Established when communications within the Philippines were difficult, the company saw an opportunity to provide the
basic services that tourists need such as postal, telecom
& fax services; foreign exchange; safety
deposit boxes; booking island accommodation, domestic
and international flights. These services became instant hits, not only with tourists, but with the local
community as well. A year after the launch a Fuji film developing center
was added together with a souvenir & boutique
shop and a grocery store selling specially imported goods to further expand
its provision of service.
Development and Expansion
The company has come a long way in the years since these humble beginnings. It is now popularly called The
Tourist Center (TCC) and has expanded to become fully operational in Boracay,
Makati, Sabang, Bohol
and Angeles. TCC Is manned by professional and experienced staff and provides
extensive services to tourists, local establishments, and the corresponding communities.
Also, the accommodation and air ticketing department has grown to become a company in its own right; The
Filipino Travel Center (FTC) which is now the biggest wholesaler and reseller of domestic tickets within the Philippines,
specifically for Asian Spirit and Sea
Air.
In 2001, TCC introduced the Internet Center at Boracay. Originally
a ten station Internet cafe which has been enhanced and upgraded year on year. Today, customers can enjoy the
fastest speed connection in the island for e-mails, chats, web surfing, games and downloads. Current specification
includes 16 workstations with IBM PC’s and Samsung Flat Screen LCD monitors. With a 256kbps link provided by
Innove and powered by GlobeQuest DSL, and 24-hour generator support, it is not surprising that the Internet Center
gets an average of 150 to 200 visitors daily. In 2004 a similarly equipped new Internet center with 10 workstations
and 128kbps link was opened at Tourist Center-Bohol.
TCC additionally extended its services by creating a payment processing facility to acquire credit card payments from more than
a thousand resorts and establishments across the Philippines.
Credit Card Payment Facilities
As an essential factor in developing its services, TCC brought in communication systems with networks initially from
PLDT and more recently Innove / Globe communications. This network has been expanded over the years to cover
all TCC branches, thus creating a secure national infrastructure. Banks were keen to exploit this infrastructure
together with TCC’s network of staff, offices and communications to enhance their own credit
card acquiring businesses. Therefore, banks offered contracts to TCC to commence credit card acquiring on
their behalf. Indeed TCC has been serving as an aggregator for the banks, providing high quality levels of credit
card acquiring service to businesses, often in remoter locations, where the banks are unable to provide services themselves.
Birth of Payment Processing Corporation
Just as TCC’s travel department gave birth to FTC, the credit card acquiring services gave birth to Payment
Processing Corporation (PPC). Credit card operations are currently provided by both TCC and PPC. The
same experienced team provides the service irrespective of which of the two businesses are performing the acquiring.
Banks that contract its services are slowly changing their contracts to reflect PPC instead of the historical
TCC. So whilst PPC acquires credit card transactions for some Banks, other banks are still contracting the pioneer
company; TCC. But you; the merchant, are assured of the same high level of service whichever contact is offered
to you.
Our Mission and Vision
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