MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING ON BILATERAL TOURISM COOPERATION BETWEEN THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES AND THE REPUBLIC OF PORTUGAL

The Government of the Republic of the Philippines and the Government of the Republic of Portugal, hereinafter referred to as the Contracting Parties;

DESIRING to strengthen the friendly relations and mutual understanding existing between their respective countries;

RECOGNIZING the common interest of both countries to establish greater cooperation in the area of tourism;

RECOGNIZING FURTHER the importance in the enhancement of knowledge and understanding between the people of two countries and as an essential element for economic development of both countries;

Have agreed on the following:

ARTICLE 1
The Contracting Parties shall, subject to the laws and regulations of their respective countries, develop and promote cooperation in the field of tourism on the basis of reciprocity and mutual benefit for both countries.

ARTICLE 2
The Contracting Parties shall encourage and promote individual or group travel by their respective citizens to the Philippines and Portugal.

ARTICLE 3
The Contracting Parties shall encourage the exchange of information materials and experiences and whenever practicable, shall include personnel and professional experts on tourism promotion and marketing, development and services planning, statistics and other related data, manpower and skills training and other related activities.

ARTICLE 4
The Contracting Parties shall encourage pertinent tourism-related establishments particularly travel agencies and other institutions, of the two countries to establish business and exchange experiences and systems with each other.

ARTICLE 5
The Contracting Parties shall explore the possibility of joint collaboration for investment in tourism sector and for this purpose, shall exchange experts and inform each other of the investment climate and conditions provided by the national legislation of both countries.

The Contracting Parties shall encourage their competent bodies and interested organizations to set up joint ventures and other investment projects in the field of tourism in accordance with their respective national legislation.

ARTICLE 6
Under this MOU, the Government of the Republic of the Philippines shall designate the Department of Tourism as its executing agency, while the Republic of Portugal shall designate its General Direction for Tourism.

ARTICLE 7
The Representatives of the central government agencies of both Contracting Parties shall, when necessary, meet alternately in the two countries to assess the implementation of this Memorandum and to sign appropriate protocols. In addition, they shall designate Contact Offices within their respective central government tourism agencies to make sure that the implementation of the same is religiously done and monitored properly.

ARTICLE 8
In conformity with their respective national laws, each Contracting Party shall endeavor to establish in its territory the tourism representative office of the other Contracting Party to encourage travels of their citizens to territories of both countries.

ARTICLE 9
This Memorandum of Understanding shall enter into force on the date of the latter notification by both Parties, through diplomatic channels, that they have complied with their respective domestic requirements for its entry into force.

This Memorandum of Understanding shall remain valid for five (5) years and shall automatically be renewed for another two (2) years thereafter unless either Party notifies the other through diplomatic channels, if its intention to terminate this memorandum six months prior to the expiration of the two-year period.

DONE in duplicates in Manila, Philippines on the 22nd day of May 1997 in the English language.  

 

FOR THE GOVERNMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES	FOR THE GOVERNMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF PORTUGAL
(Sgd.) GUILLERMINA T. GABOR Secretary of Tourism	(Sgd.) JAIME ANDREZ Secretary of Tourism

Entry into Force: July 7, 2017