The Department of Tourism (DOT) convened the Tourism Coordinating Council (TCC) Meeting on Tuesday, March 18, at the Diamond Hotel Manila, in its commitment to advancing the National Tourism Development Plan (NTDP) 2023-2028 through strategic collaboration with key government agencies and industry stakeholders.
Established under Republic Act No. 9593, the TCC is chaired by the DOT Secretary and is responsible for coordinating national tourism development efforts, including the implementation of the NTDP, which was approved by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. in 2022.
Addressing TCC members from national government agencies, DOT-attached agencies, and representatives from both the public and private sectors, Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco underscored the strong performance of Philippine tourism: “We are delighted to inform you that tourism continues to be a thriving sector in our nation and one of the top economic development drivers of our country. This is evident in the numbers that reflect our collective hard work and commitment in transforming Philippine tourism as a force for good.”
While acknowledging the sector’s significant gains, Secretary Frasco also highlighted key challenges that need to be addressed, including slower growth in key outbound markets, air connectivity limitations, geopolitical uncertainties, and destination capacity constraints.
To address these challenges, the DOT has intensified efforts to enhance tourism infrastructure and streamline travel processes by fostering strategic partnerships with key government agencies. These include the Department of Transportation (DOTr) for airport and seaport enhancements, the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) for expanding internet connectivity in key tourism destinations, the Bureau of Immigration (BI) and the Department of Justice (DOJ) for implementing the Cruise Visa Waiver Program, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) for developing tourism roads, and the Department of Health (DOH) for establishing Tourist First Aid Facilities to ensure visitor safety and well-being.
Recognizing the importance of sustained synergy among government agencies and industry stakeholders, Secretary Frasco called on all TCC members to actively contribute to the sector’s development.
“Tourism is a representation of our collaborative efforts to pursue sustainable development to uplift the lives of the Filipino people, and therefore, the success of tourism lies in our commitment to the betterment of our beloved country. We cannot move towards this effort of transformation without your invaluable help and contributions to the tourism industry. We earnestly hope for your continued assistance and support towards the initiatives of the Department of Tourism, as well as the goal of our President to make tourism truly a transformational force for our country,” Secretary Frasco said.
Charting a Sustainable Tourism Future
The meeting also featured insights from consultants at the Asian Institute of Management (AIM) – Dr. Andrew L. Tan Center for Tourism and the Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS), who shared assessments and recommendations for enhancing Philippine tourism development.
Dr. Maria Cherry Lyn S. Rodolfo, Member of the Board of Advisors at AIM – Dr. Andrew L. Tan Center for Tourism, presented the Budget Convergence Report on Tourism Development, detailing key outcomes of collaborative meetings between the DOT, its attached agencies, and other partner agencies. This report is anchored on the Program Convergence Budgeting (PCB) approach to ensure that government resources are effectively allocated to key programs and projects.
Meanwhile, Dr. John Paolo R. Rivera, Senior Research Fellow at PIDS, provided an initial assessment of the NTDP’s implementation, highlighting economic gains, market diversification, and institutional spending while outlining strategies to strengthen the plan’s impact.
“The numbers are telling a powerful story of recovery and growth. Leaning from these figures, it highlights not just recovery, but real momentum that we must build upon moving forward by continuously contributing to the achievements of the NTDP’s seven strategic objectives,” Dr. Rivera noted.
Dr. Rivera also emphasized that domestic tourism remains a key stabilizer during economic downturns and highlighted the Philippines’ position as the ASEAN leader in tourism receipts per arrival. He stressed the need for regional competitiveness through sustainability initiatives in major destinations like Boracay, Palawan, and Cebu while promoting emerging locations for inclusive economic growth.
To sustain strong international markets such as South Korea, the United States, and Japan while expanding into new markets like India, the Middle East, and the European Union, Dr. Rivera recommended enhanced visa facilitation, expanded flight routes, and the maximization of secondary gateways to boost connectivity and access.
He also pointed out the need for stronger cross-sector collaboration and convergence, noting that although progress has been made in inter-agency coordination, there are further opportunities for local government implementation, investment promotion, and improved tourism governance; he stressed the importance of strengthening institutional mechanisms, enhancing digital infrastructure in key destinations through the adoption of digital tourism platforms, and investing in workforce development by sustaining tourism-related training programs and equipping personnel with 21st-century skills in digital tourism management, AI, and sustainable practices.
A Unified Effort for Tourism Development
Dr. Eylla Laire M. Gutierrez, Associate Director of the AIM – Dr. Andrew L. Tan Center for Tourism, led the discussion during the open forum which resulted in the proposal to form a technical working group (TWG) to strengthen policy coordination and ensure the effective implementation of interventions.
Following the discussions, DOT Undersecretary Verna C. Buensuceso outlined the next steps and policy direction in relation to the NTDP, reiterating the DOT’s to maintain close collaboration with the TCC members and partner agencies.
DOT attached agencies represented in the meeting included the Tourism Promotions Board (TPB), Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA), Duty-Free Philippines Corporation (DFPC), Intramuros Administration (IA), National Parks Development Committee (NPDC), Nayong Pilipino Foundation (NPF), Philippine Commission on Sports Scuba Diving (PCSSD), and Philippine Retirement Authority (PRA).
TCC member agencies including BI, DICT, DPWH, DOTr, Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), DICT, Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), League of Provinces of the Philippines (LPP), National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP), National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP), Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR), Philippine National Police (PNP), Tourism Congress of the Philippines (TCP), and the Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines (ULAP) joined the meeting.
Other government agencies supporting tourism development programs also took part, including the Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA), Bureau of Customs (BOC), Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB), Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP), Climate Change Commission (CCC), Commission on Higher Education (CHED), Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP), Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR), Department of Agriculture (DA), Department of Energy (DOE), DOH, Department of Migrant Workers (DMW), Department of National Defense (DND), Department of Science and Technology (DOST), Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP), Games and Amusements Board (GAB), Mactan-Cebu International Airport Authority (MCIAA), Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA), National Council on Disability Affairs (NCDA), National Commission on Muslim Filipinos (NCMF), National Electrification Administration (NEA), National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), Philippine Ports Authority (PPA), Philippine Space Agency (PhilSA), Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), Philippine Sports Commission (PSC), Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Center, and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA).