Incoming DOT chief: I will stick to ‘It’s More Fun in the Philippines’

The famous slogan "It's More Fun in the Philippines" that brought unprecedented tourist arrivals in the country will be retained by the Duterte administration, said incoming Tourism Secretary Wanda Corazon Teo.

In an interview on GMA News TV's News to Go anchor Kara David on Friday, Teo said: "We will retain it (slogan) because it has already attracted tourists to come to the Philippines."

Data from the DOT showed that the country posted tourism revenues of P18.92 billion in the first four months of the year and recorded 2.073 million tourist arrivals.

To further boost tourism arrivals for the next six years, Teo said she will tap other potential destinations in the country that are not popular.

To do this, she said: "I have to see these places first and I have to sit down with the local government units and check ano ba yung mga lugar na dapat i-develop natin na maganda."

On the issue of her supposed conflict of interest, Teo said she already divested from her travel agency business as this was the first order of President-elect Rodrigo Duterte to her. 

She also downplayed rumors that her brother, journalist Mon Tulfo's closeness to Duterte is the reason for her appointment.

"Hindi naman siguro. I've been in tourism business for 20 years. I know the ins and outs of the tourism business. Alam ko yung mga problema sa turismo so the mayor saw how hard I worked for tourism, how much I've worked to promote Davao," Teo said.

To improve the roads going to tourist spots, the incoming Tourism chief asked incoming Department of Public Works and Highways Secretary Mark Villar to help her during their first Cabinet meeting.

"I [sat] beside Mark Villar ... doon pa lang, sinabi ko na sa kanya na ang dami nating problema sa mga roads going to the tourist spots, medyo hindi maganda...so I asked him 'can you help me on this?," Teo said.

She noted that Villar told her to identify the places and he will help the DOT.

When asked if she is planning to surpass Aquino administration's tourist arrivals target of 10 million, Teo said: "I'll try my best. I have to sit down first because hindi pa nga ako nakikipagmeet with the DOT people. I have to sit down with them first and we will see what we can do and I'll let you know when I'm already the secretary of tourism sa ngayon hindi pa e." — John Ted Cordero/RSJ, GMA News