The Department of Tourism (DOT) on Thursday welcomed the United States’ decision to lower its travel alert in four key Mindanao destinations, seeing it as a positive development that will attract more foreign tourists to the stigma-ridden region.

“We’re very grateful to our friends from the government of the US for having downgraded certain areas in Mindanao,” Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco said in an interview on the sidelines of the Philippine Experience Program (PEP): Northern Mindanao leg in Cagayan de Oro.

“We feel that this will also encourage our tourists from all over the world to come and visit and to see that Mindanao is safe and Mindanao is a wonderful place for any type of traveler.”

The State Department last week updated its travel advisory for the Philippines to reflect the rescinding of the “state of national emergency in Mindanao.”

From alert level 3 (reconsider travel), it eased its warning for travel in Davao City, Davao del Norte province, Siargao Island, and the Dinagat Islands to 2 or “exercise increased caution.” (PNA)