MANILA -- President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., through the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA), approved the grant of an additional P5 million for each winner of the Department of Tourism’s (DOT) Tourism Champions Challenge.

“We are doing this because it is a very, very good policy to invest in success. So, make the most of it. Make the Philippines proud. Make the Filipinos proud,” the President said during the Tourism Champions Challenge Awarding Ceremony at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) in Pasay City on Monday.

“Each winner deserves this additional reward towards building infinite capabilities to make everything better,” Marcos said. “It is also a reaffirmation of my belief that local governments are our indispensable and active partners in national development,” he further stated.

President Marcos assured the sector of the national government’s continued support, as he vowed to build more infrastructure, implement tourism-friendly policies, and arouse interest from global audience.

The Tourism Champions Challenge is a step in the right direction, an activity that elicits creativity that could magnify the magnetism of Philippine tourism industry, he noted.

At the same time, President Marcos told industry players and other stakeholders to highlight, not only the country’s beauty and physical wonderment, but also the warmth, affection, and love “that Filipinos always bring to their relationship.”

“We show the world that we have long been ready to love them back,” he said.

Marcos commended Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco, the DOT, and TIEZA for their exemplary work in carrying out the program.

Last year, the Philippines welcomed 5.5 million inbound tourists, a 100 percent jump from the 2022 record. Registering more than 1.2 million tourist arrivals in the first two months of 2024, the DOT has expressed optimism in sustaining the gains it made. The agency targets to welcome 7.7 million inbound tourists this year. (PND)