Department of Tourism (Philippines)

The Department of Tourism (Filipino: Kagawaran ng Turismo, DOT) is the executive department of the Philippine government responsible for the regulation of the Philippine tourism industry and the promotion of the Philippines as a tourist destination.

Department of Tourism
Kagawaran ng Turismo
Seal of the Department of Tourism
Flag of the Department of Tourism

IPO Building, home of the Department of Tourism headquarters
Department overview
FormedMay 11, 1973
HeadquartersIPO Building,
351 Sen. Gil J. Puyat Avenue, Bel-Air, Makati
Annual budget3.08 billion (2021)[1]
Department executives
  • Christina Garcia-Frasco, Secretary
  • Atty. Mae Elaine T. Bathan, Undersecretary for Legal and Special Concerns and Chief of Staff, Office of the Secretary
  • Atty. Glenn Albert M. Ocampo, Head Executive Assistant, Office of the Secretary
Websitewww.tourism.gov.ph

History edit

Started as a private initiative to promote the Philippines as a major travel destination, the Philippine Tourist & Travel Association was organized in 1950. In 1956, the Board of Travel and Tourist Industry was created by Congress as stipulated in the Integrated Reorganization Plan. In 1972, sanctioned as law under Presidential Decree No. 2, as amended, the Department of Trade and Tourism was established, reorganizing the then Department of Commerce and Industry. A Philippine Tourism Commission was created under the unified Trade and Tourism Department to oversee the growth of the tourism industry as a source of economic benefit for the country.

In 1973, President Ferdinand Marcos created a new cabinet-level Department of Tourism (DOT) by splitting the Department of Trade and Tourism into two separate departments. Included in the new Department of Tourism were the newly created Philippine Tourism Authority (PTA) and Philippine Convention Bureau (PCB). The Department of Tourism was then renamed Ministry of Tourism as a result of the shift in the form of government pursuant to the enforcement of the 1973 Constitution.

In 1986, under Executive Orders 120 and 120-A signed by President Corazon Aquino, the Department of Tourism was reorganized and, correspondingly, the Convention Bureau was renamed the Philippine Convention and Visitors Corporation, and the Intramuros Administration was attached, previously being under the defunct Ministry of Human Settlements. In 1998, the Department of Tourism assumed a prominent role in the culmination of centennial celebration of the country's independence from the Spanish Empire in 1898.

In 2003, the Department of Tourism initiated one of its most successful tourism promotion projects, WOW Philippines, under Secretary Richard J. Gordon.

The latest improvements in the tourism industry in the country came about with the passage of Republic Act No. 9593 or the "Tourism Act of 2009."

Organization structure edit

The department is headed by the Secretary of Tourism (Philippines), with the following four undersecretaries and assistant secretaries.

  • Undersecretary for Administration and Finance
  • Undersecretary for Public Affairs, Communications & Special Projects
  • Undersecretary for Tourism Development Planning
  • Undersecretary for Tourism Promotions
  • Undersecretary for Tourism Regulation Coordination & Resource Generations
  • Assistant Secretary for Administration and Finance
  • Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs, Communications and Special Projects
  • Assistant Secretary for Product and Market Development
  • Assistant Secretary for Tourism Regulation Coordination & Resource Generation for Metro Manila Cluster
  • Assistant Secretary for Tourism Regulation Coordination & Resource Generation for Luzon and Visayas

Bureaus and offices edit

  • Bureau of Domestic Tourism Promotions and Information
  • Bureau of International Tourism Promotions
  • Office of Product Development
  • Office of Tourism Coordination
  • Office of Tourism Development Planning
  • Office of Tourism Information
  • Office of Tourism Standards

Agencies of the Department of Tourism edit

Also known as the "DOT Family", the following agencies are attached to the DOT and shall be under the supervision of the Secretary for program and policy coordination:

Tourism projects edit

List of the Secretaries of the Department of Tourism edit

Tourism slogans edit

References edit

  1. ^ https://www.dbm.gov.ph/wp-content/uploads/GAA/GAA2021/TechGAA2021/DOT/DOT.pdf[bare URL PDF]
  2. ^ Vanzi, Sol Jose (June 8, 1998). "RP Wins Bid To Host World EXPO 2002". Philippine Headline News Online. Archived from the original on February 5, 2012. Retrieved October 19, 2016.
  3. ^ Robles, Raissa. "About-Face in Manila". ASIANOW - Asiaweek. Retrieved August 4, 2021.
  4. ^ "PNoy launches 'Pilipinas Kay Ganda' as new tourism campaign slogan". Press release. Philippine Information Agency. November 14, 2010.
  5. ^ "New PH tourism slogan "Pilipinas Kay Ganda" fails to impress tourism industry, netizens". Archived from the original on October 29, 2013. Retrieved October 24, 2013.
  6. ^ Zambrano, Chiara. "'Pilipinas Kay Ganda' officially dead". ABS-CBN News.

External links edit