In photo: Miss Universe Michelle Marquez Dee the country’s newest tourism ambassador (Photo from DOT-OPAA)
After the much talked about 72nd Miss Universe Pageant, Department of Tourism (DOT) Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco personally extended an invitation to Filipina beauty queen and actress Michelle Marquez Dee to join the Department’s promotional activities for tourism to further position the Philippines as a desirable country of destination among travelers.
This, as Dee paid a courtesy visit to the tourism chief at the DOT Central Office in Makati City, Friday (Dec. 1).
The tourism chief shared the DOT’s openness to work with the beauty queen to further promote the country’s multidimensional tourism gems.
Dee, who finished in the Top 10 for the 72nd Miss Universe Competition in El Salvador, also won the Best in National Costume award where she used the country’s tourism tagline “Love The Philippines”.
“Thank you for the honor that you have bestowed upon all Filipinos by carrying the flag of the Philippines so excellently and by declaring to the world your love for the Philippines and reminding the world of the many reasons to love the Philippines,” the Secretary said.
“On behalf of the Department of Tourism, I would like to extend my gratitude for your support for Philippine tourism as well as for carrying Love the Philippines, and I extend to you my invitation for you to continue to be an ambassador of tourism for our country,” she added.
Secretary Frasco also invited the Filipina beauty queen to join the Philippine Experience Program (PEP), the DOT’s new promotional project that highlights the country’s rich heritage, arts, and culture through a series of regional caravans.
“It’s not new because you have already acted as our tourism ambassador through your representation of the country in Miss Universe. So, we certainly hope that there are more opportunities for us to collaborate, to push forward the aspirations of our President for tourism in the country,” the Secretary continued.
“I’m so excited. I’m so humbled and honored. I didn’t expect this kind of overwhelming flow of reception, love, and support,” Dee replied.
In a separate interview with reporters, the beauty queen revealed that while she has traveled to a number of local tourist destinations, she wants to visit the Western Visayas and Mindanao regions.
“It’s no secret that I’ve always been proud to call the Philippines my home and I really wanted it to shine on the Miss Universe stage because it is an amazing platform to showcase what you are passionate about,” she said.
“I was able to showcase my advocacy, my creativity, and of course, hindi dapat mawala ang love ko for the tourism of the country. When we were chatting earlier, we will be touring around the Philippines. We will spread that goal and that passion to really make the universe know what tourism in the Philippines has to offer,” she added.-
