CROWD MAGNET Boracay Island, the country鈥檚 premier tourist destination, received 186,751 leisure travelers in April, its highest in two years since the COVID-19 pandemic struck, worrying tourism officials over a breach in its carrying capacity. 鈥擩ACK JARILLA
MANILA, Philippines 鈥� The success or failure of the tourism industry rests on the success or failure of the regions, Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco has said.
Frasco made the remark as she encouraged Thursday regional offices of the Department of Tourism (DOT) in Visayas and Mindanao to communicate with local government units and stakeholders to ensure the alignment of tourism development initiatives.
鈥淢oving forward, I would want for us, in the same way that I am reaching out to you, to continuously reach out to our local government officials and local stakeholders鈥�,鈥� Frasco said during the first leg of her listening tours in Cebu.
鈥淭he reality is that the success or failure of our industry rests in the success or failure of our regions because this is where our tourist destinations are,鈥� she added.
Frasco, who previously served as mayor of Liloan town in Cebu, cited her province as an example.
According to her, Cebu 鈥渉as proven very successful that even throughout the pandemic, domestic tourism still flourished鈥� since the DOT regional office, the provincial government, and the LGUs there were all aligned.
鈥淎nd it is this alignment that we need across all regions that will spell the success of our endeavors in the Department,鈥� Frasco said.
Frasco earlier announced she will embark on 鈥渓istening tours鈥� to hear for herself the challenges and problems that regions and tourism stakeholders in the country face.
Among the issues raised so far include fund availability and utilization, tourism infrastructure and transportation, the DOT said.
Frasco also assessed the possibility of developing more air and seaports and additional routes to create more convenient connections for domestic and international visitors.
鈥淚鈥檓 hopeful as well that you would be open to the innovations we wish to introduce to the Department, if only to fulfill our President鈥檚 vision to equalize opportunities for tourism promotion and development across the Philippines,鈥� Frasco said.
鈥淥n one hand, to maximize the potential of our already well-known tourist sites and, on the other hand, to further develop areas that have not necessarily been given equal attention,鈥� she added. 鈥� Christine Annie Asistio, 黑料社 intern