Travel Industry Performance Philippine tourism: sustaining growth in a ch... http://www.eturbonews.com/10945/philippine-tourism-sustaining-growth...

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TRAVEL INDUSTRY PERFORMANCE

Philippine tourism: sustaining growth in a challenging environment

BY ETN STAFF WRITER | AUG 10, 2009
Industry Performance

Tourist arrivals in the top sixteen tourism destinations

went up by 16.5 percent, reaching close to 4 million in
the first semester of 2009.

The Department of Tourism’s (DOT) efforts to maximize

Image via blancsablon.com
opportunities in international markets and encourage
greater domestic travel movement in the first six
months provided the impetus to sustain tourism growth
in the midst of challenges brought by the global financial
crisis and Influenza A (H1N1).

This feat is attributed to the substantial increase in

domestic tourism by 20 oercent in the second quarter of
2009, which enhanced the business and investment confidence in the sector during the period
January to June 2009. Likewise, the changing lifestyle and travel pattern of more Filipinos and
Philippine residents to spend their Holy Week, long weekends, and summer/ holiday vacation in
the various tourist areas of the country boosted tourist flow. Foreign arrivals in key destinations
also increased by 6 percent in the first half of the year, despite a decrease of 6 percent in inbound
visitors into East Asia and the Pacific.

First and Second Quarter Tourist Volume: 2009 and 2008

Camarines Sur posted a hefty growth in both foreign and domestic arrivals by 52 percent and 260
percent, respectively, ranking it as the most-visited destination during the first semester with
902,202 tourists. The Provincial Government of Camarines Sur's investment in a wakeboarding
tourism product stimulated visitor volume while continuing to bolster demand for more
accommodation, tour services, and transportation.

The influx of tourists in Camarines Sur also facilitated the expansion of infrastructure and
development of tourism-related products. The success of this Local Government Unit (LGU)
initiative serves as a model for other LGUs to harness their tourism potentials and optimize local
resources to create more economic activity.

Cebu is the second most-visited tourist destination with 830,599 visitors, claiming a 23 percent
share of total arrivals. Cebu continues to be the top destination for foreign tourists with 321,116 in
the first semester. The expansion in air access from major tourist markets, including the new
charter flights from Incheon, Busan, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Kaohsiung, as well as the increase
in room supply, aggressive promotion, and public and private sector partnerships to diversify the
tourism products greatly contributed to the hike in visitor volume to Cebu.

Visitor count in Puerto Princesa and Bohol went up by 63 percent and 16 percent, respectively, as
diving, ecotourism, birdwatching, adventure, and incentive tourism products were jointly launched
by the DOT, LGUs, and the private sector. Increased demand also ushered the conception of more
community-based tourism products that increased the availability of product offering and livelihood
for local residents.

Other most-frequently-visited destinations included Boracay (383,813); Davao City (330,247);

Puerto Galera (215,755); and Ilocos Norte with 99,747 tourist arrivals.

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Enhancing Tourist Products

The increased demand encouraged more entrepreneurs to create new products and experiences for
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visitors.

The Island Banca Cruises in Cebu has attracted visitors with its differently-organized and packaged
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of Pandanon, and dive sites of Moalboal. Abuja Carnival 27-30 Nov 2010
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Kultura Filipino in Intramuros gave the tourists an opportunity to acquaint themselves with the
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Philippine cultural heritage through local dances, music, and cuisine. This product also serves as the
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Similarly, the Pasig River Cruise had lured back tourists to visit and appreciate the many sights and
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culinary treat, an historical tour, and entertainment.
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With increased popularity for adventure tourism, spelunking in the Sohoton Caves in Basey, Samar Best Airfares from the Philippines : Shroff Intl.

offered visitors with a quaint experience to commune with nature, explore the area’s wonders, and Travel

promote cultural exchanges. Likewise, cruising along the Golden River of Basey provided a glimpse Deluxe Tours - Middle East & Africa specialists1

of rural and community life amidst the scenery and images of clear waterways surrounded by Fiancee Visas Philippines

green vegetation.

