Philippines Tourism chief quits

Tourism Secretary Alberto Lim Friday announced he is resigning effective August 31 to spend more time with his family and find a less stressful job.

Lim, in a press conference in Malacañang, thanked the President for giving him the opportunity to serve the public, saying he is leaving the Cabinet “gratified” with his contributions to the country’s strong tourism growth.

“I would like to announce that I have tendered my resignation as Secretary of Tourism and head of the department’s attached agencies, effective August 31, 2011. The President has kindly accepted my resignation,” Lim said.

“My reason for resigning is personal. I would like to spend more time with my family. My responsibilities require a great deal of travel and time away from my loved ones,” he added.

Presidential Spokesman Edwin Lacierda confirmed that the President has accepted the resignation of Lim during a meeting last Monday in the Palace.

Lacierda said the President is still looking for Lim’s replacement at the DoT. He said Lim will assist the President in the selection of his successor.

Rumored to replace the outgoing tourism chief is Mon Jimenez from the advertising industry.

Lacierda commended Lim for his “remarkable achievements,” including facilitating high tourist arrivals in the country. Lim was executive director of the Makati Business Club prior to his appointment in the Department of Tourism last year. He is the son of former Social Welfare Secretary Estefania Aldaba Lim and younger brother of broadcast journalist Cecilia "Che-che" Lim Lazaro.

“During his period of service as Secretary of Tourism, international visitors increased to an unprecedented level – over 3.7 million arrivals between July 1, 2010 and June 30, 2011. This was an increase of over half a million visitors over the previous 12-month period. Domestic travelers increased from 25 to 28 million. An estimated 400,000 jobs were created as a result,” he said.

Despite this, the Management Association of the Philippines (MAP) last month branded Lim as the “weakest link” in the country’s drive for more tourists for allegedly ignoring the law pertaining to the Tourism Act of 2009. As a result, Lim failed to unite the major stakeholders in the private sector, which pushed for various tourism programs.

Early on in his stint as Tourism secretary, Lim took the flak for the new DoT tourism campaign logo titled: Pilipinas Kay Ganda because of its striking similarity with Poland’s own tourism campaign logo. Because of this, critics called for his resignation.

Lacierda also credited Lim for being the chief advocate of the pocket open skies policy, “the landmark breakthrough from the protectionist policies of the past.”

“He has been a conscientious and highly dedicated member of the President’s official family. He has put in place enduring policy foundations for tourism’s growth in fulfillment of the President’s vision; and he has done so with tenacity, integrity, and vigor. We wish Mr. Lim every continued success, as he returns to private life, to enjoy more time with his family,” the Palace official added.

“As far as the Philippine Tour Operators Association (PHILTOA) is concerned, we support the Department of Tourism (DoT) no matter who the secretary is,” PHILTOA president Cesar Cruz said.

However, Cruz said there might be some setbacks in the tourism industry because they have to go back again to the drawing board with regards to governance and implementation.

“It’s a good thing that before he resigned, Secretary Lim finished the National Tourism Development Plan (NTDP) which would guide the next secretary in ensuring the sustainability of tourism in the country,” Cruz said.

“Whoever the President appoints,” Cruz continued, “we wish that he or she would look at the bigger picture of the tourism industry and pushes for the full implementation of the tourism act.”

Meanwhile, Philippine Travel Agencies Association (PTAA) president Aileen Clemente is saddened by Lim’s resignation because she finds him as one of the more qualified secretaries of DoT.

“Secretary Lim was really responsible for laying the ground work for the tourism act. Maybe a lot of people didn’t understand that laying groundwork requires a lot of effort as compared to branding and marketing,” Clemente said.

Clemente also said that the NTDP and other institutional reforms that Lim has started are critical to the private stakeholders and they are looking for continuity more than anything else.

Lacierda said Lim’s resignation was announced only Saturday to permit him to attend a recent tourism conference in Cebu.

Lim also disclosed that he first raised his resignation plans with the President last month.

It was only last Monday when the President accepted his resignation and both decided it would take effect at the end of month. Lim said this will allow him to wind down his activities and brief his successor about his proposed five-year tourism development plan.

Asked if he was among the headaches of the President in the Cabinet, Lim said: “I think you have to ask the President if I was one of his headaches but I don’t think so.”

He admitted that a heavy load in government has taken a toll on his family life, expressing hope he will have a less demanding job.

“I thank the President for the opportunity I was given to serve the Filipino people as a member of his Cabinet. I have undiminished hopes that the President will realize his vision for all our people. He has my very best wishes for the continued success of his presidency,” he said.

Lim will be the third Cabinet member to resign from the Aquino administration, next to former Transportation Secretary Jose de Jesus and Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo.

By GENALYN D. KABILING and JACKY LYNNE OIGA