MANILA – Philippine Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco accompanied President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on a state visit to India to explore strengthening cooperation between the two countries in various fields, including tourism, trade, and investment. The visit is a significant event commemorating the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the Philippines and India and is expected to take the bilateral relationship to the next level.
In a statement, Secretary Frasco said, "I am honored to be part of the President's state visit to India, where we will solidify relations between our two countries and explore greater opportunities for tourism cooperation." She also identified India as a key market for Philippine tourism, adding that she plans to focus on strengthening connectivity, streamlining visa application procedures, and developing customized travel products for Indian tourists.
During the visit, Secretary Frasco held a series of high-level meetings with key stakeholders in India's corporate, aviation, tourism, and entertainment sectors. In particular, she met with officials from the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI), one of India's oldest and largest chambers of commerce, to discuss strategies for attracting Indian tourists to the Philippines. She also focused on improving accessibility by meeting with executives from Air India, the Indian national airline, and IndiGo, the country's largest low-cost carrier, to discuss expanding direct flight routes between the two countries. Through meetings with hotel and resort developers and travel agencies, she expressed a commitment to building close ties for the growth of the tourism industry.
Securing New Growth Drivers Through Film Tourism
One of Secretary Frasco's main agendas is cooperation in film tourism. The Department of Tourism plans to collaborate with the National Film Development Corporation Limited, India's state-run film agency, to actively promote the Philippines as a filming location for Indian movies. By targeting India's film market, one of the largest film producers in the world, the strategy aims to showcase the Philippines' beautiful natural landscapes to a global audience and increase tourist arrivals. The beautiful Boracay Island in the Philippines has been a popular filming location for Indian movies in the past, and this is expected to be an effective way to promote the Philippines' tourism appeal. It is anticipated that attracting film productions will stimulate the tourism industry and provide new employment and income-generating opportunities for local Filipinos.
The Potential of the Indian Market and the Effect of Visa Policy
India is a rapidly growing key market for the Philippine tourism sector. In 2023, the number of Indian tourists visiting the Philippines exceeded 92,000, recovering to pre-pandemic 2019 levels and establishing India as one of the Philippines' top 10 source countries for tourists. In particular, the Philippine government's recently announced visa-free entry policy for Indian passport holders is expected to be a major boost for attracting Indian tourists. Currently, Indians holding a valid visa from the United States, Japan, Australia, Canada, or the Schengen area can stay in the Philippines for up to 14 days without a visa. This relaxation of visa policy will be a major attraction for Indians considering the Philippines as a travel destination, and it will be a crucial factor in enhancing tourism competitiveness.
Secretary Frasco emphasized that this state visit will elevate bilateral relations and provide more employment and livelihood opportunities for Filipinos through cooperation across various sectors and people-to-people exchanges. Strengthening tourism cooperation between the Philippines and India is seen as an important step to promote economic growth and activate cultural exchange between the two countries.
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