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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Legarda commends DOT over promotional successes, measurable sales leads

Legarda commends DOT over promotional successes, measurable sales leads

Published Feb 6, 2026 01:42 pm

At A Glance

  • Senator Loren Legarda has lauded the Department of Tourism (DOT) for delivering clear, measurable market outcomes from its promotional efforts, strong domestic travel growth and gains in emerging destinations.


Senator Loren Legarda has lauded the Department of Tourism (DOT) for delivering clear, measurable market outcomes from its promotional efforts, strong domestic travel growth and gains in emerging destinations.

LEGARDA (FB)
LEGARDA (FB)

Legarda expressed her satisfaction over the DOT’s tourism activities during the recent hearing of the Senate Committee on Tourism, jointly held with the Committees on Social Justice, Welfare and Rural Development, and Finance on Tuesday, February 3, 2026.

But Legarda, vice chairperson of the Senate Committee on Finance, emphasized that these results reflect the value of sustained public investment in tourism programs, noting how important it is to ensure that promotional success must be matched by consistent policy action and implementation.

This is particularly helpful, she said, in terms of air connectivity, airport upgrades, and route support, to ensure tourism benefits are felt across all regions.

“The DOT has built a measurable sales pipeline,” Legarda said.

“What is needed now is matching policy, budget, and implementation so these gains truly reach every region,” the senator stressed.

During the hearing, DOT Secretary Cristina Garcia-Frasco reported that Philippine tourism generated at least ₱3.86-trillion in combined international and domestic receipts, while supporting no less than 16.4 million Filipinos through direct and indirect employment.

Domestic tourism also reached 134 million trips in 2024, exceeding the pre-pandemic level of 122 million trips recorded in 2019.

According to Frasco, the Philippines’ domestic tourism portfolio is now ranked first in Southeast Asia, with an estimated value of at least US$70 billion, citing World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) data.

“These figures show that DOT promotions are producing real economic results,” Legarda noted.

“They translate into jobs, livelihoods, and opportunities across our tourism communities,” she stressed.

But Legarda said the challenge now lies in converting sales leads into confirmed bookings, tour packages, and repeat visits.

She urged the DOT, local government tourism offices, and industry partners to work together on systematic conversion campaigns that track sales leads and ensure they result in actual visitor arrivals and local income.

Related Tags

Loren Legarda DOT tourism Christina Frasco
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