The Department of Tourism (Filipino: Kagawaran ng Turismo), abbreviated as DOT, is the executive department of the Philippine government responsible for the regulation of the Philippine tourism industry and the promotion of the Philippines as a prime tourist destination.
Started as a private initiative to promote the Philippines as a major travel destination, the Philippine Tourist & Travel Association was organized in 1950, and in 1956, the Board of Travel and Tourist Industry was created by Philippine Congress, until in 1973, President Ferdinand Marcos created the cabinet-level Ministry of Tourism (MOT), the agency Philippine Tourism Authority (PTA) and the Philippine Convention Bureau (PCB).
Then in 1986, under Executive Order Numbers 120 and 120-A signed by President Corazon Aquino, now the Department of Tourism was reorganized and the Philippine Convention Bureau was renamed as Philippine Convention and Visitors Corporation. In 1998, the Department of Tourism was one of the main offices of the government that is responsible for the culmination of the centennial celebrations of Philippine Independence from Spain. In 2002, the Department of Tourism initiated one of its most successful tourism promotion project the Visit Philippines 2003 in spite of post 9-11 threats of terrorism under Secretary Richard J. Gordon.
Tourism Projects
Visit Islands Philippines 1994
Miss Universe Beauty Pageant 1994
Florikultura '98 - international horticulture exhibition
Expo Pilipino 1998 - Philippine Centennial International Exposition
1998 Philippine Centennial Celebrations
World Exposition 2002 Manila (cancelled due to financial problems of the government)
Visit Philippines 2003
WOW (World Of Wonders) Philippines