Frasco: Tourism must be equitable, future-proof

Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco underscored the Philippines’ commitment to building a more equitable, resilient, and sustainable tourism industry during her keynote address at the International Conference on Responsible Tourism and Hospitality (ICRTH) 2025 held in Manila on Monday, June 16.

“Tourism is no longer simply recovering. It is evolving,” Frasco told an audience of ASEAN officials, global experts, and tourism stakeholders. “The task before us is not to return to what things were, but to boldly shape what must be a global tourism landscape that is more equitable, more resilient, and deeply anchored in respect for our communities, our cultures, and most importantly, our environment.”

Co-hosted by the Philippines this year, the ICRTH is a platform for governments, industry leaders, academics, and communities to exchange strategies on responsible and sustainable tourism. The conference is organized by the Sarawak Research Society under the Centre for Responsible Borneo (REBORN).

Frasco highlighted the Department of Tourism’s (DOT) strategic shift under the Marcos administration, including the reorientation of the National Tourism Development Plan (NTDP) to prioritize sustainability and community involvement. “Sustainability became not just a theme, but the very framework of our national tourism strategy,” she said.

Reflecting on her experience as former mayor of Liloan, Cebu, Frasco recalled the devastation brought by a super typhoon and how it reinforced the importance of disaster preparedness in tourism governance. This led to the creation of the DOT’s Tourism Disaster Risk Reduction and Management manual, and its collaboration with the Department of Social Welfare and Development through the Bayanihan sa Bukas na may Pag-asa sa Turismo program.

“These initiatives are designed to future-proof our communities,” she emphasized. “Because resilience is no longer just optional — it is essential.”

Frasco also noted that the DOT continues to listen to stakeholders nationwide to ensure inclusive development. “People no longer want tourism to pass them by. They want infrastructure that connects, policies that protect, and opportunities that uplift,” she said.

Among those present at the conference were Datuk Sebastian Ting, Deputy Minister for Tourism Sarawak; Dr. Harold Goodwin of the UK Responsible Tourism Partnership; Dr. Eun Ji Tae of UN Tourism Asia and the Pacific; and several DOT officials including Undersecretaries Verna Buensuceso and Maria Rica Bueno.

Frasco closed her remarks by expressing hope for stronger regional and global collaboration: “Tourism thrives when stakeholders move in unity, guided by shared values and mutual respect.”