Cruise tourism seen to account for 20% of foreign arrivals

MANILA, Philippines - Cruise tourism is expected to contribute at least 20 percent to total foreign arrivals in the Philippines this year, the country’s top tourism official said.

Department of Tourism (DOT) Secretary Ramon Jimenez Jr. said they anticipate cruise tourism to double its share in the arrival data to 20 percent from only about 10 to 14 percent last year.

“We saw about 40,000 tourists who arrived by ship in 2013. We hope to double that in 2014. We are seeing a growth of 20 percent,” he said.

Jimenez noted that for the past years, the country’s cruise tourism industry has been growing at an annual rate of only nine percent.

But recent developments, he said, have allowed more ships to pass through Philippine waters.

“Many international cruise ships are now focusing their attention to the Philippines. Recently, cruise ship Europa brought in some 800 tourists in Leyte,” he said.

He said for this month alone, the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) is expecting nine cruise ships to visit some of the Philippines’ best island destinations.

Last month, MV Costa Victoria, a luxury passenger cruise ship with 2,394 passengers on board, dropped its anchor in Puerto Prinsesa City for the first time. 

The DOT–Region IV, City Government of Puerto Princesa and the Island Paradise Travel and Tours – designated as the official land tour operator – collaborated in efforts to arrange professionalized tour services and manage the shore activities of the cruise passengers. 

Earlier, the DOT has identified at least eight ports as tourism gateways aimed at developing international hubs for cruise liners.

These gateways are Davao, Bohol, Boracay, Cebu, Metro Manila, Puerto Princesa, Subic and Zamboanga. 

PPA has also lined up various port development programs for the development of cruise terminals. These include the Ports of Puerto Princesa, Currimao in Ilocos Norte and Catgabacan in Bohol province.