Travel and Tourism
DOT to deploy 'tourist cops' in Bicol
January 15, 2023, 4:39 pm
LEGAZPI CITY – The Department of Tourism in Bicol (DOT-5) will soon deploy "tourist cops" in the different local government units (LGUs) as it activates its Tourist-Oriented Police for Community Order and Protection (TOPCOP) program. On Sunday, Herbie Aguas, DOT-5 director, said the creation and… Read More
PH, China to resume direct flights, pre-Covid tourism figures
January 5, 2023, 1:29 pm
MANILA – The Philippine and Chinese governments are committed to bringing back pre-pandemic levels of tourist arrivals and resuming direct flights, especially between Manila and Beijing. The commitment came following the signing of the Implementation Program (IP) of the Memorandum of… Read More
Normal ops resume at Dumaguete airport
January 3, 2023, 4:27 pm
DUMAGUETE CITY – All flights to and from the Dumaguete-Sibulan airport in Negros Oriental returned to normal on Tuesday following two days of cancellations due to air navigation technical issues at the Air Traffic Management Center (ATMC) of the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines… Read More
PH exceeds target with 2.6-M international arrivals in 2022
January 2, 2023, 8:07 pm
MANILA – The holidays delivered further gains for the Philippine tourism industry as it breached its 1.7-million target with 2.65 million international arrivals as of the end of 2022. The arrivals translated to PHP208.96 billion or USD3.68 billion in tourism revenues, a whopping 2,465.75-percent… Read More
MCIA conducts 'recovery' flights for stranded NAIA passengers
January 2, 2023, 1:12 pm
CEBU CITY – The Mactan-Cebu International Airport (MCIA) on Monday said "recovery" flights are ongoing, servicing flights canceled on Sunday due to technical concerns at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA). Mary Ann Dimayabao, MCIA information officer, said recovery flights started at… Read More
Yearender: Ushering in ‘era of tourism’
December 31, 2022, 9:56 am Updated on January 1, 2023, 10:07 am
MANILA – After reeling from the devastating effects of the pandemic for more than two years, the Philippines is finally ready to usher in an "era of tourism". Since the onset of the global health crisis that shuttered borders and grounded flights, the Department of Tourism (DOT) together with… Read More
Davao City eyed as Asia’s preferred MICE destination: TPB
December 23, 2022, 2:35 pm
MANILA – Davao City will host the Philippine meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions conference (MICECON) in March 2023, setting the stage for the hard-hit sector's gradual recovery after the pandemic. A memorandum of agreement between the Tourism Promotions Board (TPB) and Davao City… Read More
DOT among top 3 gov't agencies with highest approval rating
December 21, 2022, 8:54 pm
MANILA – Department of Tourism (DOT) Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco welcomes the Publicus Asia survey result which placed the tourism agency among top three government agencies with the highest approval rating nationwide. The survey, conducted between Nov. 25 to 30 this year, also ranked the… Read More
DOT moves to digitalize tourism services nationwide
December 21, 2022, 4:45 pm
MANILA – The government moves to digitalize tourism services across the country and improve internet connectivity in 94 identified destinations with a newly-signed deal between the Department of Tourism (DOT) and the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT). "Most of these… Read More
PH targets 4.8M visitor arrivals, $5.8-B tourism revenue in 2023
December 19, 2022, 7:49 pm
MANILA – The Philippines eyes to double its tourism revenues and reach at least 4.8 million in foreign visitor arrivals in 2023. Department of Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco Friday revealed the projections as she presented the efforts of the agency to expedite tourism's recovery. Frasco said… Read More
More ‘balikbayans’ coming home to Cebu this Christmas
December 16, 2022, 7:48 pm
CEBU CITY – More "balikbayans" or vacationing Filipinos are coming home to Cebu from the United States this holiday season, with passenger traffic almost nearing the pre-pandemic level, a US-based travel consolidator said on Friday. Peter Vazan, chief executive officer of Trevolution Group, said… Read More
Cebu airport eases security restrictions amid holiday rush
December 16, 2022, 3:47 pm
CEBU CITY – Amid the Christmas holiday rush, the Mactan-Cebu International Airport will no longer require passengers departing for domestic flights to undergo initial security screening. Mary Ann Dimayabao, MCIA public affairs office manager, said screening for both carry-on and checked luggage… Read More
Tourism receipts balloon to P130.6-B
December 16, 2022, 8:16 am
MANILA – The country's tourist receipts have reached PHP130 billion while arrivals climbed to more than 2.39 million, the Department of Tourism (DOT) reported Thursday. Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco said the easing of travel restrictions and health protocols had contributed to the high… Read More
Filipinos as travel ambassadors: Bisita Be My Guest launched
December 15, 2022, 8:51 pm
MANILA — The Philippine government officially launched Thursday the Bisita Be My Guest (BBMG) program, incentivizing Filipinos who invite foreign tourists with travel discounts and a chance to win a condominium and free vacation trips. The campaign, which will run from January 2023 to April… Read More
Pagudpud tourist rest area seen to boost tourism, investment
December 12, 2022, 8:37 pm
LAOAG CITY – A modern two-story facility with clean restrooms, a lounge and information center for tourists as well as a trade center for locally-sourced products will soon rise at the Saud municipal beach park in Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte province to entice more visitors to this northern gateway… Read More
Filipinos urged to visit visa-free, no-quarantine Taiwan
December 11, 2022, 12:15 pm
MANILA – Filipino travelers are encouraged to explore Taiwan now that borders have been reopened to tourists. Taipei had further eased entry restrictions since October, allowing travelers to visit Taiwan by undergoing a "self-initiated prevention" instead of a quarantine. Travelers aged two… Read More
Japanese tourists invited to experience PH 'up close'
December 7, 2022, 8:21 pm
MANILA – Japanese tourists are encouraged to visit and experience the now fully opened Philippines. The government had been doubling efforts to attract more Japanese to the country, who had been its fourth top market prior to the pandemic. Arrivals from Japan reached 682,788 in 2019 but figures… Read More
Cebu Pacific lauds PH gov't efforts to simplify travel
December 6, 2022, 7:29 pm
MANILA – An executive of low-cost carrier Cebu Pacific (CEB) on Tuesday lauded the government's efforts in simplifying travel protocols. "Looking back, we were using the One Health Pass (OHP), then it became simpler. We are seeing that requirements for the passengers are becoming simpler," said… Read More
PH woos tourists from Saudi Arabia
December 6, 2022, 1:19 pm
MANILA – The Philippines seeks to woo more tourists from Saudi Arabia, the country's top Middle East market, as the Department of Tourism (DOT) moves to boost tourism cooperation with the Kingdom. Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco met with key industry players in Saudi Arabia, including Vice… Read More
New eTravel system allows greater mobility, enhanced travel: DOT
December 5, 2022, 4:54 pm
MANILA – Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco on Monday welcomed the launch of the eTravel system for returning Filipino residents and tourists, saying this allows for greater mobility and enhanced traveler experience. In a statement, Frasco said the agency has supported the removal of the One… Read More
