THE Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) is currently raising $20 billion to bring more infrastructures like airports, airplanes, hotels and attractions in the country positioned to boost its tourism sector especially among regions including Visayas, its official said.

Samie Lim, PCCI director for Tourism, Retail and Franchise, at the sidelines of the opening of the Franchise Expo at L’Fisher Hotel in Bacolod City yesterday, said current infrastructures in the country cannot yet cater to more than six million foreign tourists.

Lim, also the founding president and chairman emeritus of the Philippine Franchising Association (PFA), said they are meeting with the local chamber pushing the latter to work closely with tourism officials in the province.

“We would like to craft a master plan to promote tourism mainly increasing our arrivals every year until we reach the 100 million and 20 million for domestic and international tourists, respectively, in 10 years,” he said, adding that for Visayas region, Bacolod City along with Iloilo City will be among the gateways.

The PCCI is going around the country to look at the different places where tourism can be promoted.

“We are very glad that cities of Bacolod and Iloilo are among the places in the Visayas we are going to,” the chamber’s director said, stressing that tourists should not be just going to Manila.

They can come directly to Visayas and Mindanao as the airport in Metro Manila cannot yet cater to 20 million foreign tourists. Thus, there is a need to promote other gateways, Lim said.

He stressed that it is good that the province has a new airport as this is the key to promote local tourism to the world.

“You cannot have world-class destinations unless you have a world-class airport.”

Part of the chamber’s measures to generate $20 billion for infrastructure is inviting people to invest in the country.

The PCCI is also banking on its “5A: Arrival, Access, Accommodation, Attractions, Activities” program, which for the organization is the secret in promoting tourism.

Under the 5A concept, people have to arrive conveniently and inexpensively. This means that that airport and airplane services should be inexpensive.

Upon arrival at the airport, tourists have to get where they want to go within one hour.

For Negros Occidental, Lim cited that the province has many “very good” beaches but it takes at least three hours to reach them thus, infrastructure development should come in.

“I think they can improve the roads to lessen the time for travel. Sipalay City, for instance, could be the next Boracay Island,” he said.

In terms of accommodation, Lim cited the increasing number of hotels in Bacolod City while its number of museums can be further promoted as world-class attractions.

However, it should increase its activities like casino and spa, among others, to keep tourists in spending their money here, he said.

“The biggest expenses of tourists now are on shopping and food,” he said, adding that “the Chicken Inasal here doesn’t look good but it tastes very good so they have to make it look better.”

Moreover, as former trade and industry undersecretary, Lim pointed out that international tourists boost foreign exchange contributing to the country’s Gross National Product (GNP).

Lim said Gross Domestic Product (GDP), meanwhile, is produced by the local tourists. However, the country for it to be strong, it should have a strong foreign exchange.

In order to realize these efforts, he also stressed the importance of the private sector’s continuous partnership with the government.