Barbers gave this statement during the Chamber of Real Estate and Builders’ Associations, Inc. (CREBA) and the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC) joint National Housing Convention 2005 with the theme: "Linking the Best in Philippine Property and Tourism to the World".

"CREBA and the HUDCC made a milestone in this undertaking by recognizing and giving importance in the country’s tourism industry as prime business opportunity in real estate development that would ultimately redound in improving the country’s economy. This is very timely since the PTA is selling some of its prime properties. CREBA and HUDCC can be very strategic partners by helping us dispose or help improve some of these properties," Barbers said.

The PTA owns and manages some 13 tourist entities ranging from hotel beach resorts, golf courses and mountain resorts in Pangasinan, Cebu, Leyte, La Union, Banaue, Mt. Data in the Mountain Province and other resorts located in Mindanao.

"It is very encouraging to note that the real estate and the housing industry recognizes the crucial role it plays in tourism development. This only goes to show that the private sector in the real estate development acknowledges the plans and programs of President Arroyo in improving the country’s economy. Real estate, like tourism, plays an important role that measures the progress of a nation. President Arroyo is very well aware of this and supports the growth of tourism through real estate development," Barbers explained.

The Philippines is considered by our Asian neighbors to be the best proximate tropical tourist destination in the Asean region. Chinese tourists visiting the country have been growing by leaps and bound for the past two years.

Barbers added that the best indicator that our tourism industry is on the upswing is the latest tourism statistics that visitor arrivals have been increasing steadily. According to Barbers, international tourist arrivals during the first half of this year increased by 1,285,762 compared to 1,140,517 for the same period last year or an aggregate increase of 13 percent for this year. Chinese tourists visiting the country topped the list having a remarkable increase by 140 percent in the first half of 2005.

"China is considered the largest travel market in the world and based on the dramatic increase in tourist arrival from China it seems that they have taken cognizance that our country is one of the best alternative tourist destinations in Asia. In this light, CREBA and HUDCC can be an important catalyst to bring back real estate development boom in the country with emphasis on the local and foreign tourist market," Barbers said.

Barbers congratulated CREBA and HUDCC for sharing the common objectives and moving with the same purpose by the PTA to help government steer this ship of a nation to calmer waters, provide necessary livelihood for our communities and alleviate our populace from poverty that stifles our growth and progress as a nation and as a people.