Marcos approves measures to boost PH tourism

INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines – The Department of Tourism (DOT) on Saturday welcomed President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s approval of measures aimed at enhancing the Philippine tourism industry.

The Private Sector Advisory Council (PSAC) meeting chaired by Marcos and attended by Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco, other members of the Cabinet, and members of PSAC had earlier discussed ways to boost the industry, including the easing of visa policies.

“The DOT welcomes support for its advocacy since the beginning of the Marcos administration to liberalize visa policies coming into and staying in the Philippines, especially that this is one of the biggest hurdles towards attracting international visitors, and is a competitive edge that nearly all of our ASEAN neighbors have already implemented,” Frasco said.

“The Philippines needs to be able to run an electronic visa system that removes inconvenience and favors ease of access, with the right security measures in place,” she added.

Frasco noted that visa hurdles have “heavily affected and continue to be one of the biggest challenges” in achieving the country’s international arrival targets.

She also welcomed Marcos’ support for extending the length of stay for AJACS (American, Japanese, Australian, Canadian, and Schengen countries) and AJACSSUK (American, Japanese, Australian, Canadian, Schengen countries, Singapore, and United Kingdom) visa holders from seven to 30 days.

“[This] will increase tourism spending and redound to the benefit of our local businesses and tourism stakeholders with more revenues spent at our destinations,” she added.

In July, the DOT welcomed a significant step toward visa liberalization with the launch of the Cruise Visa Waiver Program.

This collaboration between the DOT, the Bureau of Immigration, and the Department of Justice, is expected to significantly boost international cruise tourism arrivals to the country.

The DOT welcomed the chief executive’s directive to introduce technological innovations and digitalization in the processes of the BI, incorporating biometric technologies such as facial recognition and fingerprint scanning to streamline arrivals and departures.

“The Department of Tourism is steadfast in its commitment to advancing the President’s vision for a dynamic tourism sector that fosters growth, creates jobs, and generates opportunities for all Filipinos. We also thank the PSAC for working with us to push for tourism-oriented policies that will increase the global competitiveness of the Philippines,” Frasco said.

“We remain deeply committed to strengthening our tourism sector, in line with the President’s long-term vision for a thriving and inclusive economy. Together with our partners in government and the private sector, we will continue to champion the Philippines as a leading destination, offering rich experiences that benefit both visitors and the Filipino people,” she added.