Department of Tourism (DOT) Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco led the inauguration of the first completed Tourist Rest Area (TRA) on July 10. This facility, situated in Medellin, is the initial TRA among the 10 that the DOT commenced construction on last year.
Tourists traveling to the northern part of Cebu can now make a stopover at the TRA in Medellin to avail of its free services, including the use of its charging station, and comfortable seating to rest in between travels.
The TRA serves as a convergence point for both foreign and local travelers, providing them with information about tourism sites, attractions, accommodations, and safety concerns. It also offers amenities such as clean restrooms and a pasalubong center where visitors can purchase local crafts and products.
“Every detail of a tourist journey is important to the department of tourism and that is why we decided to address one of the most basic necessities of travel–clean and decent restrooms and information center and pasalubong center,” Secretary Frasco said in her speech.
During the turnover ceremony, Secretary Frasco announced that the DOT plans to add 15 more TRAs to the existing 10. The DOT had previously broken ground on TRAs in various locations across Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao, including Manolo Fortich, Samal Island, Carcar, Carmen, Moalboal, Dauis, Pagudpud, Roxas, and Baguio City.
Cebu Governor Gwen Garcia, who is present in the inauguration, shared that the Provincial Government will replicate the TRA project in Cebu, with Bogo town being the first beneficiary. Stakeholders, including members of the consular corps, governors, local mayors, and representatives from the private sector, expressed their support for the DOT and Secretary Frasco during the ceremony.
“In our tourism stakeholders—from the resorts, hotels, organization, groups, chambers, that have all declared that they love the Philippines, and from our Filipino brothers and sisters who have expressed their collective love for our nation—love is what has seen us through. The dark days of the pandemic and the many calamities that have come into our shores, love is what will prevail to usher us into this golden era of tourism,”she said.
The turnover ceremony was attended by various officials, including Deputy House Speaker Duke Frasco, Medellin Vice Mayor Alfonso Lim, DOT Undersecretary Shahlimar Hofer Tamano, and Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA) Assistant Chief Operating Officer (ACOO) Gregory Oller.