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...
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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...
Department of Tourism Cancels Contract with Ad Firm Over Controversial ‘Love the Philippines’ Campaign
The Department of Tourism (DOT) in the Philippines has ended its contract with advertising firm DDB Philippines following controversy over the inclusion of stock footage from other countries in a promotional video for the new campaign, “Love the Philippines.” The DOT has not yet paid DDB for the rebranding and plans to review standards of...
DDB Philippines Apologizes for Use of Foreign Footage in ‘Love the Philippines’ Tourism Campaign
MANILA, Philippines — DDB Philippines, the advertising agency responsible for the recently launched “Love the Philippines” tourism campaign video, has apologized for its use of foreign stock footage. The campaign video, which replaced the previous “It’s More Fun in the Philippines” slogan, has been facing criticism on social media since its launch on June 27....
New ‘Love the Philippines’ Campaign Ignites Nationwide Support and Promises Enhanced Tourism Experience
Support for the newly launched “Love the Philippines” tourism campaign has been sweeping across the nation. The enhanced tourism campaign recently launched by the Philippines has seen a wave of public approval, with social listening tool Sprinklr registering 59.1 million positive reactions and 28.9 million emotions associated with happiness and appreciation within the first 24...