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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Misleading safety list threatens country's tourism recovery—DOT

Misleading safety list threatens country's tourism recovery—DOT

Published Jul 17, 2025 01:37 pm

At A Glance

  • The Department of Tourism (DOT) raised concern over a foreign article falsely listing the Philippines among the world's most dangerous destinations.
  • Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia-Frasco condemned the HelloSafe report for lacking credible data and transparency.
  • The DOT secured the article's removal on June 20, a day after issuing a formal letter.
  • HelloSafe apologized on July 15, citing editorial oversight.
  • Frasco warned archived copies may still mislead global audiences and harm the country's image.
  • Tourism groups backed the DOT, saying the report undermined efforts to promote the Philippines as a safe destination.
Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia-Frasco (Photo: DOT)
Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia-Frasco (Photo: DOT)
A foreign-published article that falsely ranked the Philippines among the world’s most dangerous countries for travelers has raised concern from the Department of Tourism (DOT) over its potential effect on recovery efforts and the welfare of Filipino workers.
DOT Secretary Christina Garcia-Frasco, in a letter dated June 19, condemned the “false and misleading” report released by global insurance aggregator HelloSafe, citing its lack of credible sources, verifiable data, and transparent methodology.
Frasco said the publication unfairly cast doubt on the Philippines’ global image and posed a threat to the gains of the tourism industry, which accounted for 8.9 percent of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) in 2024, based on the Philippine Tourism Satellite Accounts.
The DOT demanded the immediate removal of the article following criticism from both public and private tourism groups.
The report was taken down on June 20, a day after the agency sent its letter.
On July 15, HelloSafe issued a public apology, citing “editorial oversight” and vowing to strengthen its fact-checking and validation measures.
Frasco, however, warned that archived copies and screenshots of the report remain online, potentially misleading global audiences and harming the country’s reputation.
She emphasized the need for transparency in international rankings and called on publishers and data aggregators to uphold accountability when releasing reports with global implications.
Tourism associations—including the Philippine Hotel Owners Association (PHOA), Philippine Tour Operators Association (PHILTOA), Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA), Philippine IATA Agents Travel Association (PIATA), and Philippine Travel Agencies Association (PTAA)—backed the DOT’s position, saying the article undermined long-standing efforts to promote the Philippines as a safe and desirable destination.
“We expect the Philippines to be represented fairly, truthfully, and with the dignity that our people, destinations, and tourism workers rightfully deserve,” Frasco said.
She added that the DOT will continue to uphold the interests of the country’s tourism workforce through the National Tourism Development Plan (NTDP) 2023–2028, which focuses on enhancing connectivity, digital transformation, sustainability, and safety.

Related Tags

DOT HelloSafe tourism recovery travel advisory global rankings
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