Philippines as sports tourism destination pushed

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Tourism (DOT) wants to position the Philippines as a top sports tourism destination in the world, banking on the various attractions in the country and the passion of Filipinos for sports.

“The Philippines has a huge potential to become one of the world’s great adventure travel destinations,” Tourism Secretary Wanda Teo said during the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) Conference on Tourism and Sports in Vietnam last Sept. 23.

“We certainly have the competitive edge to make it big in this fast growing niche market of sports tourism,” she added.

Teo said the agency seeks to draw in more tourists and sports enthusiasts through the hosting of more local and international sports events.

Tourism undersecretary Katherine De Castro added the Philippines should aim for a bigger share in the multi-billion sports tourism industry by promoting water activities.

“Marine sports tourism, along with diving, are among the Philippines’ key tourism products. This alone can spur tourism growth in the country,” she said, citing other water sports such as surfing and wake boarding.

The DOT is currently implementing initiatives that would promote surfing in the country, particularly through the improvement of surfing facilities and training of local surfing coaches.

It is also targeting to position the Philippines as a top diving destination in the region.

The agency said it is also aiming to become the host of the next UNWTO Conference on Tourism and Sports.

UNWTO considers tourism and sports as complementary sectors, which share common goals, including forging better relations between different nationalities and cultures, and promoting peace. It added that together, the two segments can be considered “powerful driving forces” of the economy.