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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Tourism not delivering? Acidre demands answers from DOT after glaring SONA snub

Tourism not delivering? Acidre demands answers from DOT after glaring SONA snub

Published Jul 30, 2025 06:10 pm

At A Glance

  • Tingog Party-list Rep. Jude Acidre says the Department of Tourism (DOT) must answer for its underwhelming performance and missed opportunities, as highlighted by President Marcos' total snub of the tourism sector in his recent State of the Nation Address (SONA).
Tingog Party-list Rep. Jude Acidre (Ellson Quismorio/ MANILA BULLETIN)
Tingog Party-list Rep. Jude Acidre (Ellson Quismorio/ MANILA BULLETIN)


Tingog Party-list Rep. Jude Acidre says the Department of Tourism (DOT) must answer for its underwhelming performance and missed opportunities, as highlighted by President Marcos' total snub of the tourism sector in his recent State of the Nation Address (SONA).
“That silence was loud. The absence of tourism from the President’s SONA sends a clear message: the sector is not delivering, and the DOT needs to do better,” Acidre said in a statement Wednesday, July 30.
Acidre pointed to glaring gaps in the country’s tourism recovery. He noted that while neighbors like Thailand, Vietnam and Malaysia have seen their sectors bounce back, the Philippines continues to lag behind.
“In 2024, we welcomed only 5.95 million foreign visitors. That’s still far below our 2019 figure of 8.26 million, and miles behind Thailand’s 35.5 million or Malaysia’s 25 million. These numbers should set off alarms,” said the second-termer.
The DOT is currently being led by Secretary Christina Frasco. The Tingog solon gave his remarks just a few weeks ahead of the per agency budget deliberations in the House of Representatives.
Acidre also noted that the Philippines was not only attracting fewer tourists but generating less revenue per visitor. While the DOT reported P760.5 billion (roughly $13.1 billion) in receipts, Thailand earned more than $39 billion and Vietnam $16 billion during the same period.
“It’s not just about quantity. It’s also about the quality of experience. Tourists are choosing to spend more elsewhere, and that reflects how we’re managing the sector,” he said.
He emphasized that tourism should be one of the country’s strongest tools for regional development and inclusive growth, particularly in underserved areas.
“But how can we expect local tourism to recover if national leadership is falling short? The DOT has the budget, the mandate and the talent. What it seems to lack is urgency and direction,” he added.
While affirming his support for the Marcos administration’s economic goals, Acidre said government agencies must be held to clear performance standards.
“We cannot keep rewarding mediocrity. The tourism sector is too important to be sidelined. If the DOT cannot deliver, then we owe it to the Filipino people to demand accountability and course correction,” he said.
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