Marcos vows to decongest airports, ease access to tourist spots

President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. on Monday vowed to ease access to the country's tourist spots to boost the country's tourism industry still reeling from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

In his first State of the Nation Address, Marcos said the tourism industry is essential to create regular employment down to the grassroots level and ensure economic development.

"To boost our tourism industry, we will first and foremost make basic developments such as road improvements for easier access to tourism spots," he said.

We will also upgrade our airports and create more international airports to help decongest the bottleneck in the Manila airport ," he added, referring to the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.

Marcos also said his administration "will also make it more convenient for travelers to go around the country, even to remote areas."

This, he said, would help "promote undiscovered tourist spots."

He ordered the Department of Tourism and the Department of Public Works and Highways to lead this endeavor.

Marcos also said it is time for an enhanced Filipino brand "that is unique, attractive, and creative starting with generating primary and downstream jobs in the industry." —KBK, GMA News