President Marcos said that the lives of millions of Filipinos changed for the better because of tourism's contribution to the country's gross domestic product (GDP), which marked a record-high growth in 2023.
READ MORE: https://mb.com.ph/2024/6/28/marcos-tourism-improved-lives-of-millions-of-filipinos
READ MORE: https://mb.com.ph/2024/6/28/marcos-tourism-improved-lives-of-millions-of-filipinos
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00:00Tourism plays a vital role in our economies and in our societies. In 2023,
00:06the share of tourism direct gross value added to the Philippine economy
00:12that amounted to 8.6% of our GDP or 2.09 trillion pesos, which roughly amounts to
00:2035 billion US dollars. This is an impressive increase of 48% compared to
00:27our previous year's numbers. Once again, congratulations to the Department of
00:32Tourism and to the work that has been led by Secretary Christina Frasco. It
00:39marks the highest record of growth in gross value added in tourism since the
00:44year 2000. In 2023, we welcome 5.45 million international tourists into the
00:52country, exceeding our target of 4.8 million for the year. And additionally,
00:58just from January to March of this year, international tourist arrivals in the
01:03Philippines have reached 2.9 million for that period. These highlight the robust
01:09recovery and continued appeal of our country as a top travel destination. But
01:16going beyond monetary values and numbers, these figures also mean millions of
01:21lives being changed for the better. And that's why I hope that our efforts here
01:26will lead to even better practices, more tourism arrivals, not just for our
01:30country but for the entire world. Ladies and gentlemen, I am truly excited to see
01:37the outcome of these meetings as we pursue our own
01:41understanding of the stories and traditions in every culture and dish
01:46that we encounter. Let us continue to use our cultural capital to connect and
01:52sample experiences and flavors that are profound and transformative. Once again, I
01:57extend my gratitude to the UN Tourism for your leadership in advancing
02:04tourism, not only here in the Philippines, not only here in our region, but in the
02:08entire world. I call on all these delegates, stakeholders, and partners to
02:14contribute eagerly to the success of this gathering. Let us celebrate our own
02:18cultural diversity and wonders as we build a brighter, better, and greener
02:23future for tourism here in Asia, the Pacific, and the world.