As the first-ever Department of Tourism (DOT) Secretary to set foot in the Province of Sulu, Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco received a full-honor welcome led by Sulu Province Governor Abdusakur Tan recently at the Sulu Provincial Capital.
“Actually, you (Secretary Frasco) are the first (to visit Sulu). We were visited by presidents and members of the cabinet in the past, but never by the Secretary of Tourism. Kayo lang po and bumisita dito sa amin. Ito, hindi namin makakalimutan, our gratitude is beyond words for us to express,” Tan said about his “adopted granddaughter” during her visit.
“Your coming here [conveys that] we’re open to the world, that the Province of Sulu is ready-very, very much ready-for tourism.”
“So, dapat marinig ito ng buong bayan, ng buong Pilipinas, na nandito si Secretary Frasco. Your coming here [conveys that] we’re open to the world, that the Province of Sulu is ready-very, very much ready-for tourism,” the governor continued.
During her visit, Frasco engaged with Tan and convened with the entire assembly of 19 municipal mayors of the province before witnessing a cultural showcase.
“I am immensely grateful and happy to find myself here in the beautiful province of Sulu, to see for myself that Sulu is ready for tourism under the able and visionary leadership of your Governor (Abdusakur Tan),” the tourism chief said.
“Kinakailangan talaga na dalhin natin yung benepisyo ng turismo sa lahat ng sulok ng Pilipinas. Kaya naman po, pumunta ako dito sa probinsya ng Sulu.”
“I’m very grateful to be here because iyong direktiba po ng ating Presidente, kinakailangan talaga na dalhin natin yung benepisyo ng turismo sa lahat ng sulok ng Pilipinas. Kaya naman po, pumunta ako dito sa probinsya ng Sulu,” the tourism head added.
She highlighted that tourism has emerged as one of the most robust pillars of our economy.
In 2022, it played a pivotal role by providing over 5.35 million jobs for our fellow Filipinos.
In terms of our gross domestic product, tourism contributed a substantial P1.87 trillion to our economy in 2022 while international visitor receipts alone are projected to contribute a noteworthy P482 billion to our economy in 2023.
