DOT chief pushes more ‘suroy-suroy’

CEBU, Philippines — More than appreciating the beauty of the Philippines, every trip to different tourist destinations here and the rest of the country also means help and support for a Filipino family, Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco said.

“Remember that every time you travel, every time you book a flight, a boat trip, you book a hotel; you support a Filipino family,” Frasco said during the Suroy-Suroy Sugbo Camotes tour.

Frasco went on to say that one’s travel is a contribution to nation-building as well.

“You help our tourism workers, you provide help to our tourism stakeholders, you help in nation-building,” added Frasco.

Frasco also continues to encourage everyone to “suroy-suroy” as they look forward to replicating this flagship tourism program of her mom, Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia.

“I continue to encourage you to continue in ‘suroy-suroy’ because after this Suroy-Suroy Sugbo, as we benchmark this all over the Philippines, soon we will have a Suroy-Suroy Pilipinas,” Frasco said.

The Department of Tourism noted that since its implementation in 2005, “the program has successfully boosted Cebu’s tourism industry by letting the guests experience the tourism offerings, festivals, food, products, and cultural presentations prepared by local government units (LGUs), tourism stakeholders, and residents at each of the tour stops.”

“So successful has it been, that we in the Department of Tourism are benchmarking this in the form of a program that we are launching called the ‘Philippine Experience’ which like the Suroy-Suroy Sugbo aims to give our tourists not just an opportunity to visit our key destinations but also our lesser-known destinations and emerging destinations,” Frasco said.

The DOT first conducted its benchmarking activity on the Suroy-Suroy Sugbo last January and brought regional directors to around 15 municipalities and one city in northern Cebu.

In continuation of its efforts to strengthen the exchange of tourism best practices among regions, DOT conducted its second benchmarking activity on Suroy-Suroy Sugbo.

Around 130 participants composed of DOT regional directors, mayors, and tourism officers from the CAR, NCR, Regions, 4B, 7, 10, 11, 12, and 13 joined the tour in Camotes Island over the weekend.

“While our country may have only opened up in February of last year, the momentum for tourism growth has begun under the administration of President Bongbong Marcos Jr., who has prioritized tourism under his development agenda, recognizing how tourism can provide economic opportunities to our fellow Filipinos,” Frasco further said.

Aside from Frasco and Garcia, Senator Robin Padilla, House Deputy Speaker Vincent Franco “Duke” Frasco, Provincial Board members, and provincial and local chief executives in Cebu were also present on the first day.

“By our presence here with the leadership of the DOT Central Office and under the directive of our President, we manifest our continued support for local government units that champion tourism, for truly tourism is one of the greatest contributors to our economy and is, and can be a vehicle for our country’s economic transformation,” stressed Frasco. —/GMR (FREEMAN)