Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco has urged lawmakers to pass a Magna Carta for Tourism Workers that will guarantee protections, security, and dignity for tour guides and other frontliners in the industry.

Frasco made the call during the first Philippine Tour Guides Summit held September 17 at the Fili Hotel Nustar in Cebu City. She told participants that the proposed measure would institutionalize benefits that should have long been provided to workers who serve as the backbone of Philippine tourism.

According to Frasco, tour guides deserve lasting protection during crises, permanent job security, and dignity in every stage of their work. She added that draft versions of the bill are already being prepared and will undergo consultations through the Philippine Federation of Tour Guides to ensure frontliners’ concerns are included.

Initiatives for tourism workers

Frasco pointed out that the Department of Tourism (DOT) has already rolled out several programs under her leadership. These include the distribution of emergency kits, livelihood support in partnership with the Department of Social Welfare and Development, expanded training programs, and easier access to financing through the Department of Trade and Industry-Small Business Corp.

At present, the country has 4,598 accredited regional and community tour guides, with Central Visayas accounting for the largest share at 2,020. DOT Region 7 Director Judy Gabato reported that 369 guides from across the Philippines attended the inaugural summit, which carried the theme “Love Our Islands, Love Our Stories.”

The event also became a venue for policymakers, stakeholders, and guides to discuss professional development, digital tools for storytelling, and higher service standards. International partners such as the World Tour Guides Federation and seasoned operators from the private sector also participated.

Tourism’s economic impact

Frasco underscored that tourism goes beyond visitor statistics, saying it transforms communities and provides livelihoods. She stressed that every peso spent on tourism generates a return of P5.50, a ratio unmatched by other sectors.

In 2024, the Tourism Direct Gross Value Added contributed P2.35 trillion to the economy, or about 8.9 percent. Employment also grew by 6.1 percent, reaching 6.75 million workers compared with 6.37 million the previous year.

A Philippine News Agency report projects that the sector will generate P2.7 trillion in 2025, with 6.8 million jobs tied directly to tourism.

Guides as defenders of the Philippine story

Amid criticisms that the Philippines lags behind ASEAN neighbors in tourist arrivals, Frasco reminded guides of their crucial role. She said that guides are the first faces visitors encounter and the last voices they hear, serving as storytellers who embody the country’s soul.

She encouraged them to continue telling the good stories of the Philippines, describing them as defenders of the nation’s image abroad.

By Jaja Agpalo