18 November 2016 — Undersecretary Katherine Chloe Sinsuat de Castro of the Philippine Department of Tourism paid a visit to the Philippine Consulate General in Los Angeles and met with Consul General Adelio Angelito S. Cruz on November 11.

She was accompanied by Assistant Secretary Gwen Cads-Javier, Philippine Department of Tourism-LA Representatives, Tourism Director Richmond Jimenez and Administrative Officer Fay Castro.

Undersecretary De Castro is in charge of the Department of Tourism’s (DOT) Tourism Advocacy and Public Affairs.

During her visit at the Consulate General, Undersecretary de Castro happily shared DOT’s new campaign under Secretary Wanda Teo. She said that DOT will be more specific in terms of tourist destinations and in identifying tourism programs to boost the already booming tourism industry.

She added that DOT will reinforce the Philippine brand and will definitely inject a more unique Philippine experience with the local cuisine and culture.

Consul General Cruz suggested that the Ambassador Consuls General and Tourism Directors Tour (ACGTDT) be revived.  ACGTDT is the flagship project conceptualized by Philippine Foreign Service Posts in the US to encourage Filipino-Americans and Filipino Canadians re-visit the Philippines and to attract foreign tourists from US and Canada not only to discover the Philippines’ amazing tourist destinations but also to experience the warm hospitality of the Filipino people. 

Undersecretary de Castro affirmed PDOT’s support for this proposal.  She added that DOT will work closely on revitalizing this program. This is in line with her campaign to bring Filipino-Americans to the Philippines for a possible meeting with the President.

Undersecretary de Castro also confirmed that the Philippines will host the 2017 Miss Universe pageant which will be held on 30 January 2017 at the Mall of Asia Arena.

This will be the third time the pageant will be held in the Philippines, the previous instances being 1974 and 1994. END