The Philippine Travel Agencies Association (PTAA) said they are supporting the Department of Tourism and its secretary, Cristina Garcia Frasco, in her immense promotion of the country as a safe place for tourists.

However, they are also backing the programs of the Department of the Interior and Local Government to enhance the country’s public safety, amid DILG Secretary Jonvic Remulla’s “steaming” statement made during the Hotel Sales and Marketing Association’s (HSMA) Sales and Marketing Summit on 19 June, when he said that the country is not safe for tourists — raising eyebrows among some tourism stakeholders and netizens.

“PTAA supports the Department of Tourism in promoting the Philippines as a safe, world-class destination. We remain committed to working with all sectors to uplift the country’s image and enhance the travel experience for all,” said the PTAA statement, sent via Viber to the DAILY TRIBUNE by PTAA public relations officer Chal Del Rosario.

Further, the organization noted that they welcome the DILG’s concrete plans to enhance public safety, including the revitalization of the 911 Emergency System, improved emergency response infrastructure, among others.

“Tourism flourishes when safety, accessibility, and trust are prioritized. We look forward to working hand in hand through collaboration efforts with the national government,” the PTAA statement further read.

Unethical reproach

Sources in the travel and tourism industry questioned Secretary Remulla’s blatant attack on the country’s tourism stance, seemingly hitting a fellow Cabinet member.

Remulla was quoted in his speech: “People do not want to come to the country because they don’t feel safe. They are afraid. There is cynicism in all the bad news that goes on here, and in the political atmosphere, and killing seems an ordinary activity, so people become afraid.”

Industry stakeholders were quick to condemn the remark as ill-advised, ill-timed, and damaging to the Philippines’ reputation as a travel destination.

“The timing could not have been worse. Just a day earlier, the DOT and various tourism groups had strongly denounced the ‘HelloSafe Safety Index 2025’ as misleading and disconnected from on-the-ground realities. Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco led the rebuttal, warning that such reports — if left unchecked — could derail post-pandemic recovery efforts,” the source said.

Another source maintained that the issue wasn’t simply Remulla’s choice of words — it was the damage those words could inflict.

“Tourism is driven by perception,” said one travel executive. “When a top official echo the worst perceptions, you don't just lose tourists — you lose credibility.”

As one industry veteran bluntly put it: “We didn’t lose because of the survey. We lost because our own Interior Secretary confirmed it.”

Tourism stakeholders to the rescue

 

Aside from PTAA, Frasco was backed by major players in the industry, with Philippine Hotel Owners Association president Arthur Lopez saying Remulla’s public admission risked undoing years of confidence-building.

For her part, Maria Paz Alberto, who heads both the Philippine IATA Agents Travel Association and Pacific Asia Travel Association Philippine Chapter, warned of “lasting repercussions” on inbound travel.

Philippine Tour Operators Association president Arjun Shroff, on the other hand, emphasized the need for responsible government messaging, saying, “We must project confidence, not fear.”