DO Tourism pushes for more spending, liberal visas, and crisis fund

The Department of Tourism is advocating for increased infrastructure spending, a liberal visa policy, and a quick response fund in the upcoming 20th Congress to enhance the sector.

During a discussion following President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s SONA on Tuesday, Secretary Christina Frasco highlighted these measures as crucial for boosting tourist arrivals in the Philippines.

Frasco emphasized the need to improve tourism infrastructure, currently ranked 69th out of 117 countries by the World Economic Forum, to make it easier for tourists to access various islands and generate more jobs.

She also pushed for a more liberal visa policy to ease entry for foreigners, noting that the Philippines lags behind ASEAN neighbors in terms of visa requirements.

Frasco mentioned the importance of balancing national security with competitiveness in attracting international tourists while proposing legislation for a quick response fund to support workers during crises like storms.