Tourism to remain a key driver in GDP growth

by Info @Brand Zone | October 10, 2023

The Department of Tourism (DOT) welcomes insights from a joint report by economists from First Metro Investment Corp. and the University of Asia and the Pacific that foreign and domestic tourism are expected to drive trade, transportation, storage, accommodations, and food services in the last quarter of this year.

Boosted by the tourism industry, the service sector is expected to grow through elevated national government spending. Expansion across industries will be led by manufacturing, economists said.

“Tourism has also been a major driver of our economy, and we are happy to hear that our efforts continue to be valued as a key player in our growth as a nation,” says Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco.

“Under the administration of President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr., the DOT will continue to carry out initiatives under the National Tourism Development Plan (NTDP) 2023-2028 that will push this growth further and allow the tourism industry to meet our target of 4.8 million arrivals by the end of 2023,” she added.

The NTDP has also recognized domestic travel as an underappreciated yet major driver of tourism in the country, positioning it as a key driver in the growth of local communities, whether through employment, business, cultural exchange, or infrastructure development.

To further boost domestic and foreign tourism, the DOT, under the leadership of Secretary Frasco, has spearheaded initiatives like the construction of Tourist Rest Areas (TRAs) all over the country; the first Philippine Hop On Hop Off Bus Tours; enhancement of interiors of NAIA terminal 2; the first Tourist Call Center in the country; the first Philippine Tourism Dive Dialogue (PTDD); the Philippine Experience: Culture, Heritage, and Arts Caravans; fully opening up Mindanao to tourism; and partnerships with the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), Department of Transportation (DOTr), and Department of National Defense (DND), among others.

The Tourism Secretary shared the good news that there have been 4,066,741 international visitor arrivals recorded as of October 3, 2023, bringing in over Php 344 billion to the economy. The gains from the tourism industry, as well as the expected increase in arrivals by Q4, are expected to help the Philippines remain one of the most resilient and fastest-growing economies in the region.

“As we continue to pursue tourism that is anchored on our strength as a warm and hospitable people, by showing our visitors the multitude of reasons to Love the Philippines, and by espousing inclusivity and sustainability in our plans and programs to ensure that no one gets left behind in our path to recovery, we only see these numbers growing in the coming months,” she added.

DOT holds 1st Tourism Pride Summit

by Info @Brand Zone | September 30, 2023

The Department of Tourism (DOT) held the first-ever Tourism Pride Summit in line with the inclusive development thrust of the administration of President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr.

The Summit held at the Makati Shangri-La Hotel on September 28, 2023 gathered leading figures from the government, academe, tourism, and the LGBTQIA+ community, highlighting how government investment toward this niche market that spends around $200 billion a year can contribute significantly to the growth and development of Philippine tourism. Panel discussions are slated for promoting an inclusive and progressive tourism industry, expanding opportunities through benchmarking successful pride tourism initiatives of other countries, and the role of the creative industry in developing the LGBTQIA+ tourism market, which is projected to reach over $.5 trillion by 2030.

Secretary Frasco led the series of panel discussions, where she was joined by Congressman Christopher “Toff” de Venecia of the Fourth District of Pangasinan; Ronil Villacorta of the Philippine Financial and Inter-Industry Pride (PFIP); Regine Carmelli Reyes of the Philippine Commission on Women (PCW); Atty. Regal Oliva, President of Cebu Lady Lawyers Association Inc.; Girly Gravador, owner of Cygnal Travel; and Assistant Professor Rielle Alcantara-Castro of the Asian Institute of Tourism, University of the Philippines Diliman.

Also discussed were the unique challenges faced by LGBTQIA+ professionals and advocating for workplace and gender and development inclusivity; the unique experiences of LGBTQIA+ individuals and how their travel stories can enrich the DOT’s mission to create an all-encompassing, secure, and forward-looking tourism industry; LGBTQIA+ trends as a niche market in tourism; educational programs that incorporate LGBTQIA+ awareness and sensitivity training; and policies that harness the power of tourism to promote understanding, respect, and acceptance of LGBTQIA+ travelers and tourism workers, making destinations more inviting for everyone.

”We at the Department of Tourism take pride in the enormous contributions of the LGBTQIA+ community across the tourism value chain in all of the regions of the Philippines. With the very first Tourism Pride Summit, we are responding to global trends that present massive opportunities for growth by pursuing niche markets that will create more jobs in tourism,” said Secretary Frasco.

Para walang gulo.. "WOW, It's More Fun! Love, The Philippines!" na lang — Sen. Lapid

ni Mylene Alfonso | July 7, 2023

Inirekomenda ni Senador Lito Lapid sa Department of Tourism na maaaring gamiting bagong tourism slogan ang “WOW, It’s more fun! Love, the Philippines!”.

Ito ang ibinigay na suhestiyon ni Lapid sa gitna ng kontrobersiya na nilikha ng bagong "Love the Philippines" campaign slogan ng DOT na sa kanyang palagay ay maaaring

magtuldok sa kontrobersiya.

Nabatid na ito ay ang pinagsama-samang dating slogan ng DOT ng bansa kung saan ang “Wow Philippines” na sumikat din noon ay kay dating Tourism Sec. Dick Gordon, ang “It’s more fun in the Philippines” kina dating Tourism Secs. Ramon Jimenez ar Bernadette Romulo-Puyat at ang bagong slogan na “Love the Philippines” kay Tourism Sec. Christina Frasco.

Naniniwala ang senador na kapag pinag-isa ang mga nabanggit na slogan ay mas lalakas pa ang turismo sa Pilipinas.

Kaugnay nito, idinepensa ni Lapid si Frasco sa mga batikos matapos lumabas ang kontrobersyal na promotional video na mga stock footages mula sa ibang bansa at hindi sa Pilipinas.

"Wala po akong nakitang malisya o layuning manloko ng mga tao lalo na kung titingnan natin ito na para lamang sa mga opisyal ng DOT at iba pang “internal stakeholder” at hindi pa pampubliko," wika ni Lapid.

"Hindi pa po nagagawa ang aktuwal na patalastas na gagamitin sa kampanya," dagdag pa ng senador.