THE Department of Tourism (DoT) will be holding a first-ever Pride Summit as part of the government’s initiatives focusing on “inclusive tourism development and establishing the Philippines as one of Asia’s most LGBTQIA+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex, queer/questioning, and asexual plus) friendly destinations.” DoT Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco made the announcement on Thursday during the Philippine Financial and Inter-Industry (PFIP) Pride Summit 2023, where she also spoke about the enormous opportunities for the growth of LGBTQIA+ tourism in the Philippines. Frasco said the LGBTQIA+ community is one of the rapidly expanding sectors of society worldwide, with over 35 million travelers. The DoT has designated LGBTQIA+ tourism as a priority under the Office of Special Concerns of the Office of the Secretary, in addition to organizing the Tourism Pride Summit, set for September, with the PFIP.