Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco lauded President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s directives and priorities outlined in his 4th State of the Nation Address (SONA), emphasizing their significant positive impact on the Philippine tourism industry.
Secretary Frasco highlighted the President’s commitment to enhancing the tourist experience through crucial infrastructure projects, which will benefit both local and international visitors. “The President’s dedication to addressing critical issues such as infrastructure development, climate change, and, most importantly, peace and security, will significantly bolster the collective aspirations of the tourism industry,” stated Secretary Frasco.
Sec. Frasco also expressed strong appreciation for the President’s support of burgeoning sectors like Halal tourism. “The DOT welcomes and appreciates the President’s support for thriving industries such as Halal, which we have also strongly promoted and developed in line with our thrust to diversify the country’s tourism portfolio,” Secretary Frasco added. This aligns with the DOT’s strategic initiative to expand the Philippines’ diverse tourism offerings.
“With internal tourism expenditures reaching ₱3.86 trillion in 2024, 13.12% higher than ₱3.41 trillion in 2023 and surpassing the 2019 levels, we take to heart the President’s call for the global community to invest in the Filipino, as this is crucial to the success of tourism,” Secretary Frasco emphasized.
In line with this, the DOT remains committed to cultivating a world-class tourism workforce. Through high-impact programs such as the Filipino Brand of Service Excellence (FBSE) and the Tourism Industry Skills Program (TISP), the Department has already trained over 358,000 tourism workers, ensuring exceptional service standards across the industry.
Secretary Frasco concluded by reaffirming tourism’s role in national development and employment generation. “As the President mentioned, the task ahead is to find opportunities for the remaining four percent of our labor force, and tourism stands ready to help meet that challenge.”
