philippines tourism revenue

Travel, Tourism & Hospitality

Tourism industry in the Philippines - statistics & facts

Domestic tourism leading the industry in times of uncertainty, outlook of the tourism industry, key insights.

Detailed statistics

Value of domestic tourism spending APAC 2022, by country

Value of international tourism spending APAC 2022, by country

Estimated online travel and tourism revenue Philippines 2023, by category

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Current statistics on this topic.

Gross value added of the tourism industry Philippines 2019-2022, by type

Number of domestic tourism trips Philippines 2012-2021

Leisure Travel

International tourist arrivals Philippines 2012-2023

Related topics

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• Passenger transport in the Philippines
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Recommended statistics

• Premium Statistic International tourist arrivals worldwide 2019-2022, by subregion
• Basic Statistic Value of domestic tourism spending APAC 2022, by country
• Basic Statistic Value of international tourism spending APAC 2022, by country
• Basic Statistic Travel and tourism's direct contribution to employment APAC 2022, by country
• Premium Statistic Estimated online travel and tourism revenue Philippines 2023, by category

International tourist arrivals worldwide 2019-2022, by subregion

Number of international tourist arrivals worldwide from 2019 to 2022, by subregion (in millions)

Value of domestic tourism expenditure in the Asia-Pacific region in 2022, by country or territory (in billion U.S. dollars)

Value of international tourism expenditure in the Asia-Pacific region in 2022, by country or territory (in billion U.S. dollars)

Travel and tourism's direct contribution to employment APAC 2022, by country

Direct contribution of travel and tourism to employment in the Asia-Pacific region in 2022, by country or territory (in millions)

Estimated revenue on online travel and tourism services in the Philippines in 2023, by category (in million U.S. dollars)

Economic impact

• Premium Statistic Gross value added of the tourism industry Philippines 2019-2022, by type
• Premium Statistic Share of tourism GDP Philippines 2012-2022
• Premium Statistic Tourism industry growth rate Philippines 2018/19-2021/22, by sector
• Premium Statistic Tourism receipts Philippines 2019-2023
• Premium Statistic Tourism expenditures Philippines 2022, by travel type
• Premium Statistic Tourism sector employment figures Philippines 2012-2022

Gross value added generated from the tourism industry in the Philippines from 2019 to 2022, by type (in billion Philippine pesos)

Share of tourism GDP Philippines 2012-2022

Share of direct gross value added of the tourism industry to the GDP of the Philippines from 2012 to 2022

Tourism industry growth rate Philippines 2018/19-2021/22, by sector

Annual growth rate of the gross value added generated from the tourism industry (GVATI) in the Philippines from 2018/19 to 2021/22, by sector

Tourism receipts Philippines 2019-2023

Tourism receipts in the Philippines from 2019 to 2023 (in billion Philippine pesos)

Tourism expenditures Philippines 2022, by travel type

Total value of tourism expenditures in the Philippines in 2022, by type of travel (in billion Philippine pesos)

Tourism sector employment figures Philippines 2012-2022

Total number of people employed in the tourism industry in the Philippines from 2012 to 2022 (in millions)

Inbound tourism

• Basic Statistic International tourist arrivals Philippines 2012-2023
• Premium Statistic Tourist arrivals Philippines 2023, by country of residence
• Premium Statistic Expenditure value in inbound tourism Philippines 2021-2022, by type
• Premium Statistic Number of inbound overnight tourists Philippines 2012-2021
• Premium Statistic Average length of stay of inbound tourists Philippines 2012-2021

Total number of international tourist arrivals to the Philippines from 2012 to 2023 (in millions)

Tourist arrivals Philippines 2023, by country of residence

Leading source countries of foreign tourist arrivals in the Philippines in 2023 (in 1,000s)

Expenditure value in inbound tourism Philippines 2021-2022, by type

Total value of expenditure in inbound tourism in the Philippines in 2021 and 2022, by type (in billion Philippine pesos)

