The Philippine Travel Agencies Association (PTAA) on Thursday vowed to step up tourism efforts in Mindanao as the country works to attract 10-million tourist arrivals by 2022.
After paying a courtesy call to President Rodrigo Duterte, PTAA president Maria Michelle Reyes-Victoria pledged to work closely with the administration to sustain, if not surpass the country’s tourism gains over the last four years.
“We will always work with the government to keep pushing the boundaries of the country’s tourism,” Victoria said noting higher potential for Philippine tourism with the administration’s priority which is peace and order.
She said this would translate to more Mindanao travel and tours.
“President Duterte is from Mindanao. He knows exactly what ails the region and what needs to be done to fix them. The southern part of the country has a lot to offer tourists and we have barely scratched the surface,” Victoria added.
She said the PTAA expects positive changes for the country’s tourism industry under Duterte and vowed full support.
The 500-member PTAA has been continuously working in partnership with the government since 1979 to develop and promote the country’s tourism industry.