Marcos OKs tourism development plan

President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. has approved the National Tourism Development Plan for 2023-2028 which will serve as the blueprint of the Philippines' tourism industry.

This was announced by Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco at a Palace press briefing following a sectoral meeting with the President on Tuesday morning.

"This NTDP is the result of consultation among the tourism coordinating council as well as our various tourism stakeholders from our regions all over the Philippines. The NTDP shall serve as the blueprint and the development framework for the tourism industry for the duration of the Marcos administration," she said.

Frasco said this plan focuses on giving the country a chance to become a "tourism powerhouse."

"These objectives involve not simply the promotion of the Philippines which we will continue domestically and internationally but also, more importantly, addressing the essential issues of tourism development, including the development of infrastructure, connectivity, as well as digitalization, the equalization of tourism, development, and promotion, the enhancement of overall tourism experience as well as the strengthening of tourism governance," she explained.

Frasco said the plan would also serve as a guide for regions across the Philippines "to spread countrywide development through tourism," adding that this will also provide jobs to Filipinos.

"Mabibigyan po ng pagkakataon 'yung ating mga kababayan na magkaroon ng tourism employment sa pamamagitan ng pag-develop natin ng tourism circuits and to continue to push for tourism across our regions and provinces," she said.

Asked about the budget for the tourism plan, Frasco said the agency already submitted an overall proposed financial consideration to the President.

"However, as a result of the discussions earlier, which takes into consideration events that will be hosted by the PH in the next coming years, especially as it relates to MICE, we are recalibrating that number and we'll be releasing once we’ve obtained approval from the President," she said.

Frasco also said in 2022, the tourism industry has made no less that P1.74 trillion as a composite of domestic visitor receipts as well as foreign visitor receipts.

"This has also resulted in no less than 5.2 million in employment for our fellow Filipinos," she said.

DICT support

Meanwhile, Information and Communications Technology Secretary Ivan John Uy promised that the agency would extend support to DOT on this tourism plan, specifically on connection issues.

He said most tourists are also vloggers who are making content about their experience in tourist spots.

Uy said the DOT has provided the DICT with the list of 94 tourist destinations that are experiencing connectivity challenges.

"With that list, in a matter of few months, we've already put into the program that for the first phase, we will be able to deploy about 46 out of the 94 destinations that will be lightened with internet connectivity," Uy said during the press briefing.—AOL/RSJ, GMA Integrated News