AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ON THE DEVELOPMENT AND FACILITATION OF RECIPROCAL TOURISM

The Government of the United States of America and the Government of the Republic of the Philippines, Considering that the Parties subscribe to the principles set forth in the Manila Declaration on World Tourism promulgated in September, 1980 and unanimously adopted by the Second Committee of the United Nations General Assembly on November 11, 1981;^[2] Noting that the United States of America and the Republic of the Philippines recognize the dimension and role of tourism as a positive instrument towards the improvement of the quality of life for all peoples, as well as a vital force for peace and international understanding:

Recalling that both the United States and Philippine Governments have encouraged travel and tourism between their peoples for the purpose of study, cultural exchange, recreation, business, and congresses and conventions:

Recognizing further that the long historical relationships between the two countries provide the basis for the development of closer relations in these areas: Agree as follows:

1.    The Parties shall endeavor to simplify and facilitate the entry of visitors from the other Party with a view to increasing bilateral tourist trade.
2.    The Parties shall work within the World Tourism Organization to develop, and encourage the adoption of, uniform standards and recommended practices which, if applied by governments, would facilitate international tourism.
3.    The Parties, subject to their laws, shall facilitate within their respective territories the establishment and operation by the other Party of official tourism and convention promotion offices. However, nothing in this provision shall obligate either Party to open an official tourism promotion office in the territory of the other. Personnel assigned to such official tourism promotion offices may engage in promotion, liaison, negotiation, and advisory activities including:

a.    Furnishing necessary information on tourism, attractions, facilities and services, schedules of congresses and conventions, trade fairs and exhibitions and other cultural attractions relating to international travel and tourism;

b.    Attending ?ales promotion campaigns and seminars, and

c.    Organizing familiarization tours for tour operators, travel agents, and journalists of the host country.

4.    The Parties, subject to their laws, shall facilitate and encourage the promotional activities of duly authorized travel agents, tour operators, incentive travel houses, meeting planners, and transportation agents, in generating tourism between their countries.

5.    To the extent that either Party is subject to statutes imposing duties on the entrance of ticket stock or promotional materials of the carriers or public and private tourism enterprises of the other, that Party shall review those statutes with the objective of providing for the eventual duty-free entry of such materials.

The United States of America and the Republic of the Philippines support the development of travel and tourism by individuals and firms of the private sector, including partner-ships, joint ventures and other cooperative enterprises involving United States and Philippine private entities.

1.    The Parties shall exchange appropriate information concerning the use of facilities for shows, exhibitions, congresses and conventions in their countries.

2.    The Parties agree that their respective national tourism agencies shall undertake as necessary appropriate consultations on World Tourism Organization matters of common concern.

1.    The Parties consider it desirable to encourage their respective experts to exchange appropriate information in the following fields:

a.    Systems and methods to prepare teachers and instructors on tourism matters, particularly with regard to conservation and restoration, hotel operation and administration, marketing, congress management, and other tourism services;

b.    Tourism scholarships for teachers, instructors, and students; and

c.    Curricula and study programs for tourism schools.

2.    Each Party shall encourage their respective students and professors of tourism to take advantage of fellowships offered by colleges, universities, and training centers of the other.

1.    Both Parties shall endeavor to improve the reliability and comparability of statistics on tourism between the two countries.

2.    Both Parties shall endeavor to develop and maintain statistical series which meet the basic requirements for a common data base for international tourism statistics.

3.    The Parties agree that the Guidelines on the Collection and Presentation of Domestic and International Tourism Statistics established by the world Tourism Organization shall constitute the requirements for such a data base.

4.    The Parties shall encourage other nations to apply these Guidelines and shall work through the World Tourism Organization to achieve international comparability of tourism statistics. s. The Parties consider it desirable to exchange information on the tourism markets in the two countries.

The Parties agree to facilitate the holding of congresses and conventions in each other’s territory and the attendance of their citizens in such congresses and conventions, especially those pertaining to educational, scientific and technological, professional, business, tourism, social, and cultural matters.

1.    The United States of America designates the United States Department of Commerce as its agency with primary responsibility for implementing this Agreement for the United States. The Republic of the Philippines designates the Ministry of Tourism as its agency with primary responsibility for implementing this Agreement for the Republic of the Philippines.

2.    A frequent exchange of ideas shall take place between those agencies, at an appropriate level, in order to achieve close cooperation in all matters concerning this Agreement.

1.    This Agreement shall enter into force on the date of signature.

2.    Upon entry into force, this Agreement shall be valid for a period of five years and may be renewed automatically for additional periods of five years unless either Party expresses objection in writing.

3.    This Agreement may be terminated by either of the Parties thirty days after that Party transmits written notice of intention to terminate to the other Party.

This Agreement, and any amendments thereto, shall be registered with the World Tourism Organization, Calle Capitan Haya, 42, E-Hadrid 20, Spain. DONE at Washington, in duplicate, this seventeenth day of September, 1982.

For the Government of the United States of America:	For the Government of the Republic of the Philippines:
[Signed- Signê[3]]	[Signed – Signê[4]]

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^[1] Came into force on 17 September 1982 by signature, in accordance with article VIII (I).

^[2] United Nations, Official Records of the General Assembly, Thirty-sixth Session, Annex, Appendix I, No. A/36/236. 

Vol. 1643, 1-28234

^[3] Signed by Malcohn Baldrige – Signê par Malcohn Baldrige.

^[4] Signed by Imelda R. Marcos – Signê par Imelda R. Marcos.

Entry into Force: May 30, 1974