The administration of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has unveiled plans to boost the country’s tourist arrivals significantly, aiming to position the Philippines as a leading tourism destination in the region.
During the launch of the Tourist Rest Area (TRA) in Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte, Marcos expressed his vision of increasing tourist numbers by tenfold. He highlighted the importance of building facilities and infrastructure to enhance travel convenience and improve access to the country’s top destinations for tourists.
The Balikbayan Program, established in November 1989, sought to attract Filipinos living abroad to visit the Philippines. Marcos emphasized the need to enhance regional gateways to enable tourists to travel directly to various destinations in the country, bypassing Manila.
Recognizing the competition from neighboring Asian countries like Thailand, Korea, Indonesia, and Vietnam in the tourism sector, the administration is focused on developing TRAs to elevate the Philippines’ tourism industry. The Department of Tourism reported that the country exceeded its target of 5.45 million tourist arrivals in 2023, generating over P480 billion in tourism receipts.
With a baseline target of 7.7 million arrivals set for this year, the Philippines aims to continue its growth in the tourism sector and establish itself as a prominent player in the region.
