Department of Tourism (DOT) Secretary Dita Angara-Mathay met with global payments technology company Mastercard and its country manager, Mr. Jason Crasto, on May 19 to further push for a more digitally empowered tourism sector.
In a major push to strengthen grassroots tourism and drive inclusive economic growth, the Department of Tourism (DOT) and Mastercard are expanding digital and experiential initiatives that empower micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) across the country.
The effort forms part of a three-year Strategic Collaboration Agreement aligned with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s directive to position tourism as a key pillar of economic development while ensuring that growth reaches local communities.
Tourism Secretary Dita Angara-Mathay said the partnership is helping regional tourism stakeholders embrace digital transformation through cashless payment solutions, data-driven marketing, and global exposure opportunities.
“Our goal is to ensure that tourism growth benefits communities on the ground by providing local businesses with the tools and platforms they need to compete and thrive in the digital economy,” Angara-Mathay said.
The partnership has already delivered tangible results. Through merchant-focused activations and promotional campaigns, participating tourism enterprises have generated more than ₱6.3 million in sales, directly benefiting local businesses involved in travel, dining, cultural experiences, and tourism services.
A key component of the collaboration is the use of Mastercard’s “Destinations by SpendingPulse” platform, which provides the DOT with aggregated and anonymized spending insights. The technology enables the agency to monitor tourist spending patterns in real time, identify emerging visitor markets, and strategically channel tourism demand toward underserved destinations that stand to benefit most from increased visitor traffic.
The data-driven approach allows the DOT to make more informed decisions on destination development, marketing campaigns, and tourism investments, ensuring that opportunities extend beyond traditional tourism hubs.
At the same time, the partnership is opening new markets for local tourism enterprises through the Mastercard Priceless Program. The global platform showcases curated travel, culinary, and cultural experiences to millions of international and domestic cardholders, helping small businesses gain visibility among high-value travelers.
Local operators, artisans, restaurants, and experience providers from Manila, Baguio, Bohol, Bicol Region, and Ilocos Region are among those being integrated into the program, allowing them to reach broader domestic and international audiences.
By combining digital innovation, consumer insights, and global marketing platforms, the DOT-Mastercard partnership is helping create new economic opportunities for tourism MSMEs while reinforcing the government’s goal of building a more resilient, inclusive, and digitally enabled tourism industry.
As tourism continues to rebound, the collaboration highlights how strategic public-private partnerships can translate visitor spending into meaningful livelihood opportunities for the local communities and small businesses that form the backbone of Philippine tourism.