TOURISM Secretary Christina Garcia-Frasco has instructed the Tourism Promotions Board (TPB) to reach out to local government units (LGUs) across the country for the exploration and development of other tourism destinations.Frasco, who served as chairman of the Board of the TPB, met with the board’s officers on Monday, July 18, 2022. Among the topics and issues discussed during the meeting were the ongoing programs and promotions of the agency and upcoming domestic and international activities.The Department of Tourism (DOT) said Frasco ordered the TPB to reach out to LGUs and exhaust all assistance on tourism-related requirements of respective regions, especially the “lesser-known and underdeveloped” destinations.It said Frasco wants to equalize opportunities for tourism marketing and promotion among all the regions.The secretary is also keen on strengthening projects and programs granted by the TPB to LGUs by exploring tourism areas and communities that could be further improved.Amid the administration’s aspiration to improve digitalization programs especially in government offices, Frasco reiterated the need to maximize the use of Travel App 2.0.The application highlights the key and emerging tourist destinations in the country.Two years since the start of the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic, the Philippines has reopened its borders to tourists in February to spur the economic recovery.The national government eased travel restrictions especially for foreign travelers and tourists, reviving the tourism sector, which has been among the sectors hardest hit by the pandemic.The DOT said Frasco also had a series of meetings with various operating units, in which among the topics discussed were the Tourism Regulation, Coordination, and Resource Generation on infrastructure development, incentives for accreditation, and manpower. (SunStar Philippines)