The Department, of, Tourism, (Filipino: Kagawaran ng Turismo), abbreviated as DOT, is the executive department of the Philippine government...

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

List of Secretaries of Tourism
Name Month and Year Started Month and Year Ended
Jose Antonio Gonzales March 1986 June 30, 1987
Rafael Alunan III July 1, 1987 June 30, 1989
Narzalina Z. Lim July 1, 1989 June 30, 1992
Vicente Carlos July 1, 1992 1996
Evelyn B. Pantig (acting) 1996 1996
Guillermina T. Gabor May 19, 1996 June 30, 1998
Gemma Cruz-Araneta July 1, 1998 January 20, 2001
Richard J. Gordon January 20, 2001 January 2004
Robert Dean Barbers (acting) January 2004 February 2004
Roberto M. Pagdanganan February 2004 September 2005
Joseph Ace H. Durano September 2005 present