Filipino tourism frontliners recognized during DOT’s fiftieth founding anniversary celebration

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To rejoice the Department of Tourism’s (DOT) fiftieth founding anniversary today (May 11), officials of the Department led by Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco gathered tour guides and leaders of tour guide associations to a straightforward reception on the Casa Blanca in Intramuros, as a method to recognize the frontliners’ efforts to champion Philippine tourism amid the pandemic and various challenges.

“Today we mark the 50 years of the Department of Tourism. And I felt it needed to rejoice this present day not only with the officials and employees of the Department of Tourism but, most significantly, with those which have been within the frontlines of tourism who’ve carried upon their shoulders the responsibility of campaigning for our country, of convincing our friends from all of the world to maintain coming back to our country, and who’ve by their example–by your example–shown us what it means to like the Philippines,” Secretary Frasco said as she delivered her message on the lunch with tourism frontliners.

Filipino tourism frontliners recognized during DOT's 50th founding anniversary celebration
Filipino tourism frontliners recognized during DOT’s fiftieth founding anniversary celebration

“I couldn’t find it in my heart to rejoice it with anybody else aside from our frontliners,” she added.

Speaking before some 50 leaders of the Federation of Skilled Tour Guides Association Inc. (TGFED), in addition to NCR-based associations comparable to the Accredited Tourist Guides Services Cooperatives Inc. (ACTSCOOP), Fort Santiago Volunteer Tour Guides, Inc., GUIDES INC. (NCR Multi-Lingual Tour Guides Association, Japanese-Speaking Tour Guides Association (JASTA), Multi-Lingual Accredited Tour Guides Association of the Philippines (MULATGAP), and the Philippine Association of Accredited Tour Guide Lecturers, Inc. (PAATGLI), and tour guides, Secretary Frasco took the time to share her experiences as three term Mayor of Liloan in Cebu before her appointment because the country’s DOT Chief.

Noting how her previous post allowed her to see first-hand how the tourism industry was devastated and deprived by the pandemic, Secretary Frasco said, “Due to this fact, it’s a sense of urgency that I would love to bring to the Department, in addition to an area perspective. One which all the time takes into consideration the welfare, the opinions, the concerns, of those that are on the bottom and within the frontlines. Because I firmly consider that none of our tourism projects and plans can succeed if we’re unable to translate into actual implementation by our tourism frontliners.”

To recall, the DOT initially organized a listening forum with tour guides and associations in March, where a minimum of Secretary Frasco underscoring the invaluable role that tourism frontliners comparable to tour guides play in the conclusion of the Department’s endeavors, particularly in promoting the country’s wealthy culture and heritage.

As she cited the country’s recent global accolades, Secretary Frasco said it’s incumbent upon the DOT to support those who proceed to champion the Philippines, which include the tour guides, tour operators, travel agents, in addition to every single component of the tourism value chain that contribute to the success of our industry.

As a token of appreciation for the tourism frontliners’ dedication, Secretary Frasco personally gifted each of the attendees with goodie baskets full of essentials that they might find useful in carrying out their duties as tour guides, including a lapel microphone, sunglasses, hat, and other accessories.

“Each time that you just exit in the sphere and share the Filipino story, you help our Filipino families which can be depending on the tourism industry, you assist in nation constructing, you help our country rise to its full potential. So I urge you, our dear tour guides, to proceed to inform the excellent news concerning the Philippines, to proceed to inform the Filipino story with love,” Secretary Frasco enthused.

Also on the lunch reception with tourism frontliners are Undersecretary Ferdinand Jumapao, DOT-NCR Regional Director Sharlene Zabala-Batin, and Intramuros Administrator Atty. Joan Padilla.

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