AKLAN Rep. Teodorico Haresco, Jr on Saturday rallied behind the Department of Tourism (DOT) under Secretary Cristina Frasco for its “many accomplishments in boosting national tourism despite recent issues.”
“The Department of Tourism has been making the Philippines proud with its multitude of accomplishments ever since Secretary Frasco took the helm and steered the country’s travel and tourism industry to economic recovery and development,” Haresco said.
In 2022, the country surpassed its 1.7 million target by year-end with 2.65 million international visitor arrivals, translating to P208.96 billion or $3.68 billion in tourism revenue, representing a 2465.75- percent increase over 2021 figures.
For 2023, the DOT has already recorded 2,029,419 total foreign tourist arrivals as of May 15, 2023. The target for 2023 is 4.8 million foreign visitors.
“Through the DOT’s innovations and support, Boracay Island in the 2nd District of Aklan alone has reached its 1 million tourists mark mid-year and is expected to exceed its 1.8 million target by end of the year in hopes of contributing more to the country’s economic development,” the Aklan solon reported.
As of June 17, Boracay registered 1,040,847 tourists, consisting of 199,098 foreign visitors, 816,426 local tourists, and 25,323 overseas Filipino workers.
The DOT has been receiving international recognition and awards. In February 2023, the Philippines has been nominated in two major awards under the Asia category of the 30th World Travel Awards (WTA).
The tourism department is also the top 3 government agency with the highest approval ratings nationwide.
“I put my confidence in Sec. Frasco and the DOT for their graceful and magnanimous vision with the new tourism campaign – #LoveThePhilippines, indeed our love letter to the world,” Haresco said.