Number of inbound overnight tourists Philippines 2012-2021

Number of inbound overnight visitors in the Philippines from 2012 to 2021

Average length of stay of inbound tourists Philippines 2012-2021

Average length of stay of inbound tourists in the Philippines from 2012 to 2021 (in days)

Domestic tourism

• Premium Statistic Number of domestic tourism trips Philippines 2012-2021
• Premium Statistic Domestic passenger count Philippines 2023, by airline
• Premium Statistic Household expenditure share of domestic tourism spending Philippines 2012-2022
• Premium Statistic Domestic tourism expenditures Philippines 2012-2022
• Premium Statistic Domestic tourism expenditures Philippines 2020-2022, by product

Total number of domestic tourism trips in the Philippines from 2012 to 2021 (in 1,000s)

Domestic passenger count Philippines 2023, by airline

Number of domestic passengers in the Philippines in 2023, by airline (in 1,000s)

Household expenditure share of domestic tourism spending Philippines 2012-2022

Domestic tourism expenditure as a share of household final consumption expenditure in the Philippines from 2012 to 2022

Domestic tourism expenditures Philippines 2012-2022

Total value of domestic tourism expenditures in the Philippines from 2012 to 2022 (in billion Philippine pesos)

Domestic tourism expenditures Philippines 2020-2022, by product

Total value of expenditure in domestic tourism in the Philippines from 2020 to 2022, by product (in billion Philippine pesos)

Outbound tourism

• Premium Statistic Number of international tourist departures in the Philippines 2014-2029
• Premium Statistic Outbound tourism expenditures Philippines 2020-2022, by segment
• Premium Statistic Expenditures on accommodation services in outbound tourism Philippines 2012-2022
• Premium Statistic Expenditures on food and beverage services in outbound tourism Philippines 2012-2022
• Premium Statistic Expenditures on travel agency services in outbound tourism Philippines 2012-2022

Number of international tourist departures in the Philippines 2014-2029

Number of international tourist departures in the Philippines from 2014 to 2029 (in millions)

Outbound tourism expenditures Philippines 2020-2022, by segment

Total value of expenditure in outbound tourism in the Philippines from 2020 to 2022, by segment (in billion Philippine pesos)

Expenditures on accommodation services in outbound tourism Philippines 2012-2022

Value of expenditures on accommodation services for visitors in outbound tourism in the Philippines from 2012 to 2022 (in billion Philippine pesos)

Expenditures on food and beverage services in outbound tourism Philippines 2012-2022

Value of expenditures on food and beverage serving services in outbound tourism in the Philippines from 2012 to 2022 (in billion Philippine pesos)

Expenditures on travel agency services in outbound tourism Philippines 2012-2022

Value of expenditures on travel agencies and other reservation services in outbound tourism in the Philippines from 2012 to 2022 (in billion Philippine pesos)

Accommodation

• Premium Statistic Overnight travelers Philippines 2022, by type
• Premium Statistic Revenue of the hotels industry in the Philippines 2019-2028
• Premium Statistic Average hotel room rates Metro Manila Philippines 2021-2023, by star classification
• Premium Statistic Highest overnight room rates of hotels in Metro Manila, Philippines 2023, by city
• Premium Statistic Revenue of the vacation rentals industry in the Philippines 2019-2028

Overnight travelers Philippines 2022, by type

Number of overnight travelers in the Philippines in 2022, by type (in millions)

Revenue of the hotels industry in the Philippines 2019-2028

Revenue of the hotels market in the Philippines from 2019 to 2028 (in million U.S. dollars)

Average hotel room rates Metro Manila Philippines 2021-2023, by star classification

Average room rates of hotels in Metro Manila in the Philippines from 2021 to 2023, by star classification (in U.S. dollars)

Highest overnight room rates of hotels in Metro Manila, Philippines 2023, by city

Maximum overnight room rate of hotels in Metro Manila in the Philippines as of June 2023, by city (in Philippine pesos)

Revenue of the vacation rentals industry in the Philippines 2019-2028

Revenue of the vacation rentals market in the Philippines from 2019 to 2028 (in million U.S. dollars)

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PH tourism reaps P149B in revenue as of November from 2.4-M visitors

A stretch of Alona Beach in Panglao Island, Bohol which is world-renowned for its serene, white-sand beaches. (INQUIRER FILE PHOTO / LEO UDTOHAN)

MANILA, Philippines – The country’s tourism revenue as of November 2022 reached P149 billion, the Office of the Press Secretary (OPS) said on Wednesday.

