, legal affairs, finance, administrative services, and public affairs.
Office of Undersecretaries
The Office of Undersecretaries consists of three undersecretaries who assist the DOT Secretary in managing department operations. Each undersecretary heads a specific division: Tourism Development Planning, Tourism Regulation Coordination, and Tourism Services & Regional Operations.
Office of Assistant Secretaries
The Office of Assistant Secretaries provides support to both the Secretary and Undersecretaries in managing department operations. There are four assistant secretaries who head four different divisions: Public Affairs & Advocacy Services; Branding & Marketing Communications; Special Concerns; Industry Development Coordination.
Regional Offices:
Aside from its main office in Manila, the DOT also has regional offices throughout different parts of the country to ensure that tourism development is well-distributed across different regions. There are currently 17 regional offices across different provinces in Luzon (Ilocos, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, CALABARZON, MIMAROPA), Visayas (Western Visayas, Central Visayas, Eastern Visayas), and Mindanao (Zamboanga Peninsula, Northern Mindanao, Davao Region, SOCCSKSARGEN, Caraga).
Regional Directors
Each regional office is headed by a Regional Director who oversees the tourism development programs and projects within his or her region. The Regional Director also coordinates with local government units and other stakeholders in promoting tourism in the region.
Tourism Promotions Board:
The Tourism Promotions Board (TPB) is a government-owned and controlled corporation attached to the DOT. It is responsible for developing and implementing marketing and promotional programs to attract more tourists to the country.
Board of Directors
The TPB is governed by a Board of Directors composed of nine members appointed by the President of the Philippines. The board is headed by a Chairman who oversees all TPB operations.
Offices under TPB
The TPB has several offices that handle specific functions such as promotions and marketing research. These offices include: Market Development Group; Marketing Services Group; Promotions Development Group; Corporate Affairs Management Group; Research & Statistics Group.
Conclusion:
In summary, the Department of Tourism in the Philippines has a well-structured organizational setup with its main office in Manila and regional offices spread across different parts of the country. The department also has several key departments that handle specific functions such as policy formulation, planning and research, legal affairs, finance, administrative services, public affairs & advocacy services, branding & marketing communications among others.
Additionally,the Tourism Promotions Board plays an important role in promoting tourism through various marketing campaigns and initiatives. Understanding this organizational structure can help stakeholders better navigate through the DOT and TPB to ensure that tourism development in the Philippines is well-coordinated and efficient.