August 25, 2001

The Government of the Republic of the Philippines and the Government of the Republic of Singapore, hereinafter referred to as the Contracting Parties:

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

RECOGNIZING their common interest to establish greater cooperation in the area of tourism;

CONSIDERING that both countries are active members of the ASSOCIATION OF SOUTHEAST ASIAN NATIONS;

COGNIZANT of the role of tourism in their economic development and as a positive instrument towards the improvement of the quality of life for all peoples;

CONVINCED of the role of tourism as a vital force in promoting peace and better international understanding;

Have agreed as follows:

ARTICLE I
GENERAL PROVISION

The Contracting 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
PROGRAM OF ACTIVITIES

1. The Contracting Parties shall encourage their respective tourism-related establishments, particularly travel agencies, to establish business contacts, to evolve, plan, monitor and implement tourism-related investment promotion programs, and to exchange experiences and information. These establishments shall likewise be encouraged to develop joint promotional programs that would market the Philippines and Singapore under one tour package.

2. The Contracting Parties shall provide support for each other鈥檚 tourism promotion activities, and shall undertake joint promotion in mutually agreed international tourist markets so as to promote mutually beneficial flow of tourists to the Philippines and Singapore. Such joint promotions shall include 鈥渢winning programmes鈥� which involve collaboration on advertising, development of tour packages and production, distribution, and exchange of brochures and other collateral materials. The Contracting Parties shall encourage tourists visiting their respective countries to extend their journeys to each other鈥檚 destinations.

3. The Contracting Partied shall inform each other of their respective tourism standards and practices to facilitate the inflow of foreign tourists into their respective territories.

4. The Contracting Parties shall inform each other of their respective legislation, exchange information materials and experiences, and whenever practicable, promote exchange visits of professional experts on tourism promotion and marketing and other related areas.

5. The Contracting Parties shall encourage the exchange of information on their respective systems and methods relative to conservation and restoration of historical edifices and tourists attractions, preservation and protection of the environment and promotion of ecotourism, including the exchange of professional experts in the same field.

6. Subject to the domestic laws of each Contracting Party, all presentation and advertising materials as well as exhibits for tourist exhibitions and travel markets imported by the executing agency of a Contracting Party into the territory of the other Contracting Party shall be exempt from duties and other taxes, provided these materials and exhibits have no commercial value.

7. The Contracting Parties shall ensure that the programs to be implemented under this Memorandum shall supplement relevant ASEAN tourism programs and activities applicable to the Contracting Parties. The programs and activities to be executed under this Memorandum shall be mutually agreed to and the expenses so incurred co-shared equally by the executing agencies of the Contracting Parties.

8. In conformity with its national laws, a Contracting Party shall facilitate and assist the other Contracting Party to establish in its territory a representative office for purposes of tourism.

9. In the area of air services, the Contracting Parties shall work towards the progressive liberalization of bilateral air services arrangements for mutual benefit.

ARTICLE III
EXECUTING AGENCIES

1. The Government of the Republic of the Philippines designates the Department of Tourism as the agency responsible for the implementation of its obligations under this Memorandum.

2. The Government of the Republic of Singapore designates the Singapore Tourism Board as the agency responsible for the implementation of its obligations under this Memorandum.

ARTICLE IV
MONITORING MECHANISM

The Representatives of the designated Executing Agencies of the Contracting Parties shall, when necessary, meet alternately in the two countries to assess and monitor the implementation of this Memorandum. In addition, they shall designate specific contact points within their respective Agencies to ensure the proper implementation and monitoring of the activities undertaken pursuant to this Memorandum.

ARTICLE VI
DISPUTE SETTLEMENT

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

ARTICLE VI
AMENDMENTS

Either Contracting Party may request in writing, through diplomatic channels, an amendment of this Memorandum. Any amendment mutually agreed upon shall enter into force in accordance with Article VII.

ARTICLE VII
ENTRY INTO FORCE AND VALIDITY

This Memorandum shall enter into force on the date of the latter notification by the Contracting Parties, through diplomatic channels, indicating that they have complied with their domestic requirements for its entry into force. It shall be in force for an initial period of five (5) years and may continue thereafter on the agreement of both Contracting Parties. Pending the completion of their domestic requirements for its entry into force, the Parties hereby agree to accord provisional effectivity to the Memorandum. The Memorandum may be terminated at any time by either Contracting Party giving notice to the other, through diplomatic channels, of its intention to terminate this Memorandum six (6) months prior to the intended date of termination.

DONE in Singapore on this 25th day of August 2001, in two original texts, both in the English language.