Section 3. Objectives. — Pursuant to the above declaration, the State shall adopt the following objectives:

1. Develop a national tourism action plan and work for its adoption and implementation by national and local governments;

2. Encourage activities and programs which promote tourism awareness, preserve the country's diverse cultures and heritage, and instill a sense of history and a culture of tourism among the youth and the populace;

3. All things being equal, grant preferential treatment to the employment of Filipino nationals in tourism-related enterprises;

4. Provide full government assistance by way of competitive investment incentives, long-term development fund and other financing schemes extended to tourism-related investments;

5. Ensure that tourism development protects and promotes the general well-being of the Filipino people, particularly in the area of investment, to include the monitoring and prevention of any act of profiteering or speculation to the detriment of local residents, as well as the exploitation of women and children in tourism;

6. Encourage competition in the tourism industry and maximize consumer choice by enhancing the continued viability of the retail travel industry and independent tour operation industry;

7. Enhance the collection, analysis and dissemination of data which accurately measure the economic and social impact of tourism in the country to facilitate planning in the public and private sectors;

8. Ensure the right of the people to a balanced and healthful ecology through the promotion of activities geared towards environmental protection, conservation and restoration;

9. Develop responsible tourism as a strategy for environmentally sound and community participatory tourism programs, enlisting the participation of local communities, including indigenous peoples, in conserving bio-physical and cultural diversity, promoting environmental understanding and education, providing assistance in the determination of ecotourism sites and ensuring full enjoyment of the benefits of tourism by the concerned communities;

10. Strengthen the role of tourism councils and encourage the participation of nongovernment organizations (NGOs), people's organizations (POs) and the private sector in initiating programs for tourism development and environmental protection;

11. Promote the progressive development of existing civil aviation, land and sea transportation policies as they relate to tourism, in consonance with existing bilateral agreements and inter-agency pronouncements;

12. Promote and ensure the convention-handling capability of the country as a world-class convention center;

13. Achieve a balance in tourism development between urban and rural areas in order to spread the benefits of tourism and contribute to poverty alleviation, better access to infrastructure and to a reduction in regional imbalances;

14. Enhance capability-building of local government units (LGUs), in partnership with the private sector, in the management of local tourism projects and initiatives, thereby ensuring accessible and affordable destinations throughout the country, especially in areas which have shown strong comparative advantage;

15. Maintain international standards of excellence in all tourism facilities and services, and promote the country as a safe and wholesome tourist destination;

16. Enhance international business relations for the support of tourism projects of the private sector, through partnerships, joint ventures and other cooperative undertakings involving local and foreign investors;

17. Support the establishment of tourism enterprise zones (TEZs), which will provide the necessary vehicle to coordinate actions of the public and private sectors to address development barriers, attract and focus investment on specific geographic areas and upgrade product and service quality; and

18. Ensure a sustainable funding mechanism for the implementation of tourism policies, plans, programs, projects and activities.