Tourism as catalyst for growth

In his third State of the Nation Address last July, President Marcos emphasized that Filipinos have no less than 7,641 beautiful reasons to support the potential of our tourism sector, for which our archipelagic nation is internationally renowned and from which many Filipinos derive their livelihood.

Data from the Department of Tourism showed the Philippines had a total of 3.33 million international visitor arrivals as of July 19 this year, of which around 93 percent or 2.94 million are foreigners and the rest are overseas Filipinos.

The Philippines’ visitor receipts reached P282.17 billion during the first half of 2024, 32.8 percent higher than the P212.5-billion revenue in the same period last year.

Tourism has been a catalyst for the country’s economic resurgence post-pandemic under the Marcos administration.

Inbound and domestic visitor receipts totaled P3.367 trillion in 2023, a remarkable increase of 75.3 percent from 2022, according to the DOT.

In 2023, the sector accounted for nearly nine percent of the country’s gross domestic product, employing 6.21 million Filipinos, and contributing P3.4 trillion from combined inbound and domestic tourism expenditure.

Also, last year, the country’s tourism direct gross value added  jumped to almost P2.1 trillion, up by 48 percent from 2022, registering the single highest growth of tourism since 2000.

The country registered 5.45 million international visitors in 2023, of which 91.8 percent, or more than five million, were foreigners.

Recently, the DOT expressed confidence that it will achieve its 7.7 million foreign tourist arrivals by the end of this year. As of September, the Philippines has booked more than 4.1 million foreign visitors.

The department’s confidence in a better tourism industry for the country is partly due to the rehabilitation of the Philippines’ main gateway – the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).

The New NAIA Infrastructure Corp. (NNIC) recently took over the operation and maintenance of NAIA from the government’s Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA), which will continue to serve as the airport’s regulator.

Work has begun on the rehabilitation, upgrade and expansion of the airport. According to San Miguel Corp. chairman and CEO Ramon Ang, who is also chairman of NNIC, they are committed to delivering improvements within the first six months of the takeover.

According to Ang, a world-class airport will bring more jobs, attract tourists and strengthen the country’s economy.

NNIC will invest around P144 billion during the 15-year concession, with an option to extend for 10 more years.

The Department of Transportation said that once the airport’s modernization has been completed, its capacity will increase from 35 million to 62 million passengers, air traffic movements will rise from 40 movements per hour to 48, and service quality and compliance with International Civil Aviation Organization standards will improve. Other improvements include aircraft parking bays, an increase in vehicle parking slots, installation of world-class systems and technology, more food and beverage and retail options and more convenient land transport connectivity, among others.

Who knows, NAIA’s reputation may soon make a 180-degree turn, from being one of the worst airports in the world to one of the best.

Soon: A revitalized Intramuros

Recognizing the tourism sector’s massive impact on the economy, Next Generation Advocate Foundation PH Inc. (NextGen), a non-stock, non-government organization that advocates sustainable community development through tourism, among other initiatives, has partnered with the Intramuros Administration to revitalize the Walled City of Manila into a vibrant cultural hub.

The group aims to reinvigorate Intramuros, one of the Philippines’ most iconic historical landmarks, into a thriving destination where visitors can discover and experience the country’s rich history and cultural legacy.

A staunch advocate of nation-building, NextGen is committed to helping build and nurture sustainable communities through tourism, where opportunities for progress and development abound.

The City of Manila saw a huge surge in tourist arrivals in 2023, welcoming about 14.2 million tourists, according to the Department of Tourism, Culture and Arts of Manila. Intramuros alone drew around 1.4 million visitors last year.

Aside from tourism, NextGen is also advocating support for marginalized Filipino youth as it partners with the dynamic international organization Life Project for Youth (LP4Y), which spearheads initiatives to educate young adults aged 17 to 24 who are grappling with extreme poverty and societal exclusion.

NextGen has advocated support for these two organizations, Intramuros Administration and LP4Y, this year as part of its continuing commitment to take an active role in helping transform communities positively. NextGen brought together a dedicated group of advocates, including business leaders, community members and philanthropists, through its Play it Forward fundraising golf tournament presented by San Miguel Corp. and Acrocity.

Held recently at the Sta. Elena Golf Club in Cabuyao, Laguna, the gathering, which was sponsored by the Yanson Group of Bus Companies, Nationstar Development Corp. and Bingo Plus, drew another record pool of 180 golfers to raise over P30 million in donations, which will be utilized to fund NextGen’s core advocacies on disaster relief, youth empowerment and sustainable community development.

According to NextGen president Nadia Mirani Uttamchandani, their mission is to help build an inclusive future where every young Filipino is empowered to reach his or her full potential and contribute to a sustainable and progressive nation.

Last year, NextGen and its partners were able to raise P16 million, which benefited more than 37,000 Filipinos. These donations were channeled towards disaster relief response, the Pasig River rehabilitation project, feeding programs and charitable drives.

NextGen vice president Paolo Martel also said that they are dedicated to strengthening their disaster relief efforts, staying ready to act when it matters most and empowering the next generation with skills and opportunities to lead, while working toward food security and better health for all.

Since 2022, NextGen has been collaborating with like-minded institutions to empower communities to build a more progressive Philippines.

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