Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco highlights the progress in the Philippine tourism sector during the first year of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s tenure, as she presents optimistic targets for 2023. The Department of Tourism (DOT) outlined key milestones contributing to economic growth and transforming the country into an Asian tourism hub. President Marcos’s prioritization...
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Philippines, Cebu, and Palawan are making a splash in the International Travel Awards
The Philippines, a dazzling gem in the Southeast Asian archipelago, has caught the eye of the United Kingdom’s oldest and most influential travel magazine. This year, the country has notched up several prestigious nominations in the annual Wanderlust Reader Travel Awards, often considered the ‘Oscars’ of the travel industry. In a triumphant hat trick, the...
United Airlines Commences Direct Manila-San Francisco Flights in October
United Airlines has announced its plan to introduce daily nonstop flights from Manila to San Francisco, starting October 30, 2023. This initiative marks the first-ever trans-Pacific service from Manila since the airline began its Manila operations in 1982. The launch is a response to the rising demand from customers on both sides of the Pacific....
Philippines Hits 3 Million International Arrivals, Records Tourism Receipt Surge in First Half of 2023
MANILA , Philippines—As of July 19, 2023, the Philippines has marked a significant milestone, recording three million international arrivals since the start of the year, according to the Department of Tourism (DOT). The robust recovery of the tourism sector is evident with the majority of these visitors, 2,740,802 or 91.36 percent, being foreign tourists and...
Ninoy Aquino International Airport Reinstates Mandatory Shoe Removal Policy
MANILA, Philippines – As of July 10, 2023, passengers departing from Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) for overseas destinations are once again mandated to remove their shoes for security inspection, reviving a policy more than two decades old. This comes in the wake of an announcement made by the Office of Transportation Security (OTS) spokesperson,...
Boracay Graces Top 10 in the ‘Favorite Islands in the World 2023’ by Travel + Leisure
Boracay, the Philippines’ gem of the sea, has made its mark once again on the international stage by landing the 10th spot in Travel + Leisure’s “Favorite Islands in the World 2023” list. Despite stiff competition from destinations like Australia’s Great Barrier Reef Islands and the Maldives, Boracay managed to maintain its place in the...
Inauguration of First Tourist Rest Area Marks a Milestone for Philippine Tourism
The Department of Tourism (DOT) Secretary, Christina Garcia Frasco, opened the first Tourist Rest Area (TRA) in Medellin, Cebu on July 10, marking it as the maiden completion from the first set of 10 TRAs initiated last year. The TRA, endorsed by President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr., serves as an information hub about tourism attractions,...
Unwavering Support for DOT Secretary Frasco: Leaders, Stakeholders Rally Behind Philippine Tourism Resurgence
Philippine Department of Tourism (DOT) Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco remains committed to reigniting the country’s tourism sector post-pandemic, with the backing of President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. The President stated his unwavering trust and confidence in Frasco on July 7th, noting that he is impressed with her swift actions in reviewing and terminating questionable contracts....
Philippines Unveils First-Ever Hop-On, Hop-Off Bus Tour Program to Boost Manila’s Cultural Tourism
Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco unveiled the Department of Tourism’s (DOT) first-ever hop-on, hop-off (HOHO) bus tour program, the Philippines HOHO, in Manila on 6th July. This tour will showcase Manila’s “Cultural Hub,” extending to Makati’s “Financial Hub” which was launched on 28th May. Frasco emphasized that the program aligns with the President’s vision of...
Despite Criticism and International Flak, DOT Insists on Retaining ‘Love the Philippines’ Tourism Slogan
Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco announced on Wednesday that the Department of Tourism (DOT) will continue using its new slogan “Love the Philippines,” despite the criticism received for a promotional video which used foreign stock footage. This confirmation came during the 2022 Philippine Tourism Satellite Accounts and Tourism Statistics Dissemination Forum when Frasco was asked about...