CEBU, Philippines - Tourism players vowed to help the government’s bid to achieve the 10 million foreign tourist arrivals by 2016 as well as the target for 35 million Filipinos to travel around the Philippines in the next four years.
While some are considering this target ambitious, Tourism Congress president Marceline Clemente said it is feasible, specifically if the private sector will help the government in promoting tourism here and abroad.
During the recently concluded two-day Tourism Congress Visayas Forum held at the Marco Polo Plaza Cebu, Clemente urged players from all over the country to seriously discuss and deliberate on the concerns of the sector, in order for the group to make its formal suggestion to be submitted to the Department of Tourism (DOT).
Philippines is up to rake a total tourism expenditure receipts of US$9.2 billion by 2016 if 10 million tourists will be visiting the country. This is calculated based on the average expenditure per tourist of US$100 per day.
The domestic travelers on the other hand, could contribute at least an estimate of P1.8 trillion tourism receipts, if 35 million Filipinos will be traveling in the different tourism destination around the country, on an average stay of four nights.
A Filipino traveler, taking a vacation off for four days, can spend about P11,166 per trip. If the new DOT arrival target by 2016, to hit the 10 million foreign visitors, and 35 million domestic arrivals will be achieved, the Philippines is seen to make tourism as its strong economic backbone, said DOT undersecretary for tourism planning and promotions Daniel G. Corpuz.
Among other concerns that were initially discussed during the forum, including the stakeholders’ concern on the connectivity issues, travel facilitation including high travel taxes, infrastructure, among others.
Corpuz said DOT is now working with different government agencies in order to address the concerns that largely affect tourism sector in the country, including its active partnership with the Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC), Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB), Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), among others.
This development described as “Convergence System” with different government agencies will be translated into formal Memorandum of Agreements (MOAs) between the DOT, to carry over the programs set with each government agency.
Corpuz expressed confidence that the Philippines will be able to achieve the arrival targets in the next four years, not only because of the active participation of the private sector, but also for the new branding campaign of the Philippines, which also attracted participation from ordinary Filipino citizens, including those that are based in other countries.
While the campaign “It’s more Fun in The Philippines,” has been successful online, “it can’t only exist online,” he said adding that the DOT is trying to raise funds to spread the campaign to other media tools, including print, television, and radio, and other marketing collaterals.
Given limited budget for promotions, Corpuz said the DOT hopes to gain support from other financial resources in order to strongly promote the Philippines, through the new campaign and easily achieve the targets.
At present, the Philippines is identifying product portfolios that will help push in hitting the targets, these include; Natural tourism attractions, cultural tourism, Sun and Beach, leisure and entertainment, MICE and events, health and wellness and retirement tourism, and cruise and nautical products.