Phl tourism industry rises above adversity

The local tourism sector has remained relatively unscathed despite the unfortunate incidents that hit the country in 2017 – the Marawi conflict, the Resorts World Manila attack and the travel warnings issued against the Philippines.

The Philippine economy has remained resilient on the back of its sound fundamentals and a growing tourism sector.

Based on the latest data from the Department of Tourism (DOT), visitor arrivals reached 5.47 million from January to October 2017, up 11.54 percent from the same period in 2016.

“Despite the many challenges we faced last year, we’re very happy with the tourist arrivals,” DOT assistant secretary and spokesperson Frederick Alegre told The STAR.

Among the major challenges that plagued the tourism sector last year were security issues brought about by the Marawi conflict in May and the Resorts World Manila attack in June, which led to the issuance of travel advisories against the Philippines.

Security issues slowed down foreign tourist arrivals in June and July, which subsequently affected the hotel sector.

A number of hotels recorded booking cancellations after the deadly Resorts World attack.

“There were booking cancellations immediately after the Resorts World incident but things are back to normal,” Colliers International research manager Joey Roi Bondoc told The STAR.

To quash the negative impact of these unfortunate incidents, the government needs to project a business-as-usual image and ensure that tourism establishments such as hotels, restaurants, and other entertainment facilities implement tighter security measures, Bondoc said.

Bondoc said DOT should also consider sending additional special missions to neighboring traditional markets such as Korea, China, and Japan to quell concerns about safety and security in the country.

“We believe that the government should properly communicate to tourism stakeholders that the extension of martial law in Mindanao is primarily meant to heighten security in the island region and ensure the safety of both residents and tourists,” Bondoc added.

Despite the travel warnings, Alegre said the Philippines managed to show it was a safe destination for tourists given the successful international events it hosted which include the ASEAN Summit in November, Miss Universe 2017 in January and the United Nation World Tourism Organization 6th International Conference on Tourism Statistics in June.

“The fact that we had global leaders coming in November and met with us and enjoyed our warm hospitality is proof that we are back on the map,” Alegre said.

Despite the declaration of martial law in Mindanao, the tourism department continued to promote other destinations in the country such as Palawan and Siargao, which is known for surf tourism.

“The Philippines has collectively more destinations to go to than any other country, at least in Asia,” Alegre said.

John Paolo Rivera, tourism associate director at the Asian Institute of Management Andrew Tan Center, said other areas in the country may be offered for tourism activities.

Apart from promoting new destinations, the DOT also gave emphasis