MANILA, Philippines – The Department of Tourism (DOT) reiterated its commitment to foreign visitors that it will not tolerate crimes against tourists and perpetrators will face the “fullest extent of the law”, Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco said.
In a news release, Frasco ensured foreign tourists, particularly from South Korea, their safety and security while here in the country, saying that the Philippine government “remains in close coordination” with South Korean authorities and relevant local agencies to ensure the continued protection of foreign visitors.
“This is something that we take with great seriousness, in a sense that we have called on our fellow government agencies to really ensure that we come together to prioritize tourist safety for South Koreans and all tourists coming into the Philippines,” the DOT chief said.
Frasco also broached for the formation of a National Task Force on Tourist Safety, after a meeting with Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin on May 21, 2025.
Secretary Frasco also met with officials of the United Korean Community Association, Inc. (UKCA), led by President Man Yeong Youn, last month, where she reiterated the government’s zero-tolerance stance against crimes targeting tourists.
“Any person who commits a crime against a tourist should be punished to the fullest extent of the law because the consequences are devastating. It does not just affect the victim; it affects the entire economy,” Secretary Frasco said.
“Millions of lives depend on tourism. Millions of people are affected by isolated incidents driven by intentions that are for themselves alone. So, for me, we should have zero tolerance for crimes against tourists,” Frasco added.
She also emphasized that the Philippine government is in close coordination with authorities from South Korea and relevant agencies to ensure visitors from South Korea remain safe.
“We have been in very close coordination with the Korean government, the chief of which is the Ambassador of Korea to the Philippines, to ensure that we work together to retain confidence among South Koreans in visiting the Philippines,” she said.
We are also working very closely with the DILG (Department of the Interior and Local Government), the PNP (Philippine National Police), as well as the Office of the President, in making sure that tourist safety continues to be a priority for the national government, in collaboration with our local government units,” Frasco mentioned.
The Department has already instituted programs that Frasco believes would strengthen the visibility of law enforcers in the different tourist destinations in the country.
Frasco was referring to the DOT’s Tourism-Oriented Police for Community Order and Protection (TOPCOP) program, with 8,610 trained police officers, and the activation of 30 Tourist Police units nationwide, 104 Tourist Police Assistance Centers and 1,243 Tourists Assistance Desks in key tourism areas, the DOT mentioned.
According to DOT data, South Korea is the Philippines’ top source market, delivering a solid 1,574,152 tourist arrivals in 2024 and contributed about USD 2.3 billion to the national economy.
For the first quarter of 2025 though, data showed a decrease in visitor arrivals from South Korea, citing “many factors” for low demand of outbound travel from the country.
Data from January to April revealed that about 468,337 South Korean travelers visited the Philippines, which is 18.03 percent lower compared to that from the same period last year.
The South Korean Embassy in Manila also informed its citizens through its website to take extra precaution when travelling to the Philippines to avoid being targeted by crimes.
Public safety issues, such as the kidnapping of foreigners in Batangas in May, also may have also contributed to the decline of visitor arrivals from South Korea, reports noted.
