THE Philippine hospitality industry remains in good shape today, primarily due to robust tourist arrivals—both local and international—according to a group of hoteliers in the country.
Hotel Sales and Marketing Association (HSMA) Charter Director Rose Libongco said accommodation business, in general, is doing very well as shown in the continuous development of various lodging facilities nationwide.
“More and more hotels and resorts are being opened up and they’re enjoying quite good occupancy.” For HSMA President Margie Munsayac, the proliferation of low-cost carriers has encouraged travel within the country, especially among local tourists.
She said more and more off the beat and track attractions—beyond the usual highly visited destinations, like Boracay, Palawan, Bohol, Cebu and Davao, among others—are now being developed to cater to different types of travelers. The vice president for sales and marketing of Maribago Bluewater Beach Resort also pointed out the increase in numbers of millennial travelers, who are always looking for new sites.
“Domestic tourism is very much alive. They‘re filling up the rooms of our hotels and resorts,” Munsayac said, while citing that local travelers now count at 65 million.
The influx of international tourists is, likewise, on the rise, according to the Department of Tourism (DOT). Korea is still the country’s top source of foreign tourists, with 976,499, a share of 24.16 percent. The United States (14.45 percent) followed with an aggregate 584,149 visitor arrivals; China (11.99 percent), 484,567; Japan (9.08 percent), 367,144; and Australia (3.98 percent), 161,016.
Completing the top 10 list are Taiwan, with a total of 157,517 visitors, followed by Singapore, 120,241; the UK, 117,535; Canada, 114,074; and Malaysia, 95,129.
At present, the occupancy rate of hotels and resorts in the country averages between 75 percent and 80 percent.
Compared to other destinations in Asia, the Philippines continues to enjoy long staying guests from seven to 12 days. “We‘re more into the money spent in the Philippines. And I think it is growing,” Munsayac said.
Brighter future ahead for PHL tourism
GROWTH prospects continue to be bullish with the Duterte administrations tourism initiatives in the pipeline, headed by Tourism Secretary Wanda Corazon Teo.
The global mileage it provides is seen to bring in economic gains in various sectors of the society, including both the tourism and hospitality industries.
“The Asean meetings, which the country is hosting throughout 2017, will contribute more arrivals on multiple occasions,” the HSMA charter director said.
“We’re looking to more foreign tourists arrivals for 2017 and beyond, as well as the domestic tourism numbers,” Munsayac said.
It is noted that the government is raising the tourist arrival target for 2017 to 6.5 million, from the projected 6 million in 2016, and domestic tourist target from 2016’s 70.5 million to 73.3 million this year.
HSMA is an association of hotels and resorts sales and marketing leaders, which count 76 members of three- to five-star properties in the country.