Tourist Rest Areas (TRAs) all over the Philippines aim to enhance both the visitor experience and the livelihoods of local communities.
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s vision under his administration is to transform the Philippines into the “tourism powerhouse in Asia,” a directive he stressed upon agencies concerned for strict compliance and earliest possible implementation.
The ultimate objective is to ensure visitors a “seamless and enjoyable journey” by providing them with Filipino hospitality and infrastructure that complements the country’s scenic views and attractions and elevates further their travel experience.
The Department of Tourism (DOT) and its infrastructure arm, the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA), addressed this issue and came up with the Tourist Rest Areas (TRAs), which enhance both the visitor experience and the livelihoods of local communities.
According to President Marcos, speaking at the inauguration of the TRA facility in his hometown, Ilocos Norte declared, “The TRA is an important initiative for us as we want to transform the Philippines into the tourism powerhouse in Asia.”
Likewise, the Chief Executive envisions the Philippines as a globally competitive tourism destination, focusing on improving connectivity, accessibility, and the overall visitor experience through strategic investments in infrastructure.
With the modern facilities of TRAs, such as clean restrooms, charging stations, lounges, lactation rooms, and information hubs, travelers can enjoy a stress-free journey.
Elevating the Travel Experience for All
Under the leadership of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., the government has made significant strides in enhancing tourism infrastructure, including the establishment of TRAs to ensure a comfortable travel experience for both local and foreign visitors.
The DOT and TIEZA designed the TRAs to offer more than a place to rest during a long journey. These modern facilities aim to create a smooth, hassle-free travel experience by providing essential services like clean restrooms, charging stations, lounges, lactation rooms, and information hubs.
The design incorporates accessibility, ensuring that the TRAs accommodate senior citizens, families, and individuals with disabilities. By prioritizing these needs, DOT and TIEZA create an environment where every traveler—local or international—can enjoy a stress-free journey.
International Recognition for Excellence
Barely a year in operations, TRA has received encouraging remarks locally and internationally.
In fact, the TRA initiative has gained global recognition. At the GovMedia Conference and Awards 2024 in Singapore, the TRA project was named Infrastructure Project of the Year in the Tourism category. This award highlights the initiative’s success and the increasing importance of TRAs in the Philippines’ tourism strategy, which positions them as a model for sustainable tourism development.
Other Asian countries want to pattern their future tourism project after TRA.
Supporting Local Communities and Small Enterprises
A central aspect of the TRA initiative is its support for local economies. TIEZA strategically locate these rest areas in popular tourist destinations, where they serve as hubs for locally sourced products and offer a platform for small businesses and micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) to showcase their goods.
Visitors can buy locally made crafts, fresh produce, and regional delicacies, fostering a deeper connection to the culture and traditions of the areas they visit. This initiative empowers local entrepreneurs, stimulates economic growth, and creates jobs in surrounding communities, ensuring that tourism benefits extend beyond the visitors themselves.
Creating Jobs and Fostering Sustainable Growth
The construction and operation of these rest areas create valuable employment opportunities for residents. Local workers manage, maintain, and operate the facilities, contributing to long-term economic growth in the communities around the TRAs.
As tourists stop to enjoy the services offered, they engage with businesses and workers, further strengthening the local economy. This interaction fosters a sustainable tourism ecosystem where visitors and host communities share the economic benefits.
Expanding Across the Philippines
TIEZA had already opened the first TRAs in top tourist destinations, including Moalboal, Carcar, Medellin, and Carmen in Cebu; Manolo Fortich and Samal Island in Mindanao; Roxas in Palawan; Dauis in Bohol; and Pagudpud in Ilocos Norte. Each new TRA offers travelers a seamless, comfortable stop with various services—from information centers to clean restrooms and locally sourced products.
TIEZA has already completed nine TRAs, and groundbreaking ceremonies are set for 16 more. There are 23 additional TRAs to be implemented. These projects spread across the country’s most visited destinations, reinforcing the infrastructure that supports the growing tourism industry and contributing to local economic prosperity.
