Tourism Secretary Maria Christina Garcia Frasco emphasized that her department will continue collaborating with travel agency groups to maintain the robustness of the country's tourism industry.

Frasco affirmed this during the National Association of Independent Travel Agencies' 4th General Membership and Business Meeting and Thanksgiving Party last week in Makati City.

She also thanked NAITAS for its unwavering support of the country's tourism industry and acknowledged the association's officers and members for their support of the government's endeavors to transform the Philippine tourism industry.

Highlighting the collaborative success of the past year, she emphasized the crucial partnership between the government and the private sector.

"This occasion commemorates the phenomenal year that Philippine tourism has had, a result of the full collaboration and convergence between government and the private sector," she enthused.

Frasco bared the proud accomplishments of the Department for the year, including the DoT flagship programs, such as the Tourist Rest Area, Tourist Assistance Call Center, Philippine Experience Program, Filipino Brand of Service Excellence training program, Trabaho, Turismo, Asenso tourism job fairs, as well as the country's World Travel Awards citations, tourist arrivals, and visitor receipts, in a video presentation and during her remarks.

NAITAS Immediate Past President Florence Rivera, for her part, hailed Frasco as the "trusted and loved" Secretary of the Department — a nod to Secretary Frasco's genuine and sincere intention to earn the respect of the tourism industry stakeholders.

Under the leadership of president Racquel Sabucido and Executive officers, NAITAS stands as a major national tourism association in the Philippines, boasting 17 chapters across the country, each with its own set of officers.

The event also saw the presence of key tourism figures such as NAITAS Past President Loida Abrenica, the NAITAS Board of Trustees, NAITAS Founding Member Arjun Shroff, the NAITAS Chapter heads and members, and DOT Undersecretary Ferdinand Jumapao.