Still ‘more fun’ in PH despite post-pandemic effect, says tourism chief

by Jun Marcos Tadios, Manila Bulletin

With the constant recognition being given Philippine tourism as the top destination in Asia, Department of Tourism (DOT) Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco said on, Friday, Oct. 7, that the country was finally overcoming the post-pandemic upshot of the Covid-19 crisis.

Department of Tourism (DOT) Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco (Photo by DOT)

Frasco made her manifestation during the deliberation of the proposed P3.573-billion budget of the DOT and its attached agencies before the Senate Committee on Finance.

Frasco said they had presented the programs and plans of the DOT to transform the tourism industry into a significant economic pillar through institutional development.

She stated that this was envisioned as the department’s commitment to promoting the direction of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.

“We also presented that we are heralding the Filipino brand to the world by highlighting the best qualities of our country and the Filipino people,” said Frasco.

The DOT chief reiterated that they would continue to promote the country’s tourism capability despite the continuing adverse effect of the global pandemic on the tourism industry.

“While the promotion of the Philippines will not entirely change in the sense that we will continue to market that it is indeed more fun here, we are growing, we are evolving — as the entire world has post-pandemic — to introduce and highlight also the beauty of our culture, the substantial and immersive experience we can offer, and the strength of our identity as a nation,” Frasco uttered.

She thanked the Committee on Finance Subcommittee on Tourism, chaired by Senator Nancy Binay, and all the senators who supported their budget for the fiscal year 2023.

The DOT and its attached agencies and corporations have a total recommended budget amounting to P3.573 billion, which is 27.87 percent higher than this year’s appropriations.

The DOT’s proposed budget has been endorsed to Senate’s plenary for debate.

The Philippines has consistently been hailed as among the best tourist destinations in the world. The latest feat came from the 2022 World Travel Awards (WTA) in Vietnam which proclaimed the Philippines as Asia’s leading dive and beach destination, and Intramuros as Asia’s leading tourist attraction.