The Department of Tourism (DOT)-5 (Bicol) is utilizing an electronic record-keeping management tool to digitize tourist arrivals in the six provinces of the region.

DOT-5 Regional Director Herbie Aguas said the tourism operations protocol system (TOPS) launched on Monday would help collect and manage accurate, reliable, prospective and real-time tourist arrival data.

“With the implementation of this system, we will be able to produce timely and accurate information on tourism statistics. The TOPS will also help in the formulation and conceptualization of responsive policies and programs for sustainable tourism development in the region,” he said in a follow-up interview on Tuesday.

Aguas said the innovations and upgrading of the system are expected to accelerate the efficient delivery of tourism services.

“These statistics are also recorded for tourism-related projects we asked in the central office like tourism road projects, and infrastructure, that will be the basis. Hindi tayo mabibigyan if ang pumupunta dyan ay sampu or bente (we will not be given if only 10 to 20 people visit the place). But if the record shows that thousands visit us, it is one way to show proof,” he said.

Aguas said the TOPS will extract actual visitor arrival data directly from the tourism enterprises.

“Once they arrive in the Bicol region and go to a specific tourist destination, they will sign up on the page and the data will be directly submitted to DOT as well as to the local government unit (LGU). Aside from numbers that will be collected, we will also get reviews, we will get impressions of the tourist during their stay,” he added.

Aguas said Midconcept Solutions, a licensed software company, ensures the rollout and deployment of the TOPS are efficient and accessible to all.

“We will be doing the TOPS to some pilot LGUs by next year. The system is available in English, Chinese, Korean, Arabic, Spanish and French,” he said. (PNA)