At the Post-SONA Philippine Economic Briefing (PEB) held recently at the Marco Polo Plaza Cebu, Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco also provided an overview of the Department of Tourism’s (DOT) strategies to sustain the tourism industry’s momentum under the Marcos Administration.
In Central Visayas, where combined international and domestic visitor arrivals have already reached 2.2 million as of June 30, the DOT, according to Frasco, is further developing the country’s tourism portfolio, including the English as Second Language (ESL), which is seen as a big come-on specially for non-english speaking markets.
Meanwhile, MICE, golf, as well as health and wellness are also being developed as these are seen as bright spots for tourism in the region, according to the tourism chief.
Another positive development is the exponential increase in connectivity with the additional international flights to and from the Mactan Cebu International Airport (MCIA), now at 195 flights as of August 10, or a growth rate of 315 percent from the same period last year.
Cebu ranks number one in terms of most preferred destination among overnight travelers.
Based on the DOT’s latest nationwide survey for 2023, Cebu ranks number one in terms of most preferred destination among overnight travelers.
Frasco also announced the more Tourist Rest Areas (TRAs), in addition to the ones already being constructed in Dauis, Bohol, and in the Municipalities of Carcar, Carmen, and Moalboal. Recently, the TRA in Medellin was inaugurated and turned over to the local government units.
“The DOT intends to develop the region as a cruise tourism hub.”
Further, the tourism chief also signified the DOT’s strong intent to develop the region as a cruise tourism hub. This year, four cruise ships are expected to make a port of call in various islands in Central Visayas “with much room to grow.”
In keeping with its commitment to sustainability, the DOT has lined up sustainable tourism development projects for the country’s key and emerging destinations, Bohol, Siquijor, and Siargao Island.
The tourism head likewise maintained confidence in the Philippines industry’s ability to bounce back sooner under the leadership of the President and partnership of stakeholders.
“We anticipate that with the policies supporting tourism under the Marcos administration, the convergences that we have had under our President’s whole-of-nation approach towards tourism development, and most importantly, our private sector’s partnership, collaboration, continued investment, and belief in the strength of the tourism industry, will allow us to adopt and occupy a more primary position in Asia and recover sooner than what is predicted. Cebu, Central Visayas, and the rest of the Philippines will exceed all expectations because there are just so many reasons to love the Philippines,” she stressed.
Referring to Central Visayas as a “treasure trove of dive destinations”, Frasco also pointed out the need to further support diving in the region, and announced the DOT’s upcoming Tourism Dive Dialogue.
“Recognizing the huge contribution of diving in Central Visayas, the Marcos administration has seen it fit to hold the very first Tourism Dive Dialogue this September here in Cebu, to consolidate all the efforts of the national government, the local governments, as well as the private sector to be able to ensure that policies and programs will fully support the full expansion of dive tourism here in Central Visayas,” she stressed.
The DOT through its infrastructure arm, the Tourism Infrastructure Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA), also eyes the installation of hyperbaric chambers in key dive sites, including in Dumaguete, and in Daanbantayan in Cebu in 2024.
