Manila, June 11 -- The Department of Tourism (DOT) welcomed the latest economic forecast of the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) for the Philippines.

The WTTC, in its 2025 Economic Impact Research (EIR), said the tourism sector is projected to inject PHP5.9 trillion into the national economy this year, representing a 13.5 percent increase from 2019.

The group said this is set to be "a new all-time high" and will represent more than one-fifth or 21 percent of national gross domestic product (GDP), cementing the industry's place as a backbone of the Philippine economy.

Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco said Wednesday that the projections affirm the DOT's "resolve to elevate the Philippines as a tourism powerhouse in Asia under th...