Tourism tops industries with economic potentials

Tourism remains to be the industry with the most economic potentials in the Philippines, according to the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).
Others include information technology/business process outsourcing, real estate development, construction, transport and logistics, and energy/power, said the DTI.
The Philippines is currently preparing for the Asean (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) economic integration, which aims to establish an Asean Economic Community, or AEC.
The AEC envisions a single market and production base, a highly competitive economic region, a region of equitable economic development, and a region fully integrated into the global economy.
Other promising economic drivers, according to DTI, are agriculture, shipbuilding and repair, education, medical tourism, retirement estates, banking and finance, and “green” industries and architecture including packaging.
DTI’s provincial director in Aklan, Diosdado Cadena, earlier said Western Visayas, especially the province, is prepared for the Asean economic integration.
Stakeholders in Aklan have already conducted several meetings regarding Asean economic integration, Cadena said.
The Sangguniang Panlalawigan has also passed an ordinance creating the Aklan Council for the Asean Economic Integration.
Aklan earned some P43.78 billion from the tourism industry in 2014, according to the Department of Tourism.