The Department of Tourism (DOT) has adopted the 2024-2028 National Ecotourism Strategy and Action Plan (NESAP) in a bid to position the Philippines as a leading tourism destination in Asia in the coming years.
Speaking at the Tourism Stakeholders' Summit in Pasay City on Dec. 16, DOT Secretary Christina Garcia-Frasco said the NESAP is a comprehensive framework designed to foster sustainable, inclusive, and competitive tourism, rooted in Filipino culture and heritage.
The NESAP outlines seven key strategies, including upgrading tourism infrastructure, expanding air and sea connectivity, and promoting digital innovations to enhance the visitor experience, all aimed at strengthening the Philippines' standing in the global tourism industry.
Frasco also emphasized the roadmap’s focus on developing both emerging and well-established tourist destinations, with local government units playing a vital role in ensuring the spread of tourism benefits nationwide.
This inclusive approach is set to expand tourism opportunities across the country, ensuring that more regions can capitalize on the tourism boom.
At the core of the NESAP is the recently launched “Philippine Experience” program, which debuted in Central Luzon in December 2024, offering three- to five-day tour packages that showcase a mix of iconic and lesser-known attractions in Bataan, Pampanga, Bulacan, Subic Bay, and the Clark Freeport Zone.
In response to connectivity challenges, the DOT is working closely with the Department of Transportation to introduce new travel routes, ensuring smoother access to key tourist destinations.
Additionally, investments will be made in sustainable travel initiatives to preserve the environment, improve safety in tourist areas, and provide high-value tourism products designed to attract global travelers.
“The NESAP serves as our blueprint to ensure the continued recovery, growth, and transformation of the tourism industry. By highlighting the best of our culture and heritage, we aim to make the Philippines a tourism powerhouse,” Frasco said.