MANILA – President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. said his administration is committed to turn the Philippines as the premier destination for tourism, relaxation, and entertainment.
According to the Chief Executive, the Philippine tourism and hospitality industry has made an “impressive recovery” after the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.
“It is our mission to let the entire world know that the Philippines is open for tourism, for business,” Marcos said in a speech during the inauguration of the Solaire Resort North in Quezon City on Saturday night.
“We have slowly started to witness how hotels, restaurants, recreational amenities and tourist spots have slowly but surely risen to the challenge of travel resurgence, welcoming 5.45 million inbound tourists in 2023. This is more than double the 2.65 million visitors recorded in 2022,” he added.
President Marcos then urged business leaders as well as tourism and gaming stakeholders who were present in the event to continue working to attract more tourists and investors to come to the Philippines.
“Let us reach out to the world beyond our shores, for it is filled with people who are yearning for adventure and eagerness to discover new experiences that, I am sure, the Philippines can certainly offer,” Marcos said.
“We want them here, visiting our islands, investing in our businesses, spending their hard-earned money by having fun and having the best time of their lives here in our country,” he added.
President Marcos also said the gaming industry has provided jobs to Filipinos and contributed to social development, employing about 100,000 Filipinos in 2019, supporting various roles in casino operations.
“Revenues from these ventures contributed huge funding for the operations of government agencies such as the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, Philippine Sports Commission and Dangerous Drugs Board,” the President said.
“It redounds to the implementation of the universal healthcare, early childhood care and development fund, integrated sports development program, the national endowment for culture and arts, and the establishment and the operation of adequate drug rehabilitation centers,” he added./PN
