The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) and the Department of Tourism (DOT) have entered into a groundbreaking partnership aimed at enhancing Philippine tourism through the integration of digital technology.
The collaboration was formalized through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between DOST Secretary Renato U. Solidum Jr. and DOT Secretary Ma. Esperanza Christina Garcia Frasco during the Pamana Agham event on August 28, 2024, in Intramuros, Manila.
This partnership focuses on promoting the Smart and Sustainable Communities Program (SSCP), an initiative designed to infuse tourism management and community engagement with innovative and sustainable solutions. The SSCP aims to strengthen local tourism by making it more resilient and data-driven, aligning with the national agenda for sustainable development.
Secretary Frasco highlighted the significance of integrating technology into tourism operations, calling it an “absolute necessity” to keep the industry competitive in the modern era.
In conjunction with the MOU, a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) was also signed between DOT OIC-Undersecretary Verna Esmeralda C. Buensuceso and DOST Undersecretary for Regional Operations Sancho A. Mabborang.
This MOA focuses on the further development and deployment of TourLISTA 2.0, an upgraded version of the Tourism Live-Inventory and Statistics of Tourist Arrivals platform. TourLISTA, initially developed in 2020 by DOST-MIMAROPA, has been a pioneering system for tracking tourist data in the region. It now aims to provide real-time updates, advanced data visualization, and in-depth analytics on tourist arrivals, empowering tourism stakeholders across the country to make more strategic, data-informed decisions.
The TourLISTA platform, currently in use across the MIMAROPA region, has already registered over 1,590 tourist accommodations and 671 tourist attractions.
By August 2024, it had recorded more than 4 million domestic visitors and 2 million foreign visitors, contributing significantly to the region’s rise as a prominent tourist destination. The success of the platform has inspired its expansion to other regions, with the newly signed MOA solidifying the partnership between DOST and DOT to refine and expand the system's reach nationwide.
“We are thrilled to partner with DOT to lead Filipinos toward a better quality of life through sustainable tourism, while protecting our environment for future generations,” DOST Secretary Solidum emphasized.
The partnership between DOST and DOT is expected to revolutionize the tourism industry in the Philippines by using data-driven insights to foster sustainable development, improve visitor experiences, and support the long-term growth of local communities.
