Supreme Court E-Library
Information At Your Fingertips

September 16, 1999

The Department of Tourism of the Republic of the Philippines and the National Tourism Service of the Republic of Chile, hereinafter referred to as "the Parties",

Desiring to strengthen the friendly relations and mutual understanding existing between them;

Convinced of the importance of tourism in developing their respective economies and fostering a deep understanding between their peoples;

Aware that tourism, on account of its socio - cultural and economic dynamism, is an excellent instrument to promote goodwill and to enhance the relations between them;

Have agreed as follows:

ARTICLE I
GENERAL PROVISION

The Parties shall, subject to their respective laws and regulations, develop and promote cooperation in the field of tourism on the basis of reciprocity and mutual benefit.

ARTICLE II
EXECUTING AGENCIES

The Department of Tourism of the Republic of the Philippines will be the agency responsible for the enforcement of its rights and the implementation of its obligations under this Agreement.

The National Tourism Service (SERNATUR) of the Republic of Chile will be the agency; responsible for the enforcement of its rights and the implementation of its obligations under this Agreement.

ARTICLE III
AREAS OF COOPERATION

The Parties, in conformity with their internal policies, laws and regulations, shall encourage collaboration in the following areas of cooperation, inter alia:

1. The Parties shall endeavor to develop uniform tourism standards and practices to facilitate the inflow of foreign tourists into their respective territories in line with the standards established by the World Tourism Organization;

2. The Parties shall encourage and promote individual or group travel by their respective citizens and citizens of third countries to the Philippines and Chile. To attain this objective, the parties shall facilitate and encourage the fostering of commercial tourism activities and services such as travel agencies, tourism operations and businesses, hotel chains, airline and maritime links, and other tourism - related endeavors;

3. Whenever practicable, the Parties shall undertake joint promotion programs involving collaboration on advertising, development of tour packages, production and exchange of brochures, films, and photographs, including slides and video compact discs, inter alia;

4. Each Party may establish and operate a representative tourism office in the territory of the other Party, without engaging in any activity of a commercial character. It is understood that the Parties shall assist each other in the establishment of this office in each other's territory. In this vein, the Parties shall provide the facilities within their means for the installation and operation of their own office;

5. The Parties, through their designated executing agencies, shall endeavor to promote exchange visits of their public officials and tourism experts in order to obtain a better understanding of each other's tourism infrastructure and to ascertain the areas requiring expertise and transfer of technology;

6. The Parties shall encourage participation in activities such as cultural and sports exhibitions, seminars, conferences and fairs aimed at tourism promotion, environmental protection of scenic spots; and

7. The Parties will exchange information on the following, inter alia:

(a) tourism resources;
(b) tourism services being offered;
(c) experiences in the field of hotel administration and related matters;
(d) current legislation for the promotion/regulation of tourism activities and the conservation of the natural, historical and cultural edifices and other resources;
(e) studies and research pertaining to tourism activities.

ARTICLE IV
JOINT COMMITTEE

1. To ensure the implementation of this Agreement, the Parties shall establish a Joint Committee composed of an equal number of representatives from both sides as may be agreed upon through diplomatic channels.

2. The Joint Committee shall formulate and submit policy recommendations with the end in view of promoting the development of tourism and related fields of both countries. It shall also be responsible for planning, implementing, monitoring and evaluating projects identified under this Agreement;

3. As may be necessary, the Joint Committee may create "Working Group(s)" for specific areas. For this purpose, the Joint Committee shall determine the procedure and other guidelines to be followed by the "Working Group(s)" to ensure efficiency;

4. A liaison secretary from both sides shall be designated in order to coordinate with concerned agencies and deal with daily and routine work of the Joint Committee and any Working Group thus established.

5. The Joint Committee shall meet every two years alternately in the Republic of the Philippines and the Republic of Chile, with a representative of the host country as chairman of the meeting. Whenever necessary, an interim meeting may be held subject to agreement between the Parties, through diplomatic channels.

6. The agenda of the meeting will include the drafting of the working plans and a review of the progress of the implementation of projects undertaken pursuant to this Agreement.

ARTICLE V
DISPUTE SETTLEMENT

Any difference or dispute arising from the interpretation or implementation of the provisions of this Agreement shall be settled amicably by consultation or negotiation between the Parties.

ARTICLE VI
ENTRY INTO FORCE AND VALIDITY

This Agreement shall enter into force on the date of the later notification by either Party, through diplomatic channels, indicating compliance with their respective domestic requirements for its entry into force.

This Agreement shall remain valid for a period of six years and shall be automatically renewed for similar periods unless a Party serves a written notification to the other, through diplomatic channels, of its intention to terminate this Agreement three months prior to its expiration.

The termination of this Agreement shall not affect the implementation of ongoing programs and activities, which have been agreed upon while the Agreement was in force.

ARTICLE VII
AMENDMENTS

Either Party may request in writing, through diplomatic channels, to amend or modify this Agreement. Any amendment mutually agreed upon shall enter into force in accordance with paragraph 1, Article VI of this Agreement.

Done in Santiago, Chile, on this sixteenth day of September 1999, in two original copies in the English and Spanish languages, both texts being equally authentic.

Entry into Force: July 27, 2000