Department of Tourism (DOT) Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco emphasized the importance of government collaboration with the private sector.
Frasco stressed this as officers of the Federation of Filipino Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Inc. (FFCCCII), the umbrella organization of Filipino-Chinese business chambers in the Philippines, paid a courtesy visit at the DOT Central Office recently.
During the meeting, the tourism chief said well-respected and accomplished groups like FFCCCII will be able to serve the best interest of Philippine tourism.
“We are inspired by the work that you have done as individuals and collectively [as a group] to help us in our work of trying to ensure that the recovery of Philippine tourism is as robust as it can be at the soonest possible time.”
“We are inspired by the work that you have done as individuals and collectively [as a group] to help us in our work of trying to ensure that the recovery of Philippine tourism is as robust as it can be at the soonest possible time. We view with great importance our collaborations with the private sector,” the tourism head said.
“Tourism governance is one of our core objectives and we want to make sure that we continue to gain insights from our private stakeholders.”
“Under the National Tourism Development Plan approved by our President for the entirety of this term, tourism governance is one of our core objectives and we want to make sure that we continue to gain insights from our private stakeholders because we feel that it is only by listening to your insights and ideas that we would be able to first, visit government policies to understand whether or not there are needed revisions or changes; and on the regulatory side, to understand how we can collaborate with each other,” she added.
Among the significant points discussed during the meeting also include the importance of capturing the Chinese market as one of the top sources of inbound travelers, thus the push for e-visa reforms and rollout initiated by the DOT; establishment of new and continuing tourism roads that would foster further investment and employment among Filipinos; enhancement of the country’s main gateways; expansion of the Philippines’ cruise tourism portfolio; as well as the reopening of the entire Mindanao for tourism.
FFCCCII officers present during the meeting were Dr. Cecilio Pedro (President), Victor Lim (Executive Vice President), Michael Tan (Vice President), Jeffrey Ng (Vice President), Antonio Tan (Vice President and Board Member representing Bicol), Dr. Fernando Gan (Secretary General), and Atty. Peter Kho (External Affairs Committee Chairman).
DOT Undersecretaries Shahlimar Hofer Tamano and Verna Buensuceso also joined the Secretary during the meeting.
