MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Monday welcomed to Malacañang Palace 292 tourists from the 2023 Very Important Pinoy (VIP) Tour.
On the 15th iteration of the VIP Tour, Marcos thanked the visitors and told them about tourism’s role in the nation’s economy.
“It’s become a more extensive program in the sense that we have put a great deal of priority on our tourism and our investment not only in the Philippines but also abroad, and so this plays for me, in my view, this plays a part in our transformation of our economy, tourism plays a very large part of that,” said Marcos during his address to the VIPs.
Formerly known as the Ambassadors, Consuls General, and Tourism Directors Tour, the Philippine Embassy and Consulates General project in the United States welcomed both American and Filipino-American tourists to the country.
According to Marcos, the country’s reputation relies not just on Filipinos who are in the country but on those who are scattered around the world.
“We thank our Filipino brothers and sisters who live abroad and continue to make the name of the Philippines shiny and a good reputation that you have gained over so many years that you have worked abroad, and now we’d like you for you to come and see that there is also good work being done here back home,” said Marcos.
After touring Manila, the VIPs will visit key tourist locations such as Iloilo and Boracay.