Philippine tourism flourishes under Marcos administration in 2023

In 2023, the Philippine Department of Tourism (DOT) under the Marcos administration displayed remarkable resilience and achieved significant milestones, demonstrating the transformative progress of the country’s tourism sector. The successful breach of year-end targets is a testament to the Philippines’ growing appeal as a global destination. This period saw over 5 million international visitor arrivals and a substantial increase in tourism receipts, amounting to PHP 439.50 billion.

Philippine tourism reached a milestone with over 5 million international visitors and PHP 439.50 billion in revenue in 2023. This achievement, driven by the National Tourism Development Plan 2023-2028, reflects the sector’s resilience and growth, aligning with President Marcos Jr.’s transformative vision for tourism.

Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco made the assertion during the Department’s Presentation of Accomplishments at the Dusit Thani Manila. “In the face of unprecedented challenges, Philippine tourism has shown remarkable resilience. Since the beginning of the Marcos administration, we saw the country as being one of the last in the ASEAN to open up to tourism once again post-pandemic. The work that demanded was innovation, adaptability, and the willingness to, as they say, get our hands dirty and do the work that had to be done to strengthen the pillars of Philippine tourism if only to give our country a fighting chance not only at recovery but most importantly at transformation. Under the visionary leadership of our President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr., the Philippines has begun to witness the fruits of the plans that have been put in place under his vision for transformation.” 

A key element of the DOT’s strategy under Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco‘s leadership has been the pursuit of impactful and sustainable infrastructure projects. Among these initiatives is the construction of flagship Tourist Rest Areas (TRAs) in strategic locations across the country. Moreover, the DOT has emphasized the importance of connectivity as a key strategy.