CEBU, Philippines– The Department of Tourism (DOT) has laid the groundwork for the Philippines to be more tourism-competitive in Asia and the world through the establishment of the “Tourist Rest Area” (TRA) in 10 strategic locations in the country, namely; Manolo Fortich in Bukidnon; Samal Island in Davao del Norte; Baguio in the Cordilleras; Dauis in Bohol; Saud in Ilocos Norte; and Carcar, Carmen, Medellin, and Moalboal in Cebu, and in January 2023, in Roxas in Palawan.
“The marching order of President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. is to improve the overall tourist experience, and with this Tourist Rest Area, we hope to provide our tourists a stress-free and convenient journey and to ensure that your government can sustain a strong tourism industry and economic prosperity for all the communities that depend on it,” DOT Secretary Cristina Frasco said during the launching of the 8th and 9th TRAs in Cebu in December last year.
Frasco added that similar to what had been launched in six other tourist destinations including Bukidnon, Davao del Norte, Cebu, and Baguio City, the TRA in Dauis will be a show-window of the Filipino brand to the world.
TRAs are envisioned to be conducive places where tourists can rest during their journey. The establishments serve as a one-stop-shop for information and pasalubong centers where tourists can buy best samples of local and Filipino products, DOT noted.
DOT launches Tourist Rest Area in Cebu and Bohol
On December 17, last year, DOT launched the 8th and 9th Tourist Rest Area (TRA at the City of Carcar and in Barangay Tunga, Moalboal, Cebu respectively.
The City of Carcar, dubbed as the “Heritage City of South Cebu,” is a popular pitstop where tourists can see heritage buildings and taste generous servings of lechon (roasted pig) before heading home while Moalboal town on the other hand is one of the popular dive sites not only in Cebu but in the Philippines and the world as well.
In a bid to provide clean restrooms for travelers, DOT also broke ground the TRA in Moalboal, Cebu that will be equipped with a lounge area, a tourist information center, and a pasalubong center where local artisans can showcase their products.
Moalboal is a diving haven for both local and international tourists. It boasts of its underwater world, where divers and enthusiasts alike can enjoy sightings of the breathtaking sardine run, sea turtles, and coral reefs, among others.
“One of the very first listening tours was held here in Cebu. We proceeded to the other parts of the country and the world. One of the things that was asked of us was to put a rest area for tourist here in Carcar, which really is the gateway to the southeast and the southwest of Cebu,” DOT Secretary Cristina Frasco said.
According to Frasco, this is to fulfil the commitment of President Ferdinand Marcos to improve the country’s tourism infrastructure and enhance the overall tourists’ experience and to provide them with not only the treat of arriving in the destination but also a comfortable and convenient journey.
The TRA exhibits the use of Filipino-centric materials and design elements while providing a roof for clean and decent restrooms, a pasalubong center, a tourist information center, and a comfortable place to rest for travelers in between their journeys, Frasco said.
“This is really something that we must congratulate her [Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco] for because in such a short span of time, she will be opening, has managed so far to open 8 or 9 tourism rest areas that will make a big difference to our tourists that will be going around the entire Philippines,” Cebu Provincial governor Gwendolyn Garcia said during the ceremonial signing of the Memorandum of Agreement for the Tourist Rest Area (TRA) in Carcar and in Moalboal.
Garcia also congratulated Secretary Frasco for the successful launching of the Department of Tourism’s newest incentivized tourism promotions campaign, the “Bisita, Be My Guest” (BBMG) Program that zeroed in on how to increase tourist arrivals and how to enhance the local tourism attractiveness and potential, she added.
𝗧𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗶𝘀𝘁 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗔𝗿𝗲𝗮 𝘁𝗼 𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗲 also 𝗶𝗻 𝗕𝗼𝗵𝗼𝗹
The home province of the world-renowned Chocolate Hills was also considered to have a Tourist Rest Areas (TRA) in Dauis town when DOT Secretary Frasco led the groundbreaking ceremony and signing of the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the Provincial Government of Bohol, the Local Government of Dauis, and the Tourism Infrastructure Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA) for the establishment of the sixth TRA in Bohol on December 7, 2022.
Bohol is one of the most visited destinations in Central Visayas that offers a wide range of tourist spots and activities for history buffs, beach lovers, and adrenaline junkies alike.
The Municipality of Dauis is strategically situated between Tagbilaran City and the Municipality of Panglao. Tagbilaran City has the Seaport, while the island of Panglao is among Bohol’s most active tourist destinations, with long stretches of white sand beaches including the famous Alona Beach.
“With the long list of natural and man-made resources in the province making it a favorite among visitors both domestic and foreign, the Department of Tourism recognizes the contribution of the tourism industry of Bohol. This is the reason why we made sure that a Tourist Rest Area will be established here to enhance the overall tourist experience,” Secretary Frasco said.
The Dauis TRA will be built along the Luis T. Clarin Highway and is a stone’s throw away from Our Lady of Assumption Parish in Panglao. The tourist pit-stop is conveniently located so it can be accessible to tourists on their way to a city tour of Tagbilaran, or those on a road trip to the towns of Carmen, home to the Chocolate Hills, and Loboc, which is most visited for the Loboc River Cruise, DOT bared.
Frasco assured local government units that the DOT is working double time alongside the concerned government agencies to introduce the necessary infrastructure developments, particularly, in gateways such as the airports and seaports to herald to the world the country’s readiness to accept all the visitors raring to visit here.
“We have high hopes for the full and fast recovery of our industry, and to do this, we know that we need the full support of our LGUs—the governors, the congressmen, and the mayors- kamo ang mga bida sa turismo sa administrasyon ni Presidente Marcos,” Frasco added. (Photos: DOT/FB)
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