Citing the Department of Tourism (DOT) year-end report, the OPS said the Philippine government generated P149 billion in revenue from the tourism sector as of last month.

About 2.4 million foreign tourists visited the country, which according to the OPS , hit 75 percent of the DOT’s target.

The department earlier said it projected about 1.7 million international visitor arrivals in the Philippines this year — a target it surpassed in November.

The OPS also mentioned the DOT’s 2023 goal of “2.6 million international tourist arrivals in a low scenario and 6.4 million in a high scenario.”

Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco previously noted that the volume of visitor arrivals recorded this year was only about 30 percent of the sector’s pre-pandemic data at 8.3 million in 2019.

According to the OPS, the DOT has also outlined its plans and programs in 2023, which focus on “connectivity, convenience, and e(Quality).”

Among its plans are to boost support for local government-initiated infrastructure, open up Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority properties to development through public-private partnerships, develop cruise tourism involving at least 136 ports of call in more than 40 islands, conduct regional travel fairs, develop tourism circuits and continue convergence with tourism-enhancing government agencies.

The DOT is also looking into establishing tourism information desks and tourist rest areas, upgrading the accreditation standards to ensure the competitiveness of the country’s tourism sector, opening Mindanao for tourism and promoting Halal tourism, among others.

RELATED STORIES: 

DOT raises 2023 target to 4.8 million visitors from abroad

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DOT reports 3M visitors, P212-M tourism revenue for 2023

The Philippines has hosted more than three million international travelers, the Department of Tourism (DOT) declared on Wednesday.

According to data released by DOT, tourist arrivals from January 1 to July 19, 2023 reached a total of 3,000,079 visitors and around P212,467,522,100.14 in tourism revenue.

This is a 502.02% increase in revenue from last year’s P35,292,495,457.14.

"We are glad to report that in roughly seven months, we have already achieved the 3 million international visitor arrivals mark, reflecting continued robust recovery and the gains of the Marcos Administration towards the resurgence of Philippine tourism," said Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia-Frasco.

The country has recorded 2,740,802 foreign tourist entries and 259,277 Overseas Filipino visitors.

The DOT reported that top foreign visitors were from South Korea with 741,658 visitors, United States with 550,569 visitors, Australia with 146,062 visitors, Japan with 143,227 visitors and Canada with 132,018 visitors.

"Tourism provides employment and livelihood to millions of Filipinos. We are grateful for the renewed interest worldwide in the Philippines, which offers a multitude of reasons to love travel across our islands. We thank as well our fellow Filipinos who continue to travel domestically, supporting our local communities and families who are all part of the tourism value chain." Frasco said. — Jiselle Casucian/BAP, GMA Integrated News JISELLE ANNE CASUCIAN###

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Philippines Tourism Revenue Growth

• Philippines Tourism Revenue dropped 89.4 % YoY in Dec 2021, compared with a decrease of -82.6 % YoY in the previous year
• Philippines Tourism Revenue Growth rate data is updated yearly, available from Dec 1971 to Dec 2021
• The data reached an all-time high of 88.4 % in Dec 1975 and a record low of -89.4 % in Dec 2021

View Philippines's Tourism Revenue Growth from 1971 to 2021 in the chart:

What was Philippines's Tourism Revenue Growth in 2021?

Philippines Tourism Revenue dropped 89.4 % YoY in Dec 2021, compared with a decrease of -82.6 % YoY in the previous year See the table below for more data.

