6 December 2023: The Global Tourism Business Association (GTBA) conferred the World Tourism Icon of the Year Award on the Department of Tourism Philippines Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco on 1 December.
The GBTA citation said the award recognised Secretary Frasco’s exceptional leadership as the World Tourism Icon of the Year and her relentless efforts to showcase the best of the Philippines nation to the world.
“Fostering cultural exchange, sustainable tourism, and economic growth, indeed, you have validated the Philippine Tourism sector on the global stage by attracting visitors worldwide and has set a new standard for excellence in the global tourism landscape.
“This plaque serves as a token of our deep appreciation for your extraordinary contributions to the tourism industry. May it stand as a testament to the positive impact (you have made) and inspire future generations,” GBTA said in its statement.
Secretary Frasco underscored the pivotal role of the tourism industry in delivering economic recovery: ” The synergy between the private tourism industry and the government is a pivotal factor to our success at achieving unprecedented goals in tourism. I commend GBTA for rallying the private sector and championing tourism globally,” the Tourism Chief commented in her response.
Just days before the GBTA citation, the Philippines Department of Tourism confirmed the country will exceed its target of 4.8 million international arrivals by the end of 2023.
“We have now welcomed over 4.82 million international visitors, contributing an impressive PHP404 billion in foreign visitor receipts so far this year, Secretary Frasco confirmed in an official statement.
