POWERS & FUNCTIONS
OFFICE OF TOURISM STANDARDS AND REGULATION
• Formulate standards for tourism establishments to
ensure that facilities, personnel and services are
maintained in accordance with acceptable local and
international norms.
• Promulgate rules and regulations to govern the
operations and activities of all persons, firms,
entities and establishments that cater to tourists for
accreditation with the DOT.
Why Are Tourism Standards Important?
BETTER CUSTOMER SERVICE
Why Are Tourism Standards Important?
BETTER CUSTOMER SERVICE
The Tourism Act of 2009
R.A. 9593
MANDATE
The DOT shall be the primary planning, programming, coordinating,
implementing and REGULATORY government agency in the
development and promotion of the tourism industry, both domestic
and international, in coordination with attached agencies and other
government instrumentalities.
OBJECTIVE
Maintain international standards of excellence in all tourism facilities
and services, and promote the country as a safe & wholesome
tourist destination
The Tourism Act of 2009
R.A. 9593
SECTION 6. Powers and Functions
(l) Formulate & promulgate, in consultation with the LGUs, private sector
industries and other tourism stakeholders, rules and regulations governing the
operation & activities of all tourism enterprises, including but not limited to a
national standard for licensing, accreditation & classification of tourism
enterprises, prescribing therein minimum levels of operating quality and
efficiency for their operation in accordance with recognized international
standards, impose reasonable penalties for violation of accreditation policies and
recommend to LGUs concerned the suspension or prohibition of operation of a
tourism enterprise
(m) Monitor the LGUs’ compliance to national standards in the licensing of
tourism enterprises, receive and investigate complaints concerning these
enterprises and act on such complaints to properly implement the provisions of
this Act
(r) Collect necessary fees and charges for the proper implementation of tourism
policies, plans and projects
The Tourism Act of 2009
R.A. 9593
POWERS & FUNCTIONS
Section 14 - OFFICE OF TOURISM STANDARDS and
REGULATION
 Establish a system of registration, information, linkage, and
mutual assistance among accredited tourism enterprises to
enhance the value of accreditation and improve the quality of
service rendered by such enterprises
 Evaluate tourism projects in accordance with standards and
endorse the same to appropriate government agency for
availment of incentives, and provide technical assistance to
incentive-giving institutions in the formulation of tourism
incentives and the administration of their functions
FUNCTIONS
OFFICE OF STANDARDS DEVELOPMENT &
REGULATION

Endorse tourist development projects to appropriate
government agencies for availment of incentives and/or
issuance of appropriate permits
BOI
DENR
DAR
LTFRB
MARINA
PEZA
DBP
-
Registration under E.O. 226
Environmental Compliance Certificate
Land Conversion
Land Transportation Franchise
Water Transportation Franchise
Registration as Tourism Ecozone
Loan Availment
 Process applications for Special Investors Resident Visa
under E.O. 63
 Conduct of tourism industry manpower development
training programs
TWO-FOLD REGULATION
DEVELOPMENTAL
Construction, renovation or expansion
of tourism enterprise / project
OPERATIONAL
Activities after completion of tourism
project
a certification issued by the Department to a
tourism enterprise that officially recognizes
it as having complied with the minimum
standards for the operation of tourism
facilities and services.
--Implementing Rules and Regulations of RA 9593
MANDATORY ACCREDITATION
Primary Tourism Enterprises
Hotels
Resorts
Apartment hotels
Tourist inns
Motels
Pension houses
Ecolodges
Condotels
Serviced apartments
Bed and breakfast
facilities / Homestays
MANDATORY ACCREDITATION
Primary Tourism Enterprises
MANDATORY ACCREDITATION
Primary Tourism Enterprises
MANDATORY ACCREDITATION
Primary Tourism Enterprises
Land, Sea &
Air
Transport
(majority or exclusive
seats for tourists’
use)
Airport Taxis
VOLUNTARY ACCREDITATION
Secondary Tourism Enterprises
VOLUNTARY ACCREDITATION
Secondary Tourism Enterprises
VOLUNTARY ACCREDITATION
Secondary Tourism Enterprises
The Tourism Act of 2009
R.A. 9593
Section 122 (IRR) - ACCREDITATION
The Department shall act on complaints regarding accredited
tourism enterprises, and after notice & hearing, shall impose fines,
or downgrade, suspend or revoke accreditation
The Department shall notify the concerned LGU when a tourism
enterprise in their locality has failed to obtain or loses its
accreditation. The LGU shall issue the necessary closure order
should the tourism enterprise fail to rectify its deficiencies despite
being accorded a reasonable period to comply with the standards
 The Department shall issue tourism advisories pertaining to
tourism enterprises found to have violated in terms of their
accreditation
 Primary tourism enterprises located in tourism enterprise zones
(TEZs) shall be accredited by the Department
The Tourism Act of 2009
R.A. 9593
Section 122 (IRR) - ACCREDITATION
The Department may delegate the enforcement of the
system of accreditation to LGUs that have adopted and
successfully implemented their tourism development plans
 The Department shall promulgate the necessary rules and
regulations to enforce the accreditation of tourism
enterprises
 The Department shall review on periodic basis the
standards and accreditation system, in coordination with
stakeholders in the said sector
STANDARDS FOR ACCREDITATION
DOT ACCREDITATION CODES
(Existing)
ACCOMMODATION FACILITIES
TRAVEL AND TOUR SERVICES
TOURISM RELATED ESTABLISHMENTS
 FRONTLINE AND TRANSPORT SERVICES
 MEDICAL TOURISM SERVICES
 ECOTOURISM PRODUCTS AND SERVICES
The Tourism Act of 2009
R.A. 9593
Only accredited enterprises shall be beneficiaries of
promotional, training and other programs of the
Department and its attached agencies and
corporations.
