The Department of Tourism (DOT) completely agrees with the views expressed by the European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (ECCP) that the country needs to improve its infrastructure by air, land or sea, as well as its digital connectivity to boost tourism, DOT Secretary Christina Frasco said.
In a forum hosted by ECCP in Makati City on Wednesday, Frasco said the DOT, as part of its convergence program, is working with the Department of Transportation (DOTr) to improve air infrastructure, given that 99 percent of international tourists in the Philippines use air travel to visit domestic destinations.
She said the government has been encouraging investors to avail of the public-private partnership mechanism to generate investments in air infrastructure, citing recent privatization of the NAIA as well as the airports in Bohol, Iloilo, Bicol and Laguindingan.
Frasco said the DOT is aggressive in its advocacy to build and rehabilitate roads to enhance connectivity outside tourism gems.
Its convergence with the Department of Public Works and Highways has resulted in the construction of 700 kilometers of new roads since 2022, she added.
The DOT, she said, is inviting foreign and domestic investors for marine transportation projects.
Frasco said the DOT has an ongoing partnership with the Philippine Ports Authority to expand cruise terminals across the 14 island destinations. This initiative has so far built five new cruise tourism ports including in Currimao in Ilocos Norte, Salomague in Ilocos Sur, Manila, Bohol, and El Nido in Palawan.
On digital connectivity, the DOT said it has partnered with the Department of Information and Communications Technology to improve internet connectivity in 94 identified tourist destinations across the country, and digitalize tourism services nationwide.
