Tourism updates

The Department of Tourism reports that the Philippines was hailed as Asia's Best Cruise Destination in 2023 at the World Cruise Awards held in Dubai, United Arab Emirates the first time the country received this recognition.

Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco considers the recognition as a "big win" for Philippine tourism.

She says "it reflects a resounding global preference for our island destinations."

This notable achievement marks the first time the philippines has received this recognition, building the countrys reputation as an emerging powerhouse in the global cruise and tourism sector.

The World Cruise Awards recognizes outstanding contributions to the cruise industry worldwide. — Rosette Adel

The Department of Tourism joints the celebration of Tawi-Tawi's 50th founding anniversary.

During which, Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco meets with the local tour guides from the region.

"We are grateful for our tour guides, for we know that despite all the hardships and difficulties faced by our country, by this region and by your province in these many years, you have continued to tell the Filipino story with love," the tourism chief says.

The DOT reports that Frasco showed her support by providing them with tour guiding kits which included a hat, an electronic lapel microphone, sunblock, bamboo tumbler, bamboo sunglasses, and a journal. This was personally distributed to a group of 16 local tour guides.

Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco is in Macao Special Administrative Region to share the Philippine government's sustainable tourism efforts.

She joins tourism leaders from across the board as she is one of the panalists at the edition of the Global Tourism Economy Forum (GTEF) being held in Macao on Friday.

Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco says that the country’s historic hosting of a sporting event as big as the FIBA World Cup 2023 brought favorable developments to the tourism industry, particularly the accommodation sector.

She says that there was an uptick in occupancy rates throughout the tournament duration. 

DOT reports that all nine FIBA official hotels in the National Capital Region where most of the FIBA official venues were located saw a higher average hotel occupancy from August 25 to September 12.

The Nayong Pilipino Foundation conducts flagship training program in Iloilo City.

Around 40 individuals from the tourism workforce representing the Department of Tourism’s (DOT) regional offices led by DOT-Regional Director Crisanta Marlene “Krisma” Rodriguez, and from local government units join the intensive cultural formation and heritage interpretation training using the NPF’s Cultural Leadership Institute pedagogy.

The three-day workshop is part of the DOT's "Philippines Experience Program."

The Department of Tourism reports that FIBA coaches from Team Italy enjoyed a bit of a downtime from the action-packed FIBA World Cup 2023 games as they explored Manila's tourism gems aboard the Philippines Hop-On Hop-Off (HOHO) Bus.

The HOHO tour was temporarily suspended on Sunday to pave way for this private tour.

According to DOT, the coaches met and shot some hoops with young basketball fans playing on the streets while touring Intramuros, Manila.

Philippines' Hop-On Hop-Off tour will resume on Monday after it was canceled due to an exclusive tour event taking place.

In a statement, the organizers of the tour apologize for the inconvenience the cancelation has caused.

"If you have pre-booked tickets for today's tour, please reach out to our customer service team to discuss rescheduling options," it says.

The Department of Tourism (DOT) says it is joining the nation in honoring and remembering our National Heroes, "whose patriotism, courage, and sacrifice have shaped the course of our history towards the democracies we enjoy today as a nation."

To honor the National Heroes Day, the DOT encourages public to rediscover our heritage from the hallowed grounds of Rizal Park, to the forts, ancestral homes, and shrines in islands and provinces across the Philippines

"As we remember the legacy of our National Heroes, we also celebrate the beauty and diversity of our nation's landscapes, traditions, and people forever shaped by our Heroes’ bravery, allowing us to carve the Filipino identity," Tourism Secretary Cristina Frasco says.

"To honor our National Heroes is to remember that it was their deep love of country that inspired the patriotism that shaped our nation. May this enkindle gratitude and remembrance in our fellow Filipinos that for all its beauty, diversity, people, culture, and history, there are just so many reasons to Love the Philippines," she adds.

Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco reports that the country recorded P268 billion tourism receipts from January to July.

Frasco says the figure "is consistent with the over 66% tourism international arrivals recovery of the country being higher than the average ASEAN growth of 54%,  based on the second UNWTO World Tourism Barometer on the Recovery by Region in Q1 2023."

The Department of Tourism reports that inbound tourism receipts from January 1 to June 30, 2023, have increased to P212,467,522,100.14.

This is 502.02% higher than the P35,292,495,457.14 tourism revenue generated from the same period last year. 

The Department of Tourism says Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco's vacation leave was filed ahead of the "Love the Philippines" controversy.

It says that the leave was filed and approved in May this year. It has also been received by the president during that period.

The agency has yet to comment on questions about the details of the leave and whether it will be pushed back amid the tourism campaign backlash.

Makabayan bloc is calling on the House of Representatives to probe the controversy hounding the branding campaign of the Department of Tourism as well as the video criticized for using foreign stock footage. 

Makabayan bloc lawmakers Rep. Arlene Brosas (Gabriela Women's Party), France Castro (ACT Teachers Partylist) and Raoul Manuel (Kabataan Partylist) file Resolution No. 1115 that seeks to direct House, through its committee on good government and public accountability, to launch an investigation in aid of legislation into the "Love the Philippines" rebranded campaign mess which replaced the longtime "It's More Fun in the Philippines."

The lawmakers also mention the alleged involvement of Presidential Adviser for Creative Communications Paul Soriano in the tourism video under public scrutiny.

Days of violent protests across France after the fatal police shooting of a teenager have started to impact the country's tourism sector, with hotels and restaurants facing cancellations while some have also suffered damage in the unrest.

Since the death of 17-year-old Nahel during a traffic stop in a Paris suburb on Tuesday, "our hotel members have suffered a wave of cancellations of reservations in all the territories affected by the damage and clashes," said chef Thierry Marx, president of the main association for hotel and catering industry employers.

Marx said Friday he was receiving daily alerts from industry professionals who have suffered "attacks, looting and destruction of their businesses, including some restaurants and cafes". — AFP

Deputy Speaker and Rep. Ralph Recto (Batangas, 6th District) says infrastructure can negate the new tourism campaign of the Philippines, "Love the Philippines." 

"A slogan by itself is not a powerful lure that will prompt a traveler to pack up and go, unless it fully captures our many splendored attractions. It is only as effective as what it is marketing. The advantage of a catchy and clever tourism brand instantly evaporates in the heat of a congested airport, in road traffic which does not move, in restrooms which cannot be found," These are harsh realities no hot advertising copy can cure," he says.

"I support the DOT’s (Department of Tourism) new slogan. But the focus should be on the infrastructure and security which would lead tourists to rave and not rage about their time here -- matters which are outside DOT's jurisdiction," he adds. 

Rep. Joey Salceda (Albay, 2nd district) laments the non-exclusion of Mt. Mayon in the official tourism promotion video of the Department of Tourism.

In a statement, Salceda stresses that Mayon should be included in the video as it is included in the 50 major volcanoes and mountains in the official tourism logo and slogan. 

"I remain disappointed in my friend, Secretary Frasco, for the exclusion of Mayon Volcano in the new official tourism video of the Philippines...I express this frustration because tourism is disproportionately more crucial in Albay, and Bicol at large. This is how thousands of Albayano families make a living. It would not have cost much to include just a scene of Mayon, but it would have meant the world to Albay families relying on tourism for their bread and butter," the lawmaker says.

For those who are looking for updates about tourism, check out the following updates.