I have to hand it to our Department of Tourism (DOT) Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco for having thought of this splendid idea of introducing the lesser-known destinations in our country, not only to domestic tourists, but more so to visitors from other countries.
Sec. Frasco developed this flagship Philippine Experience Program, or PEP, which also promotes community-based and sustainable tourism through cultural, heritage, and arts caravans.
Rather than just the usual sightseeing activities, Sec. Frasco sees to it that, on these tours, visitors participate in immersive and meaningful travel experiences through the crafts and flavors of these emerging destinations. What makes it even more significant is that these curated tour packages are now available on Klook, making them easily accessible online to anybody anywhere in the world.
PEP covers all the regions in the country and banners the destinations’ living cultures, historical sights, artistic expressions, wellness opportunities, faith encounters, and local cuisine. All these make the experience very comprehensive and deepen visitors’ engagement with the authentic Filipino brands of service and culture.
One popular example of these curated tours is the Culture, Heritage, and Arts Tour of CALABARZON, where travelers discover and experience the thrilling and captivating Pagsanjan Falls, and cultural landmarks like the connective Pinto Art Museum and the historical Villa Escudero, which bring visitors to our country’s bygone era.
There is also the Culture, Heritage, and Adventure Tour in the Bicol Region, where travelers can embark on an ATV adventure all the way to the majestic Mayon Volcano and sample a variety of delectable Bicolano cuisine, giving much-deserved emphasis to the wonders found south of the country’s capital.
Going north, there is the Culture, Heritage, and Arts Tour in the Ilocos Region, which brings visitors to the UNESCO World Heritage City of Vigan in Ilocos Sur, giving them a glimpse of how life was during our country’s Spanish colonial history.
I had the chance to join this particular tour and enjoyed myself walking through the streets of Vigan, which made me feel like I was traveling back in time, while enjoying my favorite empanada and tupig. This tour also made it possible for me to feel like a kid once again as I tackled the thrilling and adventurous ride over the sand dunes of Paoay in Ilocos Norte.
There is also a PEP for the Visayas, where visitors immerse themselves in what Silay City has to offer. The city is known for its well-preserved Spanish colonial architecture and heritage houses, as well as its fresh and delectable seafood. But getting very much in demand these days is the PEP tour, highlighting the beautiful sights, history, and traditions of Palawan. Visitors learn so much from the Palawan Special Battalion World War II Memorial Museum and join Weaving Creation Workshops, then come face-to-face with the wonders of nature as they have fun and frolic in the massive Butterfly Garden.
Making these destinations known to more people here and in other parts of the world equalizes tourism opportunities and promotions across the entire country, as visitors, foreign and domestic alike, now see the entire country as one big tourist attraction.
Being so, another flagship project of Secretary Frasco is the building of Tourist Rest Areas (TRA) all over the country. There are, so far, a total of 14. These end complaints from both domestic and foreign visitors about the unavailability of clean toilets, running water, and toilet paper near our tourist attractions.
The DOT and the Tourism Infrastructure Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA) are partners in this endeavor, as Sec. Frasco plans to build more than 100 of these TRAs, all of which have a lounge area, where senior visitors might want to rest, and a pasalubong shop to further promote Filipino craftsmanship and pastry delights.
There are many other successful projects that the Department of Tourism, under the leadership of the hardworking Secretary Christina Garcia-Frasco, has embarked on, but, due to space constraints, those will have to be in another column. Suffice it for the moment to say that Sec. Frasco’s innovative and highly successful PEP has certainly PEP-ped up our tourist destinations.
For feedback, I’m at bobzozobrado@gmail.com