Tourism Revenue Growth by Country Comparison

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2020 Survey of Tourism Establishments in the Philippines (STEP) - Economy-Wide: Preliminary Results

This Special Release highlights the preliminary results of the 2020 Survey of Tourism Establishments in the Philippines (STEP) for tourism characteristic industries classified according to the 2016 Philippine Tourism Statistical Classification System (PTSCS).

Number of establishments in the tourism characteristic industries increased by 5.5 percent

The preliminary results of the 2020 Survey of Tourism Establishments in the Philippines (STEP) showed that a total of 40,815 establishments in the formal sector of the economy were engaged in tourism characteristic activities. This was higher by 5.5 percent compared with the 38,699 recorded tourism characteristic establishments in 2014. (Table A)

Among the tourism characteristic industries, food and beverage serving activities recorded the highest share to the total number of establishments at 24,584 or 60.2 percent. Education, health and personal service activities followed with 7,591 establishments (18.6%). On the third spot was accommodation for visitors with 4,070 establishments (10.0%). (Table 1 and Figure 1)

Food and beverage serving activities hired the highest number of workers

A total of 672,947 workers were engaged in tourism characteristic activities in 2020. This represents a decrease of -12.6 percent compared with the reported 770,202 workers in 2014. (Table A)

By tourism characteristic industry, food and beverage serving activities hired the highest number of workers of 275,715 or 41.0 percent of the total. This was followed by education, health and personal service activities with 214,675 workers or 31.9 percent.  Far behind was accommodation for visitors with 83,457 workers (12.4%). (Table 1 and Figure 2)

Figure 2. Distribution of Employment by Tourism Characteristic Industry: Philippines, 2020

Food and beverage serving activities reported the biggest share to revenue generated from tourists

The total revenue generated from tourists in 2020 amounted to PhP 360.96 billion. Compared with the total revenue generated from tourists in 2014, this reflects a decrease of -26.2 percent. (Table A)

The top three industries in terms of revenue generated from tourists in 2020 were as follows:

1. Food and beverage serving activities with PhP 188.45 billion (52.2%); 2. Air passenger transport with PhP 58.87 billion (16.3%); and                                               3. Accommodation for visitors with PhP 40.45 billion (11.2%). (Table 1 and Figure 3).

About 6.1 percent of the establishments planned to expand and 8.2 percent planned to renovate within the next five years

Of the total 40,815 tourism characteristic establishments registered in  2020, 6.1 percent  planned  to expand  their business operations within  the  next five years.  This was lower by 4.5 percentage points from the 2014 proportion of 10.6 percent.

Meanwhile, the proportion of establishments with plan to renovate within the next five years was 8.2 percent, lower by 7.7 percentage points from the  15.9 percent recorded in 2014. (Figure 4, Tables A and 1)

Listed below are the top tourism characteristic industries relative to their expansion and renovation plans within the next five years:

1. Food and beverage serving activities with 47.6 percent of the establishments with expansion plan and 41.0 percent with plan to renovate; 2. Education, health and personal service activities with 23.0 percent of the establishments with plan to expand and 21.9 percent with plan to renovate; and 3. Accommodation for visitors with 15.4 percent of the establishments with expansion plan and 20.5 percent with plan to renovate. (Table 1 and Figure 4)

Solid waste generated from tourism characteristic industries totaled to 67.55 million kilograms in 2020

More than 95.0 percent of the total solid waste disposed by tourism characteristics industries in 2020 were generated by three out of the 12 tourism characteristics industries. These three industries with highest solid waste disposal in 2020 were food and beverage serving activities with 49.5 percent share, followed by education, health and personal service activities, and accommodation for visitors with 25.4 percent and 20.2 percent share, respectively. (Table 1)

Air passenger transport recorded the highest proportion of establishments with DOT accreditation

About 27.0 percent of the total tourism characteristics establishments reported in 2020 were accredited by the Department of Tourism (DOT). This was higher by 3.1 percentage points than the reported proportion of 23.6 percent in 2014. (Table A)

DIVINA GRACIA L. DEL PRADO, Ph.D. (Assistant National Statistician) Officer-in-Charge, Deputy National Statistician Sectoral Statistics Office

TECHNICAL NOTES

I. Introduction

This Special Release presents the preliminary results of the 2020 Survey of Tourism Establishments in the Philippines (STEP).

