AMID rumors of cancellation, Department of Tourism (DOT) Secretary Wanda Corazon Teo confirmed Thursday that the Philippines' hosting of Miss Universe on January 2017 will push through.
"Tuloy na tuloy po ito, (It will push through)," Teo said in during the Davao Regional Tourism Assembly at the Waterfront Insular Hotel in Lanang, Davao City.
Reports about the supposed cancellation have found headwinds in DOT undersecretary Kat De Castro's controversial post.
The lack of official announcement from the US-based Miss Universe organization also contributed to the rumors.
In an article, recent tirades of President Rodrigo Duterte against US President Barack Obama suggested that it may have contributed to the organizers' hesitation in hosting the prestigious event in the country.
It can be noted that last July, Teo publicly announced that the next edition of the Miss Universe will be held in Manila and plans to include other cities like Davao for auxiliary events.
Teo also reported the agency's takeaways as the Duterte administration turned 100 days in office.
"Three-pronged strategy that includes structural reforms, innovative product and destination development and creative marketing and promotion. In pursuit of this strategy, this is how we spent our first 100 days," Teo said.
"Under structural reforms, we have aligned market research-product development and marketing and promotion through review of work programs and budgets, reviewed internal processes and procedures to strengthen internal control, and implement faster reaction time for tourism concerns, reevaluated the National Tourism Devt Plan for 2016 to 2022 and we will soon recommence and encourage more active tourism councils and build capabilities of LGUs tourism officers." Teo added.
Teo said, on the creative marketing and promotion, the direction is towards a more customized, niche-specific marketing and promotion campaigns.
Some of the initiatives are overseeing the holding of the Miss Universe Pageant in Philippines such as taking advantage of highlighting tourism destinations of the Philippine's hosting of the Asean 2017 that marks its 50th anniversary, converting part of the DOT lobby into a Philippine Tourism Showroom that will showcase attractions per region and pushing for the opening of Davao-Manado route to encourage tourists to come in BIMP-Eaga subregion.
In her speech, the tourism secretary underscored that discussions among tourism industry players shall revolve around the 5Fs - Fit, Fun, Family, Farm, and Faith tourism.
"The overall direction is to create a country tourism program and enable the regions to cross-sell, promote each other and get real domestic tourism numbers up," Teo said.
Teo also said that tourism offerings need to go beyond just sights and combine excellent experience into the mix.
"We need to move from just being more fun and take it to the next level by providing flesh and substance that will deliver the promise," Teo added.