President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has directed the Department of Tourism (DOT) to prioritize the creation of more tourism industry-related jobs, responding to the robust growth in both foreign and local tourist arrivals across the Philippines. The directive underscores the administration’s commitment to leveraging tourism as a key driver for economic development and employment.
During a post-State of the Nation Address (SONA) forum on Tuesday, Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco announced that the tourism sector generated an estimated PhP3.86 trillion in revenue last year from local and international tourists.
“The President’s directive is to further increase opportunities for tourism employment,” Secretary Frasco stated during the forum, which gathered Cabinet officials and agency heads at the Makabagong San Juan National Government Center.
Secretary Frasco expressed gratitude to President Marcos for acknowledging the significant contributions of the tourism industry to the national economy in his fourth State of the Nation Address delivered on Monday. “We thank President Marcos because, through his statement, we can show how important tourism is to our economy, as it provides jobs for our fellow Filipinos,” she added.
Citing data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), Secretary Frasco reported that approximately 6.75 million Filipinos are currently employed in tourism-related jobs. Furthermore, nearly 10 million more Filipinos benefit from indirect jobs and opportunities linked to local tourism. As a testament to its growing impact, the tourism industry contributed a substantial 8.9 percent to the country’s Gross Domestic Product in 2024.
The DOT continues its proactive efforts in human capital development, particularly through training programs in cooperation with partner agencies such as the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA). Secretary Frasco highlighted the success of the Filipino Brand of Service Excellence (FBSE) program, under which more than 322,000 individuals have already received specialized training. These initiatives aim to enhance the skills and professionalism of the tourism workforce, ensuring high-quality service for visitors.
The President’s directive reinforces the government’s vision for a thriving and inclusive tourism sector that creates sustainable livelihoods and contributes significantly to national prosperity.
