The Department of Tourism (DOT) has activated its regional operation centers to ensure proper coordination and oversight of tourism destinations, particularly during the Lenten season, as local and international tourists are expected to visit them.

“Habang papalapit ang Mahal na Araw, inaasahan ng Department of Tourism ang pagdagsa ng halos tatlumpung milyong lokal at banyagang turista sa iba’t ibang destinasyon sa bansa,” Presidential Communications Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said in a press briefing in Malacañang on Tuesday.

“Na-activate na ng DOT ang kanilang regional operation centers para tiyakin ang maayos na daloy ng mga turista, lalo na sa mga lugar na inaasahang magiging matao ngayong holiday season,” Castro said, quoting a statement from Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia-Frasco.

The operation centers will monitor the country’s major tourist spots to ensure a smooth flow of tourists and manage peak volumes.

To avoid being victimized by scammers, Frasco encouraged travelers to book with DOT-accredited tourism establishments to ensure safe and quality experience.

Frasco said the DOT continues to encourage both international and local travelers to choose DOT-accredited establishments.

Based on last year’s DOT records, the expected top destinations this Holy Week include Cebu, Bohol, Boracay, Palawan, Siargao, Baguio, Batangas, the Ilocos regions, Pampanga, Pangasinan, and Puerto Galera.

Emerging destinations such as Camiguin, Siquijor, and Cagayan de Oro are also becoming popular among tourists. The DOT noted the growing interest to visit Davao and Sarangani in Mindanao.

In May last year, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. inaugurated Luzon’s first Tourist Rest Area (TRA) in Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte, as part of the country’s bid to become a tourism powerhouse in Asia.

The country posted 5.94 million inbound visitors in 2024, 9.15 percent higher than the 5.45 million foreign visitors recorded in 2023, the DOT said. | PND