The Department of Tourism (DOT) and PricewaterhouseCoopers Philippines (PwC) on Tuesday renewed an agreement on expertise and knowledge sharing to spur tourism investments in the Philippines.

The renewed memorandum of understanding (MOU) builds on the initial MOU the two agencies signed in 2018.

Through this, the PwC will co-develop a guidebook on tourism investments, serve as DOT’s “Knowledge Partner,” and continue working with the agency to provide training to tourism stakeholders.

The DOT and PwC had been providing retooling workshops and seminars for local government units (LGUs) and other tourism stakeholders, teaching them how to pitch and invite investors to invest in their destinations.

“These seminars were not only mere gatherings, they were transformative experiences that empowered participants from LGUs and private property owners,” said DOT Undersecretary Shalimar Hofer Tamano in a message read by DOT Director Virgilio Maguigad.

“These individuals emerge armed with the prowess of smart pitching, the skill of crafting investment proposals, and confidence to present their vision to potential investors,” he added.

The PwC will also assist the DOT in crafting a framework for the eventual launch of a Philippine Tourism Awards that will reward outstanding LGUs and tourism businesses in the country.

Maguigad said the DOT has already started conducting workshops in Batangas in preparation for its launch “later this year”.

In signing the MOU, PwC Philippines Chairman and Senior Partner Roderick Danao said the PwC seeks to help the Philippines become the “number one destination in Southeast Asia”.

“As knowledge partner we will provide the necessary expertise to co-promote tourism and to build the right framework in promoting sustainable tourism,” he said.

He also looked forward to the awards, citing its potential to motivate stakeholders to build the “best quality of roads, the best quality of access hotels” and other basic tourism infrastructure.

PwC is a firm that specializes in delivering audit, tax and advisory services.

Its guidebooks in doing business and investing in the Philippines have been institutional business reference materials. (PNA)