MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES AND THE GOVERNMENT OF THE STATE OF QATAR IN THE FIELDS OF TOURISM AND BUSINESS EVENTS

The GOVERNMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES, represented by the Department of Tourism, and

The GOVERNMENT OF THE STATE OF QATAR, represented by Qatar Tourism,

Referred to hereinafter individually as the “Participant” and collectively as the “Participant”;

Based on their intention to strengthen the friendly relations between the two countries and to support and develop the mean of cooperation in the fields of tourism and business events for realizing the mutual interest of their countries.

Realizing that the tourism and the business events activities re considered as a mainstay of the economy, development and the realization of their national vision.

Have reached the following understanding:

Paragraph 1
Main Objective

The Participants will strive to develop and strengthen the means of cooperation between them in the fields of tourism and business events on the basis of mutual benefits, according to the rules and regulations applicable in both countries and relevant international obligations of the Participants.

Paragraph 2
Fields of Cooperation

The Participants will cooperate in the various fields and activities related to tourism and business events of common interest, particularly in the following:

First: In the field of Tourism:

	1.	To encourage tourist flows to travel to the country of the other Participant, in coordination with the competent authorities in both countries.
	2.	To promote cooperation between the travel and tourism agencies and other relevant establishments with the objective of increasing the tourist exchange between them and promotion of tourism for both countries.
	3.	To strengthen the coordination between the Philippines in order to create favourable conditions for movements, mobility and communications for the visiting tourists from the country of either Participant to the other Participant.
	4.	To encourage tourism investments in coordination with the competent authorities in both countries, and in accordance with the rules and regulations applicable in both countries.
	5.	To promote the coordination of the stance of the Participants at the international level, in particular, at the level of meetings, conferences and forums of international organizations specialized in the field of tourism.
	6.	To promote the exchange of organizational expertise, knowledge, and statistics available in the field of tourism while adhering to the applicable rules and regulations in both countries.
	7.	To promote the exchange of familiarization visits between the Participants in the field of tourism including media, visits, and of experts in the field of tourism development in both countries.
	8.	To provide opportunities for exchange of knowledge, expertise, and best practices about the training of the operators in the field of tourism.
	9.	To promote organizing seminars and specialized training for the development of the skills of the operators and specialists in the field of tourism.
	10.	To encourage participation in the exhibitions and tourism events, in addition to strengthening the cooperation and coordination between the concerned agencies in both countries in the relevant international events and activities.
	11.	To explore the possibility of setting up offices for tourism promotion in both countries, provided that such offices shall not engage in commercial activities, and the Participants shall agree separately on the relevant details.
	12.	Exchange of legislations and regulations in the field of tourism.
	13.	To encourage the joint efforts of the Participants and coordination between them in preventing tourist activities, which are in violation of the applicable rules and regulations in both countries.
	14.	To strive to simplify the procedures of tourists’ travel from both countries by coordination with the competent authorities in both countries in accordance with their applicable rules and regulations.

Second: In the field of Business Events:
  

	1.	To promote holding of various business events including exhibition and conference attractive to tourist, in coordination between the competent authorities in both countries.
	2.	To promote cooperation between other relevant exhibitions and conferences, organizing agencies with an objective of strengthening the means of cooperation between them and the promotion for business events in both countries.
	3.	To promote the coordination of stances between the Participants at the international level, in particular, at the level of meetings, conferences and forums of international organizations specialized in the field of business events.
	4.	To encourage the exchange of organizational experiences in the field of business events.
	5.	To encourage familiarization visits between the Participants in the field of business events.
	6.	Exchange of legislations and regulations in the field of business events.
	7.	To encourage joint efforts for the prevention of business events that are in violation of the applicable rules and regulations in both countries.
	8.	Both of the Participants will strive to provide possible exchange of logistical support at the international level for hosting exhibition and international conferences.

  

	1.	The Participants will cover the financial expenses resulting from the implementation of this Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) according to the rules and regulations applicable at each of the Participants’ countries, within the limits of the resources available to it.
	2.	Each Participant will bear the financial expenses arising from its cooperation activities, which are done within the framework of this MOU.
	3.	The Participants will agree on the mode of bearing the financial expenses arising from their joint cooperation activities done in the framework of this MOU.

 

	1.	The Participants will set up a Joint Working Team between them, with the objective of easing the implementation of the provisions of this MOU. The Joint Working Team undertakes to set up the work programme, execution, follow up and evaluation of the activities provided for in this MOU.
	2.	The Joint Working Team, provided for in Item 1 of this Paragraph, may hold its meetings whenever necessary, alternately in each of their countries.
	3.	Each of the Participants shall appoint or change their representatives in the Joint Working Team, through diplomatic channels.

The Participants may, after this MOU takes effect, agree on setting up a Joint Executive Programme for the implementation of this MOU, according to their applicable rules and procedures.

The provisions of this MOU shall not affect other agreements entered into by either of the Participants.

Any difference which may arise between the two Participants in respect of the implementation of the provisions of this MOU, shall be resolved through consultation and negotiations between them, and should this not be possible, the settlement shall be through diplomatic channels.

This MOU may be amended by a written agreement between the two Participants, through diplomatic channels. and these amendments shall take effect after adopting the procedures provided for in Paragraph 9 of this MOU.

This MOU shall take effect on the date of receipt by either of the Participants of the last written notification from the other Participant, through diplomatic channels, notifying of the completion of the legal procedures applicable in both countries which are necessary for the effectivity of this MOU.

This MOU shall remain valid for a period of five (50 years, and shall be automatically renewed for further similar period or periods, unless either of the Participants notifies the other Participants in writing about its intention to terminate it, through diplomatic channels, at least six (6) months prior to the date of termination.

The termination of this MOU shall not affect the activities or aspects of cooperation, which are being executed within its framework until their completion, unless the Participants agree otherwise in writing.

This MOU shall replace the MOU on Tourism Cooperation between the Government of the Republic of the Philippines and the Government of the State of Qatar signed in Manila on 10 April 2012.

In witness whereof, the undersigned, authorized by their respective Governments, have signed this MOU.

Done and signed in Manila on 22 April 2024, in two original copies, in the English and Arabic languages, all texts being equally authentic.

   
   
   
 

(SGD.)	(SGD.)
FOR THE	FOR THE
GOVERNMENT OF THE	GOVERNMENT OF THE
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES	STATE OF QATAR

 

Entry into Force: September 23, 2024