Accredited enterprises shall give due preference to
other accredited enterprises in obtaining relevant
services.
CURRENT INCENTIVES TO
ACCREDITED ESTABLISHMENTS
Participation in DOT overseas sales mission &
inclusion in DOT promo collaterals
CURRENT INCENTIVES TO
ACCREDITED ESTABLISHMENTS
Participation in DOT overseas sales mission &
inclusion in DOT promo collaterals
CURRENT INCENTIVES TO
ACCREDITED ESTABLISHMENTS
Endorsement to
Endorsement to
Endorsement to
COMELEC for
exemption from
liquor ban
NAIA and other
Philippine
airports
for issuance of
access passes
MMDA for
exemption from
UVVRP (for NCR)
CURRENT INCENTIVES TO
ACCREDITED ESTABLISHMENTS
Endorsement to
embassies / travel and
trade
associations
Priority in DOT
Training Programs
ENHANCED ON-LINE
SYSTEM
HOME PAGE
ENHANCED ON-LINE SYSTEM
MAIN PROFILE – For Inspection
ENHANCED ON-LINE SYSTEM
MAIN PROFILE - Renewal
TOUR AND TRAVEL AGENCY
Documentary Requirements: (New)
1. Valid Mayor’s permit and/or Municipal
License
2. If corporation / partnership, SEC
Registration Certificate, Articles of
Incorporation and its By-laws
3. If Single Proprietorship, valid DTI
Business Name Certificate
TOUR AND TRAVEL AGENCY
Documentary Requirements: (New)
4. Proof of working capital of P500,000.00:
 For
Existing
enterprises
–
If
corporation/partnership.
P500,000.00
paid up/partner’s capital in Articles of
Incorporation/Partnership;
 If single Proprietorship, original copy of
bank certification with cheque writer
TOUR AND TRAVEL AGENCY
Documentary Requirements: (New)
5. For foreign nationals, valid visa from
Bureau of Immigration and work permit
from the Department of Labor and
Employment
6. Tour packages with itineraries
TOUR AND TRAVEL AGENCY
Documentary Requirements: (New)
7. For tour operators with branches, affidavit
executed by the general manager of the main
office acknowledging the existence of said
branch/es
8. For general manager, proof of three (3) years
managerial experience in travel and tour
agency operations or proof of passing a travel
and tour operator management course
conducted by a DOT accredited training center
TOUR AND TRAVEL AGENCY
Documentary Requirements:
(Renewal)
1. Valid Mayor’s permit and/or Municipal
License
2. Amendment to Articles of Incorporation
and its By-laws (if applicable)
3. If Business name expired, submit a
renewed copy
TOUR AND TRAVEL AGENCY
Documentary Requirements:
(Renewal)
4. Audited Financial Statements and Income
Tax return for the preceding year
reflecting a minimum working capital
requirement of P500,000.00
5. If visa or work permit expired, submit
renewed copy
6. Updated or New tour packages with
itineraries
ACCREDITATION FEES
ACCREDITATION FEES
ACCREDITATION CYCLE
Evaluation
• Registering an account
• Initial Payment
•Accomplishment of Application form
•Uploading of documents
Evaluation
Inspection
Approved
Approval
Inspection
• Grouping by Location - Establishments for Inspection
• Endorsement to Approving Officer
Releasing
Approval
• Approval of Application (Application Form and Supporting Documents)
• Forward Application to the following:
•Division Chief-AD
•Director – OTSR
•Usec-TRCRG
Releasing
• Full Payment of Accreditation Fees
• Printing of Accreditation Certificate
• Releasing of Certificate to Applicant