Facade of the Manila City Hall (File photo)
MANILA -- The Department of Tourism (DOT) on Wednesday vowed support for City of Manila's bid to boost tourism following the introduction of the Manila tourism circuit plan initiated by Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso.
"The Department of Tourism lauds the initiative of the City of Manila under the leadership of Mayor Isko Moreno to boost tourism in the Philippines’ capital city," the DOT said in a statement.
In support of Domagoso's efforts, DOT Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat directed the DOT-National Capital Region, attached agencies Intramuros Administration (IA), Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zones Authority (TIEZA), and the National Parks Development Committee to work closely with Manila City Hall.
“Manila is the crucible of Philippine history and culture and the primary gateway to the country’s 7,641 island destinations. And we at the DOT share the vision and enthusiasm of Mayor Moreno in providing our international visitors a great first impression of the Philippines as soon as they set foot in Manila,” she said Wednesday.
She added that a "strong and active partnership" between the agency and local government units can help advance the government’s sustainable tourism goals.
Under the sustainable tourism promotions of the DOT, the government seeks to preserve and protect not only the country’s many natural tourist attractions but also its rich cultural heritage and historical sites.
Manila, the country's capital, is host to numerous destinations which have been witnesses to significant events that shaped Philippine history.
Aside from Intramuros, located within the capital is Rizal Park, Paco Park, Quiapo Church, Sta. Cruz, and the world's oldest Chinatown in Binondo.
The Manila City government, together with IA and TIEZA, last week announced plans to develop the tourism circuit plan that would link Intramuros to the National Museum, Rizal Park, Binondo, and other heritage districts in the city.
According to the data released by the DOT’s Statistics, Economic Analysis and Information Management Division, a total of 4,839,593 international tourists arrived via Manila air and seaports in 2018 alone. (PNA)
