Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia-Frasco
Frasco bares start of construction of 10 tourist centers
TOURISM Secretary Christina Garcia-Frasco on Friday announced the start of the construction of an initial 10 tourist rest areas across the Philippines to allow quick access to basic amenities, such as clean restrooms and parking, providing improved comfort and convenience to travelers embarking on long-distance trips.
Frasco said, “I’m very pleased to inform you that in the first week of October, under the directive of the President, we are breaking ground on no less than 10 tourist rest areas across the Philippines.”
Three of the tourist centers will be in Luzon, five in Visayas, and two in Mindanao, the Tourism Secretary said.
“These tourist rest areas will have clean and decent restrooms for our tourists, a lounge for them to rest in, a complete information on tourist destinations, as well as pasalubong centers for you to be able to purchase local products and delicacies,” Frasco said.
She added, “We are steadfast in concretizing the objective of our President Bongbong Marcos for tourism to herald the Filipino brand, one that will spark pride of place and love of country.”
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. earlier identified tourism as a major tool for the economic resurgence of the Philippines.
He believes that tourism can be the economic driver upon which “we herald the Filipino Brand and at the same time create economic opportunity and livelihood all over the country.”
Upon assumption of office, Marcos ordered Frasco to introduce proactive policies and further improve tourism infrastructure to help bounce back from the effects of the pandemic.
Revitalizing the tourism sector is one of the Marcos administration’s top priorities, seeking to transform it into a “major pillar” of economic growth in the next six years.
