Department of Tourism (DOT) Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco met with Cebu tour guides at the Oakridge Executive Club, underscoring their indispensable role in the Philippine tourism industry’s remarkable growth and success.
Speaking before an audience of around 70 tour guides, Frasco highlighted the tourism sector’s extraordinary achievements, citing its ₱3.36 trillion contribution to the economy, an 8.6% share of the GDP, and its role in providing employment to 6.21 million Filipinos.
She also discussed the DOT’s advocacy for a broader measure of tourism employment through the Philippine Statistics Authority and the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA).
“Tourism-related employment has reached over 16 million Filipinos—nearly 35% of the nation’s total employment for the first quarter of 2024.”
Sharing recent Labor Force Survey findings, Frasco noted that tourism-related employment has reached over 16 million Filipinos—nearly 35% of the nation’s total employment for the first quarter of 2024.
“These milestones are made possible by everyone who forms part of the tourism value chain,” she said, emphasizing that “it is only by having this wide view of tourism that we can truly honor those that contribute to its success.”
Recognizing tour guides as vital frontliners who warmly welcome and inspire tourists to return to the Philippines, Frasco personally led the distribution of tour guiding essentials and free one-year accident insurance worth ₱50,000 per guide, funded directly from her personal account.
“You have been our steadfast partners in building a tourism industry that contributes to our economy, inspires nation-building, and most importantly, engenders love of country.”
“You have been our steadfast partners in building a tourism industry that contributes to our economy, inspires nation-building, and most importantly, engenders love of country,” she said.
“We have embarked on a global campaign for the world to love the Philippines. It behooves us to ensure that love starts at home: love for our country, love for the Philippines, love for those who continue to champion Philippine tourism—our very own tour guides,” Frasco added.
Mary Grace Melendes, Vice President of the Cebu Association of Tour Guides and a pioneer guide of Suroy-Suroy Sugbo, expressed her heartfelt gratitude on behalf of the tour guides. “Grabe ang among kaproud. This is my chance and opportunity to say thank you for all the good things that you have done to our country. And ang imong pagmahal nga imong gihatag sa tibuok Pilipinas just for two years, grabe ang naabot sa Department of Tourism,” she said.
Melendes, a tour guide for 25 years, noted, “This is the first time that a Secretary reached out to all the tour guides in the Philippines.”
Also present at the event were DOT Undersecretary Ferdinand Jumapao and DOT-7 Regional Director Judy Gabato.
