Tourist arrivals to grow 10%

Canada-based research and consultancy firm Colliers International projects at least 6.6 million foreign tourists visiting the Philippines this year. The figure is 10 percent higher from 5.97 million recorded in 2016 but still short of the government's 17 percent growth target.

The company made this positive projection despite current several peace and order set backs, and attributed the growth to the Philippines’ hosting of prestigious international events.

“The sector [tourism] should benefit from the spillover impact of the successful hosting of major international events in the past two years such as APEC Summit, ASEAN Tourism Forum, Routes Asia, Miss Universe, and the ongoing ASEAN Summit 2017.

The staging of these events only affirm the Philippines' viability as a key meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions (MICE) destination in the region, Colliers said.

According to Colliers, the growth of the Philippine tourism sector will be sustained by the influx of visitors from the country's traditional markets such as South Korea, USA, Japan, and China.

These four economies account for nearly 60 percent of annual tourist arrivals in the country.

Colliers also is confident that the warming relations between the Chinese and Philippine governments should result in more Chinese tourists.

Late last year, the Philippine and Chinese governments signed an agreement on tourism cooperation that includes exploring a possible increase in capacity entitlements in air services and encouraging airlines to open new flights between Philippine cities in the Visayas and Mindanao regions and Chinese cities. This agreement is expected to bear fruit in the next six to twelve months. —