Unveiling the 2023 to 2028 development plan, the Department of Tourism (DOT) is now geared towards making the Philippines “a tourism powerhouse in Asia” getting millions of international arrivals, Tourism Chief Christina Garcia Frasco disclosed during the recent Tourism Stakeholders’ National Summit. Under the completed National Tourism Development Plan (NTDP) 2023 to 2028, the DOT shall “establish a Philippine tourism industry anchored on Filipino culture, heritage, and identity, which aims to be sustainable, resilient, and competitive in order to transform the Philippines into a tourism powerhouse in Asia." “This NTDP will serve as a blueprint for the strategies on how the Department of Tourism intends to continue and to grow the impact of tourism upon our economy in the next few years. This will be the guidebook of the industry where we put in place mechanisms for sustainability for many, many years to come,” Frasco said, speaking before some 350 attendees from the national government agencies, local government units, and organizations from the tourism sectors. “We have been called upon to transform the Philippine [tourism industry] into a tourism powerhouse in Asia. With your partnership, collaboration, and your unwavering support, I can say that we have begun the work of transforming the industry and giving the Philippines a more significant role in the ASEAN and in the world,” she went on. The NTDP formalizes specific strategies to be pursued under the main objectives and strategies that were earlier laid out by the DOT and anchors on the strategic values of Philippine Identity, Sustainability, Resilience, and Global Competitiveness. While Frasco acknowledged some existing challenges including the country’s ranking in the World Economic Forum 2021 Travel and Tourism Development Index which went down two places from its 2019 ranking, she expressed optimism about achieving the targets laid out in the NTDP 2023-2028. Among these are the target of 4.8 million international arrivals and the attainment of pre-pandemic (2019) domestic tourism levels this year. “The momentum for recovery and growth has begun. We’ve eased restrictions. We’ve continued to aggressively promote our destinations through the DOT’s constant and unyielding presence in various exhibits in the Philippines and all over the world. And people are traveling now, and are traveling with a vengeance. By promoting the Philippines through the biggest international tourism and trade fairs across Asia and Europe, we are re-introducing the Philippines to the world,” the secretary noted. “The Philippines already is a global destination upon the strength of our islands and beaches, our diving and biodiversity, and our hospitality as a people. Our future growth hinges on investments in meeting and conventions, health and wellness, lifestyle, and entertainment, as well as domestic and international cruising,” she added. Frasco expressed her belief in the agency’s ability to accomplish “a true transformation of the tourism industry that will allow the Philippines to take a primary role in the ASEAN.”