More Than Just Rest Stops—A Symbol of Progress
TIEZA’s work in developing these rest areas goes beyond constructing physical structures. The facilities offer a holistic, seamless tourism experience—supporting local communities, fostering inclusivity, and boosting the economy. The TRAs represent progress for the tourism industry and the Filipinos who call these destinations home.
Shaping the Future of Tourism
By addressing the needs of both travelers and local communities, TIEZA transformed the tourism industry into one that grows sustainably while benefiting all stakeholders. This aligns with the administration’s Bagong Pilipinas brand of governance and leadership, as tourism is an integral part of the country’s master plan for genuine development.
As more TRAs are built, they will enhance the travel experience, promote local products, create jobs, and strengthen the tourism ecosystem, ensuring the Philippines remains a top destination for global tourists.
Now an iconic landmark and a symbol of progress, the TRA in Cebu offers convenience and safety, encouraging more people to travel to the area.
Sleeping Town Awakens: Carmen, Cebu Transformed by Tourism Infrastructure
More than a year after its inauguration, the Tourist Rest Area (TRA) in Carmen, Cebu, has breathed new life into the once “sleeping town.” The TRA was an initiative of the Department of Tourism (DOT), following President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s directive to provide tourists with seamless travel experiences. It was successfully implemented with the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA), DOT’s infrastructure arm.
“‘Yung ganitong proyekto napakahalaga… [sa] sleeping towns kagaya ng Carmen before the TRA…nabubuhay po,” said Tourism Officer Tobias Maximino Villamor.
Strategically located along the Cebu North Road, the TRA is a convenient stop for travelers to recharge while promoting local tourism and economic activity. The TRA offers a variety of amenities for free, including restrooms, a breastfeeding station, gadget charging ports, and a pasalubong center.
More than the comfort it provides travelers, it has become a tourist and local hub. The tourists and locals now frequent the site to enjoy coffee and meals. They see it as a place to gather and unwind. Alive po kasi dumadami ‘yung turista. Hindi lang po yung mga turista, pati locals, pumupunta dito—nagkakape, kumakain, tsaka nagtatambay,” Villamor shared.
Before the TRA, the area was unkempt, serving as a dumping ground for various goods. Villamor remembered how the local government prepared and cleaned the site for the project.
“Before dumating ‘yung TRA, isa po itong parang bagsakan ng iba’t ibang mga paninda tsaka napakadumi pong tingnan. Nilinisan po namin tsaka pagdating ng TRA, naging maayos,” Villamor recalled.
The TRA’s impact is even more significant than initially conceived. It has become an iconic landmark, uplifting the community and making the once-neglected site a symbol of progress. The transformation has attracted over 100,000 tourists in just one year. Villamor reported that the TRA’s convenience and safety features have encouraged more people to travel to the area.
“Tumaas po ‘yung mga tourist arrivals namin kasi nung nalaman ng mga tourists na mas convenient at mas safe po ‘yung travel nila kasi may information center, malapit din sa pulis, parang gumaan yung pakiramdam nila na mag-travel dito,” Villamor explained.
Villamor expressed hope that similar projects will continue to bring life to other sleeping towns, saying, “Mas dadami pa yung mga turista na may trust and confidence sa mga lungsod na magkakaroon ng TRA po.”
Carmen’s transformation from a sleeping town into a thriving spot shows the power of well-planned infrastructure projects that benefit locals and travelers.
TRA is designed to serve as a central hub or a one-stop facility where foreign and local travelers can seek information on practically everything you want to know about tourism.
More importantly, TRA likewise serves as an accommodation venue for tourists in transit to different destinations, providing access to various essential amenities, including clean restrooms with showers, charging stations, lounges, and lactation rooms.
The design incorporates accessibility, ensuring the safe and comfortable stay of senior citizens, persons with disabilities, pregnant women, and the rest of the family members, which in effect provides for a stress-free stay.
The venue also houses a pasalubong center, where travelers can avail themselves of locally-made handicrafts, fresh produce, and regional delicacies, fostering a deeper connection to the culture and traditions of the locality.
Guided by the vision of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., the Philippines is focused on making tourism a driver of progress—enhancing infrastructure and promoting inclusive growth. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s administration’s commitment to collaboration and innovation is shaping a more accessible and sustainable travel experience, showcasing the best of what the country has to offer. (PBS)
