DOT to boost security efforts for Korean tourists

The Department of Tourism (DOT) has pledged to boost security measures for the protection of Korean tourists in the country.

According to a statement on Friday, DOT officials had met with representatives from South Korea’s Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism during the ASEAN Tourism Forum (ATF) 2026 in Cebu City.

DOT Secretary Christina Garcia-Frasco highlighted that South Korea citizens remain as one of the Philippines’ top tourist visitors, which was why it was important to reinforce the country as a safe and reliable tourism destination for Koreans.

Efforts to beef up security for Korean tourists included teaching tourist-oriented police to speak Korean to equip them for coordination and communication with Korean tourists, particularly in popular destinations such as Cebu, Boracay, Palawan, Davao, Bohol, and Clark.

Korean-speaking agents were also strategically positioned at the Tourist Assistance Call Center (TACC) to extend immediate assistance.

“Considering how much South Koreans have loved the Philippines, and that love is certainly mutual, we do view with grave concern the travel alerts that are given to our tourist destinations, as a result perhaps of isolated incidents. We express our government’s unequivocal position on prioritizing the safety and welfare of our tourists,” Frasco shared.

Earlier, Frasco shared that South Korea was among the vital countries that enhanced ASEAN tourism.

She noted that it was one of the ''most economically significant and deeply integrated tourism partnerships around the world.''

''ASEAN's engagement with China, Japan, and the Republic of Korea remains central to the vitality of regional tourism,'' Frasco said.

''These markets continue to play a significant role in travel to the ASEAN, supporting employment, sustaining enterprises across the tourism value chain and contributing meaningfully to economic activity across our regions,'' she added.

The Tourism Promotions Board (TPB) had shared that Korea was the Philippines’ top inbound tourism market with over 1.76 million arrivals in 2024.

The Board projects P522.29 million in tourism-generated sales following the conclusion of the Philippine Business Mission (PBM) at multiple major cities in South Korea.

In a statement, TPB said that the program had seen a total of 792 business meetings between 204 Korean travel agents and corporate buyers and 40 seller companies.

They are now looking into further promoting the country as a wellness and leisure hotspot for Koreans. — Jiselle Anne C. Casucian/BAP, GMA Integrated News