SINGAPORE — The Department of Tourism (DOT) of the Philippines received two awards at the esteemed GovMedia Conference & Awards 2024 for its flagship programs- the Tourist Rest Area (TRA) that provides convenience and comfort to tourists, as well as its Filipino Brand of Service Excellence (FBSE) training program that highlights the country’s commitment to elevating the standards of hospitality and service across the tourism and service industries.
Philippine Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco, who personally received the awards in a ceremony held Thursday (June 13) at the Marina Bay Sands Expo and Convention Centre, conveyed her gratitude for the recognition.
“In behalf of the people of the Philippines, I would like to thank Govmedia Awards for this affirmation of the vision of our President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. for tourism transformation where every journey to the Philippines provides an enhanced overall tourism experience. Through our Tourist Rest Areas, we ensure the comfort and convenience of our tourists as they visit our destinations. Through our Filipino Brand of Service Excellence Program, every visit to the Philippines is not just enjoyable but also filled with the profound love and hospitality that sets our country apart. Thank you to our team at the Department of Tourism, TIEZA, and to all our private tourism stakeholders and partners for working with us on this transformative journey as we continue to strive for sustainability, excellence, and innovation in Philippine tourism,” said the Philippine Tourism Chief.
Frasco received the awards together with TIEZA Assistant Chief Operating Officer Joy Bulauitan and DOT-Office of Industry and Manpower Development (OIMD) Officer-in-Charge Director Arlene Alipio.
“I invite everyone to visit our nation where there are countless reasons to celebrate and love the Philippines,” added Frasco.
The TRA, a brainchild of Secretary Frasco, features the provision for clean restrooms with showers for tourists in transit to different tourist destinations. It also has a coffee shop, pasalubong and tourist information area, a charging station, and a souvenir store carrying a variety of products that are proudly made in the Philippines. It adopts the use of local materials and design elements.
With the help of the government’s tourism infrastructure arm, the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA), and the DOT’s strong partnership with local government units (LGU), there have been as many as 10 TRAs built in major tourist destinations across the Philippines with more than 20 expected to be built in the coming months.
This year, new TRAs will be spread out across different tourist destinations. DOT expects to open its doors in Batanes, Pangasinan, Bulacan, Palawan, Camarines Sur, Albay, Panay Island, Tacloban City, Eastern Samar, Misamis Oriental, Tacurong City in Sultan Kudarat, Siargao in Surigao Del Norte, to Sulu, Tawi-Tawi, among others.
TIEZA is in charge of the funding and construction of the TRAs, while the DOT serves as the overall monitor and evaluator of the project as its primary concept originator, whilst the LGUs are tasked with the day-to-day operation and maintenance of the area.
The TRA brought the Philippines DOT the win in the Infrastructure Project of the Year – Tourism category while the DOT bagged the Training Program of the Year – Tourism for the FBSE training.
The FBSE training program is a game-changing initiative from DOT born out of the intention to provide excellent service to both local and international tourists visiting the Philippines. It includes one of the warm and sincere ways of welcoming tourists, the “Mabuhay and Salamat” gestures throughout their arrival and until they leave, serving guests under the seven values of Filipino hospitality where there will be an opportunity to showcase the Filipino brand of service excellence at tourist touchpoints.
Since its inception, the program has made significant strides, conducting 2,997 trainings and empowering a total of 148,710 trained stakeholders in all regions of the Philippines by the end of 2023. This monumental effort is supported by a robust network of trainers through dedicated train-the-trainer program. Presently, stakeholders from different sectors of society around the country have recognised the program and requested the DOT to conduct the FBSE to their personnel and staff.
Meanwhile, the DOT’s marketing arm, the Tourism Promotions Board (TPB) Philippines also bagged the Tourism Initiative of the Year with the agency’s Chief Operating Officer Marga Nograles receiving the award together with Secretary Frasco.
The GovMedia Conference & Awards is a prestigious event that spotlights outstanding government projects and initiatives in Asia that contributes to the well-being of the people in the region.
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The Department of Tourism (DOT) of the Philippines received two awards at the esteemed GovMedia Conference & Awards 2024 for its flagship programs- the Tourist Rest Area (TRA) that provides convenience and comfort to tourists, as well as its Filipino Brand of Service Excellence (FBSE) training program that highlights the country’s commitment to elevating the standards of hospitality and service across the tourism and service industries. The awards were received by Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco together with DOT- Office of Industry Manpower Development OIC-Director Arlene A. Alipio and Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority Assistant Chief Operating Officer Joy Bulauitan.
The DOT’s marketing arm, the Tourism Promotions Board (TPB) Philippines also bagged the Tourism Initiative of the Year with the agency’s Chief Operating Officer Marga Nograles receiving the award together with Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco at the GovMedia Conference and Awards 2024 held at the Marina Bay Sands Expo and Convention Center in Singapore.
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