The sheer motivation of the municipal government of Danao in Bohol brought a new dimension to Submit your your link

adventure tourism and created employment for local people. Dubbed as Ecological, Environmental,
and Educational Adventure Tour (EAT) Danao, this product offers an extreme and exhilarating
challenge with its 200-meter plunge, 1-km suislide, caving, river tubing, rappeling, kayaking, and
root climbing.

Likewise, the opening of a theme park called Fantasyland in Zamboanga del Norte had boosted
tourist arrivals in said destination. The entertainment facility includes interactive rides, shows, and
activities for foreign and domestic visitors. A 360-room hotel will also be built in the park.

Gauging from the interests of many foreign and domestic visitors to participate in environmental,
heritage, and livelihood projects, the Hands-On Volunteer Vacation Tour Package was launched in
Oriental Mindoro, Bohol, Boracay Island, Aklan, Laguna, and Batangas.

Trekking, birdwatching, and ecotourism products in Mt. Apo were enriched with new adventure,
camping, and cultural interaction activities, which have drawn more tourists during the summer
months.

The 3rd Philippine International Tourism Fair (PITF) in Cebu gave the LGUs and private
entrepreneurs a venue to feature these innovative and new tourism products to foreign buyers
from the Middle East, China, Hong Kong, Singapore, India, Japan, North America, and Canada.
Travel agents from overseas also availed of these latest tourism experiences.

Europe’s biggest long-haul travel group, the Meier’s Weltreisen, had its Far East Live Seminar in
Boracay and Manila, participated by 265 officers and member-agents who experienced these new Recent comments
and diverse tourism products, destinations, and facilities.
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Similarly, 110 top tour wholesalers from Switzerland visited Boracay, Banaue, Bohol, Cebu, and El more?
Nido to discover the different products in said destinations. These have intensified the awareness of Chaplin's World - the Modern Times Museum on
available tourism products for the European market. Lake Geneve
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Based on the survey conducted by the TNS in the first semester of 2009, the volume of dive Ethiopian Airlines to give ASKY Airlines added
tourists in Cebu, Bohol, Palawan, Mindoro Oriental, and Batangas grew by 62.8 percent. German oomph
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Overall gross receipts from dive tourism in said destinations posted an increase of 52.8 percent to
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P 31 million vis-à-vis P 20.2 million in the first half of 2008. Substantial growth of 82 percent was
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recorded during the first quarter of 2009. Revenues generated by dive operators in Bohol surged
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by 195 percent while those in Cebu rose by 69 percent.
more

At the 17th Marine Diving Fair in Tokyo, the DOT Pavilion attracted more than 20,000 visitors and
garnered awards for Best Diving Area, Most Desirable Destination, Best Dive Resort, and Favorite
Dive Operators for the country and participating dive operators. Deals of the week:
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The DOT also continued to draw dive tourists in its annual participation in the Golden Dolphin Fair in
the US and Europe to
Moscow, which attracted over 23,000 visitors from all the regions of Russia and overseas.
Ushuaia over the holidays!

Consolidating Growth for the Second Half of 2009

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As tourism facilities and products continue to expand, the DOT anticipates greater growth in tourist eTurboNews
arrivals in key destinations towards the end of 2009. The growing interest among LGUs and the Today's Travel Deals 9/24/10

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private sector to offer an innovative tourism experience for visitors will greatly enhance the quality
of Philippine tourism products.

DOT foresees that increased investments in accommodation and transportation, as well as

development of new facilities and destinations, will sustain the growth of the sector and position
Philippine tourism for the next level of growth spurts as international markets recover from the
global economic downturn.

EAST ASIA FILIPINOS PHILIPPINES TOURISM TOURISTS TRAVEL

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Comments

william barretto on March 29, 2010 - 1:22am

Excellent country , fantastic cities . I have been here and will come back again and again .

Reply | Flag

Brian on August 12, 2009 - 4:35am

Go Philippines !!! :-)

Reply | Flag

Brian on August 12, 2009 - 4:34am

The Philippines is such a beautiful country. Glad to read your article.

Reply | Flag

Eve White on August 11, 2009 - 6:28am

That is great news that tourism will increase.

Reply | Flag

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