While an inflection point literally refers to that point on a curve where the concavity changes, it’s mathematical provenance has been expanded, and the term can apply as a metaphor to mark a shift in trajectory, a turning point – a moment when the opportunity arises to expand our options, or offer learning opportunities for new choices. That we have a new secretary at the Department of Tourism can be seen as an inflection point for our Tourism industry; an industry that is a top economic contributor, and supports over 11 million jobs in the country.

Maria Bernadita ‘Dita’ Angara-Mathay is our new secretary of Tourism. Enough has been written about her as a senior trade, investment, and industrial policy leader, with over 30 years of leadership and senior postings across Japan, the United States, Taiwan and Hong Kong. Right before her appointment as Tourism Secretary, she was the Commercial Counselor at the Philippine Trade and Investment Center (PTIC) in Tokyo. Her track record is highlighted by translating economic diplomacy, regulatory reform, and industry engagement into materialized foreign direct investment, technology upgrading, export growth, and sustained employment. How she will apply this expertise to the strategic tourism sector will be interesting to watch and anticipate. And of course, we wish her the very best — her success is success for the nation.

I attended the Tourism Congress of the Philippines 2026 (TCP) at the Dusit Thani in Makati, and it was one of the very first of public speaking engagements of our new Tourism Secretary. I’m manifesting here that I hope she’ll be a guest in our Manila Bulletin podcast The Sit Down very soon, as I would love the chance to interview her, and shoot the breeze about her plans and agenda. I had the opportunity to sit beside her at the Philippine Heritage Kitchen culinary event the previous week (thank you for the invite, Chef Reggie Aspiras); and was struck by the Secretary’s sharpness, candor, and sense of humor. She gave off the vibe of being a real no-nonsense doer, and was confident about what she brings to the table in terms of trade negotiation and investment opportunity acumen.

For Secretary Angara-Mathay, “Tourism must be positioned not merely as a promotional function, but as a strategic pillar of economic development — investment-led, infrastructure-aligned, and responsive to evolving external conditions.” A more integrated and development-oriented strategy is what we can foresee her tenure to be about. Hopefully, it will be centered on transforming strategic direction into tangible economic outcomes.

While engaging with stakeholders and dialogue is important, I think we can all agree that immediate and effective action has to be taken. We still lag behind in visitor arrivals in the region; and running a poor sixth in the ASEAN region, when we have so much to offer, is such a crying shame and disappointment.

If there was one talk given during the TCP that I was really taken by, it would be the one of Alma Rita Jimenez. A former undersecretary at the Department of Tourism, she is now CEO at Health Solutions Corporation — so she can knowledgeably speak from two perspectives, from both the public and private sectors.

The thrust of Ms. Jimenez’ time at the podium was of the need to build insulation into the local Tourism system; in demand, in revenue, in access and in community. From Volume tourism, we should be relying on distributed, high-value ecosystems. We should emphasize long term resilience, and move from silos and centralized efforts to shared ecosystems. She proposed structural insulation strategies, and these included cross-sector integration — for example, those between health, education, and retirement tourism agencies.

She cited examples of how the retail sector rebounded and survives disruptions, and drew a parallel between tourism and the events and entertainment industry. In the case of retail, she spoke of how the sector blended the physical with the digital, of engaging customers before and after purchases. Tourism should take a lesson from that; and realize that tourism should not start at arrival, or end at departure. It should be about pre-trip immersion so we are the choice, and about fostering post-trip community, so there’s loyalty engendered, and we improve chances for return trips and/or online testimonials.

With the events and entertainment industry, what was mastered was creating urgency, and enhancing/elevating the experience — just look at how the Taylor Swift concert series in Singapore was promoted. As Ms. Jimenez revealed, demand doesn’t just exist, it can be engineered in order to maximize impact and traction. Travel and tourism should appreciate that and take the best practices, to adapt to the local situation.

Wishing the very best to Secretary Dita Angara-Mathay. I don’t doubt she has her work cut out for her. When we spoke privately, I liked how she acknowledged that continuity, when and where it’s deserved, has its own place. I had commented on how we don’t put a premium on continuity, as each new appointee or elected official puts too much emphasis on breaking completely with the past.