The Department of Tourism (DOT) on Thursday hailed the decision of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to adjust the list of holidays and non-working days in 2023 to allow more long weekends that could lead to a robust tourism industry.

Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco said the department has been intensifying its efforts to boost tourism by developing lesser-known destinations to attract more visitors and improving the overall experience for travelers.

“This holiday economics is being revived to provide longer weekends sa ating mga kababayan at sa kanilang pamilya to give them a chance to go around the Philippines (for our fellow Filipinos and give them a chance to go around the Philippines,” Frasco said in an interview over radio station dzBB.

Since the agency aims to improve the overall experience of local and foreign tourists, the DOT will launch its hotline next year, she said, adding that this is a new platform where travelers can seek assistance while visiting destinations across the country.

“The effort of the Marcos administration is to enhance the overall tourism experience of coming into and going around the Philippines,” she said.

Frasco said the DOT is also in talks with the Department of Trade and Industry to address issues related to overpricing of goods and services in some destinations and are working to put in place an “enabling mechanism” for it.

“This is an ongoing conversation that the DOT has started with DTI which has jurisdiction over these matters,” she said.

The industry continues to bank on domestic tourism as it awaits the top source markets like China to fully resume its outbound travel. Before the pandemic, domestic tourism expenditure reached PHP3.1 trillion. (PNA)