DoT expects 30M tourists during Lent

As the Lenten Season approaches, the Department of Tourism (DoT) anticipates 30 million foreign and domestic tourists visiting the country’s attractions.

To manage the influx and ensure a smooth flow of tourists, Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco announced that the DoT has activated its regional operations centers. These centers will coordinate and monitor high-traffic tourism areas to ensure proper oversight and efficient management of popular destinations.

For tourists, she urged them to book only DoT-accredited tourism establishments to avoid becoming prey to travel scams and to ensure safety, quality and a standardized experience. 

“Overall, we are delighted to note that Filipinos are actively traveling within the country, and our international tourists are enjoying experiential, meaningful and enriching experiences. These accredited establishments have undergone a thorough accreditation process, ensuring that visitors receive truly high-quality experiences,” the Tourism Secretary said in a media interview at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport on Thursday.

Top destinations this Holy Week, based on last year’s DoT records, include Cebu, Bohol, Boracay, Palawan, Siargao, Baguio, Batangas, Ilocos Norte and Sur, Pampanga, Pangasinan and Puerto Galera.

On the other hand, emerging destinations such as Camiguin, Siquijor, and Cagayan de Oro are also gaining traction, while tourist arrivals in Mindanao, particularly in Davao and Sarangani — continue to grow.

Meanwhile, in Manila, Intramuros remains one of the capital’s most visited heritage and faith tourism sites, projected to welcome 2.4 million visitors this season, up from 2.2 million in 2023, driven by cultural attractions and Holy Week traditions such as Visita Iglesia.

For tourism concerns, Secretary Frasco stressed the 24/7 operations of the DoT Tourist Assistance Call Center (TACC), which can be reached through hotline 151-TOUR (151-8687), mobile number 0954-253-3215, email at tourismassistance@tourism.gov.ph, or via Facebook Messenger at Department of Tourism — Philippines.

The call center, which now offers multilingual support, including Korean and Mandarin, has served over 14,000 inquiries from 72 countries.

 “I also just want to remind tourists that our Tourist Assistance Call Center, +151-TOUR, will remain open to receive queries or requests for assistance anywhere across the country. And we have already launched a Korean-speaking call center agent. And very recently, we have also launched Mandarin-speaking call center agents. So, we’ve catered to over 14,000 calls already from 72 countries,” added the DoT chief.