DOT's Proposed Budget Increase to Enhance Tourist Facilities and First Aid Stations

The Department of Tourism (DOT) is gearing up to enhance tourism infrastructure with an proposed budget increase, shared Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco during a House Committee on Appropriations hearing on the proposed 2025 budget.

Lawmakers are advocating for a budget elevation, stressing the tourism sector’s significant contribution of 8.6% to the country’s GDP in 2023.

Representative Mohamad Khalid Dimaporo of Lanao Del Norte 1st District is advocating to restore the DOT budget to pre-pandemic levels, if not reaching P4 billion.

Frasco expressed gratitude for the legislators’ support, emphasizing the importance of expanding tourism opportunities through infrastructural enhancements, tourist rest areas, tourist first aid facilities, and global promotional campaigns showcasing the Philippines’ rich culture and destinations.

“‘Yong mga projects natin are not centralized in any destination alone but seeks to expand tourism opportunities as far as possible. What we intend to do is to continue the successful programs that have been instituted by the Department of Tourism such as infrastructure interventions for our tourist rest areas, our forthcoming tourist first aid facilities, our continuous global and domestic promotional campaigns that highlight both our award-winning destinations and our emerging destinations and most importantly, ‘yong pagpapakilala sa mundo sa ganda ng kultura ng Pilipinas,” Frasco said.

Frasco highlighted the collaboration with the private sector to boost tourism products and packages. Amidst challenges in international tourist arrivals, DOT aims to attract 7.7 million tourists in 2024, with 3.8 million international tourist arrivals recorded in the first half of the year.

“7.7 million is a moving target in the sense that achieving the same is a composite of so many factors including increased connectivity, availability of accommodations, and all external factors like geopolitical issues that we have little control of as far as DOT is concerned. Yes, it is achievable although we are very pragmatic in terms of dealing with present challenges in terms of accessibility and other factors concerned,” she added.

Frasco remains optimistic about achieving the target, citing the anticipated full recovery of inbound flights and government interventions like the electronic visa system to facilitate arrivals.

“We recognize if there are headwinds that continue to pose challenges in terms of arrivals especially when it comes to our visa policies. We are grateful to our president for prioritizing the electronic visa system which we hope to see very soon,” Frasco emphasized.

Secretary Frasco anticipates that the approval of Value Added Tax (VAT) refund will stimulate shopping tourism, benefiting local brands, retailers, and franchises.

The Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) underscores the synergy between trade and tourism in driving economic growth, recognizing the ripple effects of tourism on various sectors.

PCCI President Enunina Mangio emphasizes the broad impact of tourism on businesses across different scales, underscoring the need to support the tourism sector for overall economic prosperity.

“When we have tourists in the country, the benefits brings from people down below – tricycle drivers, boat operators, up to the biggest entrepreneurs because you have hotels, you have the restaurants… So we fell na kailangan nating suportahan ang ating tourism,” Mangio said.

With 6.21 million Filipinos employed in tourism, PCCI advocates for equipping the workforce with digital skills to navigate the evolving digital economy, viewing e-commerce as a key driver for sustainable growth.

Proposed budget increase: Prioritizing Safety with the Launch of Tourist First Aid Facilities

As the Department of Tourism (DOT) seeks a proposed budget increase to enhance tourism facilities and safety standards, the recent collaboration with the Department of Health (DOH) and the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA) to establish the country’s first Tourist First Aid Facilities signifies a significant stride towards prioritizing tourist safety and well-being in the Philippines’ diverse travel destinations.

This strategic partnership, highlighted by the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on July 29, 2024 by key officials, underscores the government’s dedication to ensuring the well-being of travelers across diverse destinations.

As tourism continues to thrive and evolve, these collaborative initiatives pave the way for a safer and more resilient tourism landscape in the Philippines.