'AS of Oct. 3, 2023, I am pleased to report to this Honorable Committee that the Philippines has received over 4 million international arrivals into the Philippines, constituting over 84.7 percent of our target for this year. Thus far, the revenues contributed by tourism to our economy as of Sept. 30, 2023 [amounted] to P344 billion.'

Thus did Department of Tourism (DoT) Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco declare what she termed the resurgence of the Philippine tourism industry. The secretary revealed the good news during the public hearing of the Senate Finance Subcommittee 'J' called on Oct. 3, 2023, to deliberate on the proposed 2024 budget of the Tourism department.