Domestic tourism to spruce up RP economy
By JACKY LYNNE A. OIGA
February 27, 2011
Manila Bulletin
Intramuros, Manila
MANILA, Philippines – Tourism in the Philippines continues to be vibrant and resilient despite the challenging times. After incurring a 17 percent increase on foreign visitors from 2009 to 2010, the tourism industry is all geared-up to start 2011 on a high note. First on the list is the intensifying domestic tourism – the key stabilizer of the tourism industry.
The Department of Tourism (DoT) and the Philippine Tour Operators Association (PHILTOA) are working together to implement plans and strategies to add to DoT’s existing programs for domestic tourism. PHILTOA will be aligning its programs with the DoT’s marketing directions and product development to come up with a variety of offerings that cater to the current market needs of the tourism industry.
“With the right programs, we can double the movement of the domestic market. Domestic travel is very important for the tourism industry. It provides sustainability and stability to our destinations especially during off season months and global economic downturns,” said PHILTOA president Cesar Cruz during their first General Membership Meeting.
During the event, Professor Benjamin Diokno, former Secretary of Budget and Management, discussed the tourism forecast for 2011 from an economic standpoint. According to Diokno, tourism is one of the potential growth sectors of the economy but the government has to be constantly proactive.
“Higher tourism activity will contribute to the development process of the Philippine economy in two ways: first, it will create more jobs since tourism is labor-intensive; and second, it will help reduce poverty especially in regions outside Metro Manila,” Diokno said.
Budget travels and competitive domestic fares are some of the reasons why Filipinos are traveling more around the country. To take advantage of this trend, the government, private sectors and LGUs should work together to cultivate new destinations that offer fresh experiences.
“We must work on connecting destinations to each other. For example, people already know about Boracay, Aklan but how about other provinces in Western Visayas like Antique, Capiz, Iloilo, Negros Occidental, and Guimaras? Marketing of top destinations must spill over to nearby provinces to generate more income not only for the LGUs but for the locals as well,” Cruz explained.
All in all, inbound tour operators are confident that 2011 will be a great year for the tourism industry.
By forging a strong partnership with the DoT, they believe that domestic tourism will be even more exciting for Filipino travelers.
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