Reclassification of Tourist Transport Services

Government transport agencies maintain a continuing policy to boost tourism as a rich source of revenue for the country.
The Department of Tourism (DOT), Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC), and the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) signed a Memorandum of Agreement to provide better transport facilities for tourists to boost the tourism industry.
The DOT, DOTC, and MMDA also signed “Rules and Regulations Implementing the Memorandum of Agreement on the Rationalization of the Public Utility Vehicle System in Tourism”.
The LTFRB acts in relation to these arrangements by issuing a reclassification of tourist transport services for LTFRB franchising and control.

The LTFRB reclassifies tourist transport service into the following four categories, each with defined vehicle and service characteristics.
The LTFRB controls and records the number of tourist service vehicles to be granted CPCs (as referenced in the circular) within the scope of DOTC Policies, Plans and Programs for land transportation.

Tourist Shuttle Service refers to heavy duty passenger vans moving on wheels or runners.
All seats of the Tourist Shuttle Service must face front.
A luggage compartment must be provided in the Tourist Shuttle Service.
The service must have a concessionaire agreement.
The Tourist Shuttle Service must ply the international and/or domestic airports, seaports and/or hotels covered with a tourist shuttle service franchise.
The fare charges for Tourist Shuttle Service must be predetermined by the Board.
The service must require a minimum of three (3) units with a maximum age limit of 10 years from the date of manufacture.

Tourist Metered Taxi Service refers to 4-door sedan vehicles or an Asian Utility Vehicle.
The service must have a concessionaire agreement.
The Tourist Metered Taxi Service must ply the international and/or domestic airports, seaports and/or hotels covered with a tourist metered taxi service franchise.
The fare charges are charged by meter and must come with receipts.
The service must require a minimum of ten (10) units with a maximum age limit of 10 years from the date of manufacture.
The vehicles must have 2-way radio.

Tourist Coupon Taxi Service refers to 4-door sedan vehicles.
The service must have a concessionaire agreement.
The Tourist Coupon Taxi Service must ply the international and/or domestic airports, seaports and hotels covered with a tourist coupon taxi service franchise.
The fare charges must be predetermined by the Board.
The service must require a minimum of ten (10) units with a maximum age limit of 10 years from the date of manufacture.

Tourist Chartered Service refers to bus, coaster, van (other than AUV) and 4-door sedan vehicles that cater to tourists.
The service must be covered with a tourist chartered service franchise.
The fare charges for Tourist Chartered Service must be predetermined by the Board.
The service must require a minimum of three (3) units.
The service must follow maximum age limits from date of manufacture:
- 15 years for bus and coaster, and
- 10 years for van and car.

The LTFRB adopts additional procedures to record and control the number of tourist service vehicles to be granted CPCs.
The applicant must secure an indorsement from the Department of Tourism (DOT) for its application for a particular tourist transport service category listed in the circular.
The DOT indorsement must be forwarded to DOTC Planning for evaluation consistent with DOTC’s existing guidelines.
If approved, DOTC must forward the indorsement to the Board for franchise application.
The procedures and requirements are in addition to the requirements already enforced by the Board in applications for CPCs.
Extensions of validity of existing CPCs for tourist transport services are likewise covered by the circular’s added procedures and requirements.

All other Memorandum Circulars that are inconsistent with LTFRB Memorandum Circular No. 2003-001 are amended and/or repealed.