1. Development of Tourism Estates

By definition, a tourism estate is a large tract of land with defined boundaries suitable for the development into an integrated resort complex with prescribed carrying capacities of tourist facilities and activities such as but not limited to sports and recreational centers, accommodations, convention and cultural facilities, food and beverages outlets, commercial establishments and other special interest and attraction activities/establishments and provided with roads, water supply facilities, power distribution facilities, drainage and sewage systems and other necessary infrastructure and public utilities. The estate shall be under a unified and continuous management, and can either be a component of an ecozone or the whole ecozone itself.

Pioneer Status
A pioneer status shall be granted to a tourism estate with a minimum area of 50 hectares

Non-Pioneer Status
Tourism estates of less than 50 hectares shall be eligible for registration with a non-pioneer status. Tourism estates in islands less than 25 hectares may also be registered provided the whole area shall be developed into a tourism estate.

2. Establishment of Tourist Accommodation Facilities

Tourist accommodation facilities include hotels, resorts, inns, pensionnes, and special interest resorts outside Metro Manila. New projects can qualify for a pioneer status if they satisfy the following:

“Non-Pioneer Status” shall be granted to projects that do not meet the criteria for a pioneer status, except for hotel projects which have to comply with the following minimum qualifications for registration under non-pioneer status:

1. the project must be at least US$20,000/room to exclude cost of land; and
2. must have the facilities that would entitle it to a standard class hotel in accordance with the Department of Tourism (DOT) qualifications.

Expansion projects shall be eligible for registration if they involve the addition of guestrooms exceeding 25% of existing facilities of a tourist accommodation facility and located outside Metro Manila.

4. Modernization/Rehabilitation of Tourist Accommodation Facilities

A modernization/rehabilitation program involves the upgrading/modification and/or restoration to the original condition the facilities/structures/ amenities of tourist accommodation facilities outside Metro Manila to conform with the classification requirements of the Department of Tourism. Modernization projects must entail a cost of Php300,000.00/room to qualify for pioneer status.

5. Historico-Cultural Heritage Projects

These projects cover restoration, conservation or preservation of historical and cultural sites, properties, and audio-visual materials identified, classified and declared as such by the National Historical Institute and/or by the National Museum.

Historico-cultural heritage site projects (such as heritage houses) intended to be commercialized should use these for tourism purposes. Any business to be located within the premises should adhere to the guidelines for adaptive re-use of such structure or sites.

6. Operation of Ecotourism and Agri-tourism facilities

Ecotourism Facilities include accommodation/lodging facilities and related amenities which blend with the natural and cultural environment of the area.

Agritourism involves activities which maximize the potentials of income generation of existing farms through tourism-related activities. It likewise covers attractions, activities, services and amenities as well as cultural resources of the area.

7. Healthcare and Wellness Services

Hospital Medical Services
This covers primary, secondary and tertiary care hospitals and specialized services/hospital-based centers of excellence as per Department of Health (DOH) standards.

Prior to availment of ITH, hospitals classified for ‘medical tourism’ must be accredited by the Department of Tourism (DOT).

Other Human Health and Wellnes Services including Rehabilitation Recuperation Services.
This covers health spa, traditional and alternative healthcare services, therapy centers, nursing care programs, and facilities for mental health.

Health Spa

The following are the qualification for registration:

The activity must be either a ‘destination spa’ or a ‘resort/hotel spa’ category based on DOT accreditation and classification; Must be endorsed by the DOH and the DOT, if applicable

Health spa projects that will make use and/or apply the ‘Filipino healing modality’ using indigenous essential oils as endorsed by the DOT may qualify for pioneer status

8. Services provided by tourist operators

This covers packaged services rendered to tourists from transport, accommodation, recreation, guided tours and other related services.

To qualify for registration:

Application must be endorsed by the DOT and must have online facilities for reservations, bookings and payments.

Note:
Projects with pioneer status are given an income tax holiday for 6 years.
Projects with non-pioneer status are given an income tax holiday for 4 years.