Tourism generated P344 billion in foreign visitor receipts in the first nine months of 2023.
Christina Garcia Frasco, secretary of the Department of Tourism (DOT) said at the Senate hearing on Wednesday tourist arrivals hit 4 million as of September, or 85 percent of the agency’s target for the year.
Frasco lobbied for the support of the senators in sustaining the industry’s gains by reconsidering its budget under the 2024 National Expenditure Program (NEP) for the DOT.
The NEP consists of an allocation of P2.99 billion, a 20 percent decline from the 2023 General Appropriations Act of P 3.7 billion, and indicates a lower budget for almost all of the department’s operating units under the Office of the Secretary.
“The DOT therefore appeals for a reevaluation of the budget, as well as the necessary resources to effectively fulfill its mandate, especially since we all know how crucial the tourism sector is to our economy that employs millions of Filipinos,” Frasco said.
The DOT’s projects in the pipeline include the continuation of tourism roads and infrastructure projects under the Department of Public Works and Highways convergence, enhancement of tourist experience through the Travel Philippines application, development of its Disaster Risk Reduction Management operations manual, the establishment of Tourist Emergency Centers and more Tourist Rest Areas, introduction of programs to support the creative industries, and further develop of tourism products such as farm, halal, health and wellness, MICE, pilgrimage and heritage, sports including surfing and golf, tourism, as well as offer tourism scholarships, among others.
