The Department of Tourism (DOT) is pushing for legislation to establish a Tourism Quick Response (QR) Fund.
The fund would provide immediate aid to tourism workers who lose their jobs and travelers stranded during emergencies or crises.
DOT Secretary Christina Frasco stressed the need for readily available emergency funding during the 2025 Post-State of the Nation Address (SONA) discussions at the Makabagong San Juan National Government Center.
“The QR fund will ensure that during times when our fellow Filipinos in the tourism industry lose their jobs, we have a fund we can access right away to provide assistance,” Frasco said.
She said the proposed fund would also assist domestic and international tourists affected by disruptions in destinations across the country.
Frasco also reported that tourism investments have now surpassed P500 billion due to sustained public and private sector efforts. Despite this momentum, she highlighted a persistent shortage of over 135,000 hotel rooms nationwide, identifying it as a major obstacle to fully capitalizing on the tourism boom.
