President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has appointed trade diplomat Dita Angara-Mathay as the new Secretary of the Department of Tourism (DOT), the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) announced on Friday, April 10.

“Her appointment reflects the administration’s push to position tourism not only as a cultural showcase, but as a strong driver of jobs, businesses, and regional development,” the PCO said in a press release.

“With her appointment, the administration aims to further align tourism with economic growth attracting more investments, supporting local industries, and ensuring that the gains from tourism are felt across the regions,” it added.

Angara-Mathay replaces Christina Garcia Frasco, who has been designated as Presidential Adviser for Sustainable and Resilient Communities last March.

Malacañang said the appointment is part of the administration’s efforts to strengthen the tourism sector’s role in driving employment and economic growth.

Prior to her appointment, Angara-Mathay served as Commercial Counselor at the Philippine Trade and Investment Center in Tokyo, Japan, where she handled strategic partnerships with Japanese industries—one of the Philippines’ key sources of investment and tourist arrivals.