More hospitality, road infra to keep tourism momentum

Tourism stakeholders are urged to sustain the higher-than-expected foreign arrivals to the Philippines, to sustain the gains of the tourism industry, making the country one of the top favorite destinations of global travelers.

Colliers Philippines recommended in its latest industry report, that part of sustaining the appeal of the Philippines to travelers all over the world, is to build more hotels near airports and improve road networks, along with consistent promotional events overseas.

Colliers reiterated its call for developers to consider building new hotels near airports and complement these with MICE (meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions) facilities to capitalize on the rebounding hospitality sector.

Recently, the Philippine Travel Agencies Association (PTAA) expressed confidence that travel bookings to increase between 20 percent and 25 percent this year due to pent-up demand.

In 2024, foreign arrivals are projected to reach 7.7 million, higher than the 5.45 million recorded in 2023.

PTAA has also organized travel expositions, featuring travel deals, discounts, and destination packages to attract more travelers.

Earlier, the country s flag carrier Philippine Airlines (PAL) expects revenge travel to continue, and the Philippines should intensify efforts to promote awareness among global travelers, encouraging them to explore the diverse offerings of the country.

In an interview, PAL president and chief operating officer Capt. Stanley Ng said to

capitalize further on the revenge travel phenomenon postpandemic, a concerted effort is needed, involving close collaboration with the government and other key stakeholders in the tourism sector.

By working in tandem, the Philippines can capitalize on the momentum of revenge

travel and position the Philippines as a top destination for discerning travelers worldwide.

Revenge travel will still be here, and continue to grow as long as geopolitical tensions

[in other countries] do not escalate, explained Ng adding that the airline has lined up a few

international direct flights from major airports in the Philippines, but the plans have been put

aside due to aviation industry concerns on the supply chain.

We don t have the aircraft at the moment because of the supply chain issue that we

are encountering worldwide, Ng explained.

As soon as the problem is resolved, Ng said PAL can pursue its grand plans of opening more direct flights for Europe, and Russia, and even make Cebu an international hub bringing passengers from China, Thailand, Indonesia, and Malaysia for transfer to other major destinations like United States, or Europe via Cebu.

Hotels, Resorts, and Restaurant Association of Cebu (HRRAC) president Alfred Reyes sees 2024 as a more promising year for tourism.

Reyes anchored his optimism on the active support of the Department of Tourism (DOT) in promoting the Philippines globally.

In 2023, the hospitality sector in Cebu witnessed a significant upturn in occupancy rates, averaging between 60 percent and 70 percent, a marked improvement compared to the rates observed from 2020 to 2022.

Reyes attributed this encouraging performance to the resurgence of foreign tourists, particularly from South Korea, a thriving domestic market, and the revival of the MICE sector, encompassing corporate events and various other engagements.

Our trend is going up. We are hopeful that 2024 is far better than 2023 in terms of tourist arrivals and hotel occupancy, Reyes said.

Tourism is one of the key economic boosters that should be watched out for in 2024, given its successful turnaround in 2023, Reyes added.