President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. has highlighted that the country's tourism sector remains vital to its growth and urged stakeholders to take advantage of the so-called "revenge travel" to solidify its economic position.

Marcos said this in his speech for the 34th Philippine Travel Mart (PTM) on Sept. 1. His message was delivered by the Department of Tourism (DOT) Secretary Christina Frasco, as the President could not attend the event due to schedule conflicts.

In his speech, the President said the Philippine tourism sector has consistently proven itself as a strong pillar of the country's economic growth, noting that it provides livelihoods to over 5 million Filipinos.

"With the innate beauty of our 7,641 islands and our people, our tourism will remain to be a vital economic sector for our country in the decades to come," Marcos said.

Marcos urged the government and tourism stakeholders to consciously solidify the sector's economic position, especially by taking advantage of the so-called "revenge travel."

"Through the consistent whole-of-nation approach, we must consciously leverage our strengths and competitive advantages to solidify the sector's economic position, especially with the phenomenon of 'revenge travel,'" he said.

Revenge travel, a buzzword that came about in 2021, refers to the phenomenon wherein people book trips and go on vacation to make up for time lost during the Covid-19 pandemic.

On the other hand, the President assured stakeholders of his administration's fervent support for the entire tourism industry.

"Policies and programs are underway to create a wholesome climate and stable foundation," he said.

Among these programs and policies, according to Marcos, are upgrading critical tourism infrastructure, capacity-building for the workforce and entrepreneurs, fostering a more business-friendly environment, and improving security and the rule of law.

President Marcos said the PTM exemplifies the ideal approach to ensure the continued strength of the tourism sector.

He also thanked the DOT, tourism stakeholders, local government units (LGUs), the private sector, and small businesses for their active roles in developing Philippine tourism.