Joe Pallugna TRAVEL has allowed me to make comparisons on how other countries have capitalized on their tourism sectors to add millions of dollars in income not only for the government but for the local industries as well. Take Israel and many other countries not only of the Asean nations but of so many around the world that eliminated the visa requirements. People can just purchase plane tickets without need of securing a visa and fly in and enjoy the scenery, the history, the ameneties and all that a particular country has to offer. Even Japan and South Korea and Taiwan which still require visas for tourists have simplified their visa procurement procedures by eliminating the visa interview and accredited many private travel agencies to process tourist visa applications. No personal interviews, no added expense of visa applicants by travelling for appearances at Embassies, and very minimal and strictly regulated processing fees for the travel agencies to charge. Also, upon arrival at the airport of destination of these countries, immigration procedures have been simple and lax. No Arrival Forms are required, no stringent interviews are conducted and the arriving tourists breeze through immigration counters quickly. Thus the tourists arrive happy and not harassed, not extorted to by just any immigration or local airport police or officer. Corruption is then absent. And remaining in the country is hassle-free. The initial stay is immediately granted in Israel for three months, in Japan for five months, in US for six months. In the Philippines, the initial stay is 21 days, extendible for another 38 days for a total of 59 days, then extendible thereafter for 59 days extension for a total combined stay up to 1 year. Sadly, for each extension, the foreigner has to pay a lot of fees like Extension Fees, Legal Research Fees, Express Lane Fees, I-Card, ACR Card, and other unimaginable fees. Express Lane Fees? Legal Research Fees? For what? These are clearly fundaising fees which can all be waived if the initial stay for any tourist is six months. Then the foreigner will be staying longer than 21 days or 59 days without any trouble nor hassle and he will spend more in hotels, taxis, food, tours, laundry, beer, and much, much more. And the locals will certainly earn more. And the departure procedures are also eased up and should be made less strict to a very reasonable level. Even US has long ago eliminated the Departure Immigration Counters and all the tourist has to do is to present his Airline Boarding Pass and he leaves the country--happy and never grumbling and swearing not to ever come back. This eliminates the possibility of planting bullets (“tanim bala”) that was so prevalent during the Macapagal-Arroyo and Aquino administrations. This also will prevent holding passengers as suspected, yes “suspected tourist workers” to Hong Kong or Taiwan which becomes another chance at corruption by Immigration officers at the airport. The Airport and Travel and Tourism Taxes at the airport should also be abolished. These discourage tourism as it imposes additional expenses for the hapless travellers. At one time, a judge and her family was leaving Cebu airport for Singapore with her husband and four children. She was surprised and angry to be charged P1,620 each, or a total Travel Tax of P9,720! That’s robbery in broad daylight! And that discourages foreign tourists who travel in families or in big groups like Koreans and Chinese and Japanese college students who come to the Philippines during December to escape winter in their home countries. Little did immigration Philippines realize that theirs is a regulatory function and not a money-making office. Let BIR do its role of raising revenue but not the immigration office! And Tourist Tax Rebates as practiced in Thailand, South Korea, Japan and many other countries be implemented in the Philippines to encourage shopping by tourists. Even Israel exempt tourists from any VAT taxes in hotels and Geneva, Switzerland, give Free Local Fares for all buses, trains, trams and boats (except taxis) whenever tourists travel around Geneva. Upon check-in at any hotel, the front desk clerk gives out Free Travel Fare Cards to all tourists! All these to encourage tourism. Certainly, the Philippines exceeds many countries in terms of tourist spots, beaches and caves, volcanoes and waterafting adventures, local food and delicacies, ethnic dances and local crafts, historical sites and tourist services like massages and health spas. These are more than needed to attract tourists. But what assets we have in tourism are negated and ran roughshod by stupid policies in immigration and in airport rules, demeaned by excessive local and national taxation and by utter lack of a cohesive tourism policy and drive. Unless we shape up, we will always lag behind other countries in tourism opportunities and income. We will always be the laughing stock in the modern tourism industry.   E-mail: ajpallugna@gmail.com