Philippines tourism sector needs to improve competitiveness

MANILA, Philippines — While the Philippines tourism industry’s new push for sustainability is gaining global attraction, the sector is still in need of improvement in its competitiveness ranking in order to attract more hotel and tourism-related investments.

“The push for sustainability is important as this will reinforce the Philippines being renowned for its natural resources,” Colliers International Philippines research manager Joey Roi Bondoc told The STAR.

Bondoc, however, said there is still a need to improve the competitiveness of the travel and tourism sector.

“Generally the country’s travel and tourism competitiveness should improve. If this happens we attract more foreign tourists, including the high spenders,” he said.

He cited that there are three major areas where the country should improve to attract more leisure investments, and these are safety and security, infrastructure, and ease of doing business.

“We hear reports that business registration and licensing especially in local governments remains convoluted and this is a major deterrent to attracting hotel amid related investments,” Bondoc said.

In the 2017 Travel and Tourism Competitiveness report by the World Economic Forum (WEF), the Philippines also slipped to 79th, five spots lower than its ranking in 2015.

The report cited several categories where the Philippines needs to improve substantially, such as in safety and security category, where the country ranks 126th.

Network of Independent Travel Agencies (NITAS) vice president Angel Ramos Bognot earlier told The STAR that a better collaboration between the government and the private sector is needed to boost the competitiveness of the tourism sector.

“There should be a genuine partnership that has one direction and unified goal,” Bognot said.

Bognot said the private sector should be given the center stage in terms of tourism sales and marketing, and should be given full support by the government.

“Full support and incentivize programs of government is the key to successful partnership,” Bognot said.

“Consultation and collaboration are must actions for any policy making. Since government leaders change from time to time, there should be an institutionalization of major rules and development plans,” She added.