Atin Ito First Filipino Community Newspaper in Ontario
A milestone, indeed, has been reached as the Department of Tourism (DOT) enters its 50th year with renewed vigor, exemplified by the launch of an enhanced tourism slogan: “Love the Philippines.”
Over the past five decades, the DOT has faced global challenges, witnessed changes in administrations, and navigated varying political winds. However, it has stood the test of time, gaining invaluable wisdom from its past experiences. Today, the DOT stands stronger than ever before, buoyed by the support of each and every team member of the department, led by the capable leadership of Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco.
During the 50th anniversary celebration at the Manila Hotel on June 27, 2023, themed “Ginto: Greater Innovation, New Tourism Opportunities,” the President emphasized the immense contribution of tourism not only to our economy but to our pride as a nation and our identity as a people. The celebration was made more special with the presence of past DOT secretaries, who all have left indelible marks during their respective tenures.
Guests and stakeholders of the tourism industry listened as the President rallied them to collectively make the Philippines the “tourism powerhouse of Asia” in the coming years.
“(There) are encouraging signs that the tourism industry in our country as a whole is headed well toward full recovery. It also conveys a strong message to the world that we are ready and fully equipped to welcome tourists, travelers, as well as investors,” Marcos said.
The President, however, stressed that the responsibility does not rest solely on the DOT’s shoulders; each and every Filipino has the potential to become the “country’s tourism ambassador.” “I enjoin you all to be our country’s promoters, advocates, and if I may borrow a coined term in this age of social media… be our country’s top influencers.”
As an anchoring point for all these efforts, the DOT has unveiled an enhanced tourism slogan — “Love the Philippines” — a rally, a call to action, and an encouragement to put “love” in everything we do for our tourists and visitors.
“Indeed, the Philippines will never run out of places to discover, meals to enjoy, adventures to experience, people to meet, talents to admire. Let us take pride and celebrate the love we have of our country and our people for it is the same love that gave meaning to the establishment of the DOT and the same love that will propel our tourism industry moving forward into the future,” Marcos said.
“Love the Philippines,” according to the President, will serve as a “guidepost” and will help in “stimulating economic activities and generating job opportunities.”
The 50th year milestone of the DOT coincides with the President’s approval of the National Tourism Development Plan (NTDP) 2023-2028. This serves as the administration’s blueprint and development framework for the tourism industry. The NTDP contains the “government’s targets, including the promotion of local products and the implementation of more infrastructure projects to ensure hassle-free travel.”
While we extend our congratulations to all the dedicated women and men of the DOT, we also acknowledge the enormous challenges ahead. It is not enough to rest on laurels as the post-pandemic recovery relies heavily on the potential of tourism to invigorate our economy, uplift our fellow Filipinos, and bring us to new heights of prosperity. May “Love the Philippines” become the impetus for the tourism industry to achieve greater things, pursue more innovations, and break arrival records in the next 50 years and beyond.
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Credit belongs to : www.mb.com.ph
