Department of Tourism (DOT) Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco engaged in a bilateral meeting with Republic of Korea Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (MCST) Minister Yu In Chon at the Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art (MMCA) in Seoul, South Korea, ahead of the Seoul International Travel Fair (SITF).
During the meeting, the two ministers expressed intent to continue the enduring connection and partnership between Filipinos and Koreans, as far as tourism exchange is concerned.
“Our longstanding relations that spanned 75 years this year, is one that our government deeply cherishes and appreciates.”
“Your Excellency, thank you for the privilege and the honor of paying this courtesy visit on you. We in the Philippines love Korea. Our longstanding relations that spanned 75 years this year, is one that our government deeply cherishes and appreciates. We greatly value our visitors from Korea, especially since the Koreans are our number one source market for the Philippines, with over 1,450,858 Koreans visiting the Philippines in 2023. As of April this year, we have already received over 571,384 Koreans to the country which gives us great hope and optimism that the numbers that we accomplished in 2019, we will be able to exceed this year,” Frasco said, as she extended her gratitude for the love and robust interest that Korean tourists have shown for Philippine tourism, particularly for tourism products such as English as a Second Language (ESL), sun and beach, nature-based sites across destinations including Bicol, Bohol, Cebu, and Palawan, among others.
To date, Korea remains the top source market of the Philippines for visitor arrivals. In 2019 alone, arrivals from Korea tallied 1,982,322, constituting a 24.08 percent share of arrivals.
Yu replied with much enthusiasm, noting the popularity of the Philippines as a destination among Korean tourists, even sharing his personal experience of visiting the country during his first term as Minister of the MCST.
“We would like to accommodate tourists from the Philippines and we would also like to facilitate their convenience in traveling to Korea, such as entering Korea, visas, and other conveniences.”
“I also agree with you, Your Excellency, it’s a very good opinion. We want to continue our partnership with the Philippines and, historically, our relationship-we have stayed very close. While there are a lot of Koreans visiting the Philippines such as, you have mentioned, Cebu, on our side we would like to accommodate tourists from the Philippines and we would also like to facilitate their convenience in traveling to Korea, such as entering Korea, visas, and other conveniences. We would like to support their convenient travel,” the MCST Minister replied.
As the Philippines and Korea continue its longstanding friendship and cooperation, Frasco and Yu expressed their strong desire to advance mutual tourism development between the two countries, as signified by the proposed signing of a new implementation program of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on Tourism Cooperation for the period 2024-2029, that will likewise pave the way to new collaborations in other related sectors, including culture, sports, and the arts.
Also present during the high-level meeting were other MCST officials, International Tourism Division Director Lee Herim, International Tourism Division Deputy Director Park Dongeun, and International Tourism Division Assistant Director Kim Hyuna.
Meanwhile, Philippine Ambassador to Korea Maria Theresa Dizon-De Vega, Deputy Speaker Duke Frasco, OIC-Undersecretary Verna Buensuceso, Assistant Secretary Rica Bueno, DOT Korea Director Maria Apo, and DOT International Relations Division Chief Alex Macatuno joined the Philippine delegation.
