The Department of Tourism (DOT) sees over 30 million domestic and international travelers during the Holy Week break.
In a news release on Friday, the DOT said tourists are expected to visit popular destinations across the country.
Tourism Christina Frasco assured the public that DOT has activated its regional operations for proper coordination and oversight of tourism destinations.
“Overall, we are delighted to note that Filipinos are actively traveling within the country, and our international tourists are enjoying experiential, meaningful and enriching experiences,” she said.
“With this, we continue to encourage both international and local travelers to choose DOT-accredited establishments as we prioritize tourist safety and convenience.”
She also emphasized that booking with DOT-accredited establishments allow travelers have a standardized experience apart from safety against travel scams.
DOT data in 2024 showed that the top destinations during Holy Week include Cebu, Bohol, Boracay, Palawan, Siargao, Baguio, Batangas, Ilocos Norte and Sur, Pampanga, Pangasinan, and Puerto Galera.
Other emerging tourist destinations are Camiguin, Siquijor, Cagayan de Oro, Davao and Sarangani.
In Manila, Intramuros remains one of the most visited heritage and faith tourism sites.
It is projected to welcome 2.4 million visitors this season, up from 2.2 million in 2023 driven by cultural attractions and Holy Week traditions such as Visita Iglesia.
“I also just want to remind na active po, and live ‘yung ating Tourist Assistance Call Center. +151-TOUR (151-8687),” Frasco said.
“And we have already launched the Korean-speaking call center agent. And very recently, we have also already launched the Mandarin-speaking call center agents. So we’ve catered to over 14,000 calls already from 72 countries.”
For tourism concerns, the public may also contact DOT through mobile number 0954-253-3215, email at [email protected], or via its official Facebook Messenger. (PNA)