VISUAL DELIGHT Apo Island boasts of vibrant coral reefs teeming with marine life that delight divers worldwide. —PHOTO COURTESY OF DIVE7 DOT-CENTRAL VISAYAS
MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Tourism (DOT) has established a new framework to rebuild the country’s tourism industry, stated tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco.
During the Philippine Economic Briefing (PEB) on Thursday in the United States, Frasco outlined the DOT’s agenda and strategies, emphasizing connectivity, convenience, and equality.
Frasco said they would create more tourist rest areas as part of these efforts.
“We plan to address the most basic aspect of travel across the Philippines: clean restrooms. I’m very pleased to inform you that in the first week of October, under the directive of the President, we are breaking ground on no less than ten tourist rest areas across the Philippines,” said Frasco.
According to the DOT’s statement, the project will introduce tourist rest areas across the three island groups in the Philippines, with three in Luzon, five in the Visayas, and two in Mindanao.
“These tourist rest areas will have clean and decent restrooms for our tourists, a lounge for them to rest in, complete information on tourist destinations, as well as pasalubong centers for them to be able to purchase local products and delicacies,” Frasco stated.
The DOT will also partner with the Department of Communications, Information, and Technology to establish wifi spots in tourist destinations, added Frasco.
Frasco also assured their commitment to the security and safety of tourists as it partners with the Department of National Defense and the Department of Interior and Local Government.
“The President has clearly identified tourism as a major tool for the economic resurgence of the Philippines,” stated Farsco at the forum.
President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. included the role of tourism as a driver of job growth and a thriving economy in his keynote speech delivered at the forum.
“We will also reinvigorate the tourism sector by investing in travel infrastructure and the promotion of the Filipino brand. With the Department of Tourism leading our efforts to revitalize both domestic and foreign tourism, we will ensure the safe reopening of tourist destinations and develop the Philippines’ yet to be discovered attractions,” remarked the President during his speech.
The PEB was held on September 22 to encourage businesses from the US and other nations to invest in the Philippines to become an upper-middle-income economy by 2024. –Trisha Manalaysay, Inquirer.net trainee