The 2020 STEP is the third survey conducted on tourism establishments in the Philippines. It is a rider to the 2020 Annual Survey of Philippine Business and Industry (ASPBI). Data collected from the survey provide information on the availability of supply of tourism goods, products and services, which are valuable inputs in the compilation of the Philippine Tourism Satellite Account (PTSA).

The conduct of the 2020 STEP is authorized under Republic Act 10625 known as the Philippine Statistical Act of 2013, which mandates reorganizing and strengthening of the Philippine Statistical System (PSS), its agencies and instrumentalities.

II. Data Collection and Processing

The survey was conducted nationwide in 2021 with the year 2020 as the reference period of data, except for employment which is as of 15 November 2020.

Sample establishments were given various options in accomplishing the survey questionnaire. These were the following:

• online questionnaire available at https://step.psa.gov.ph; • electronic copy of the questionnaire either in portable document format (.pdf) or Excel (.xlsx) file format; and • printed copy of the questionnaire.

The Establishment Data Management System (EDMS) was utilized in the decentralized processing of 2020 STEP questionnaires in the provinces.

Data are presented by tourism characteristic industries classified according to the 2016 Philippine Tourism Statistical Classification System (PTSCS).

III. Taxonomy of Establishments

An establishment is defined as an economic unit under a single ownership or control which engages in one or predominantly one kind of economic activity at a single fixed location.

An establishment is categorized by its economic organization, legal organization, industrial classification, employment size, and geographic location.

Economic Organization refers to the organizational structure or role of the establishment in the organization. An establishment may be single establishment, branch, establishment and main office with branches elsewhere, main office only, and ancillary unit other than main office.

Legal Organization refers to the legal form of the economic entity, which owns the establishment. An establishment may be single proprietorship, partnership, government corporation, stock corporation, non-stock corporation, or cooperative.

Industrial Classification of an economic unit was determined by the activity from which it derives its major income or revenue. The 2009 PSIC, which was approved for adoption by government agencies and instrumentalities through PSA Resolution No. 01 Series of 2017-158 signed on 14 February 2017 was utilized to classify economic units according to their economic activities.

Size of an establishment is determined by its total employment as of the time of visit during the latest Updating of the List of Establishments.

T otal Employment (TE) refers to the total number of persons who work in or for the establishment. This includes paid employees, working owners, unpaid workers and all employees who work full-time or part-time including seasonal workers. Also included are persons on short-term leave such as those on sick, vacation or annual leaves and on strike.

Geographic Classification refers to the grouping of establishments by geographic area using the Philippine Standard Geographic Code (PSGC) classification. The PSGC contains the latest updates on the official number of regions, provinces, cities, municipalities, and barangays in the Philippines. The PSGC as of 31 December 2020 was used for the 2020 STEP.

IV. Scope and Coverage

The 2020 STEP was a nationwide undertaking and covered tourism characteristic industries classified according to the 2016 Philippine Tourism Statistical Classification System (PTSCS) as defined in Table 1.

Table 1. Scope and Coverage of the 2020 STEP

The survey was confined to the formal sector of the economy, which consists of the following:

• Corporations and partnership • Cooperatives and foundations • Single proprietorship with employment of 10 and over; and • Single proprietorships with branches

Hence, the 2020 STEP covered only the following economic units:

All establishments with total employment (TE) of 10 or more, and;

• All establishments with TE of less than 10, except those establishments with Legal Organization = 1 (single proprietorship) and Economic Organization = 1 (single establishment), that are engaged in economic activities classified according to the 2009 Philippine Standard Industrial Classification (PSIC).

V. Sampling Design

The 2020 STEP uses stratified systematic sampling design with 5-digit PSIC serving as industry strata (industry domain) and the employment size as the second stratification variable.

Stratified systematic sampling is a process of dividing the population into homogeneous groups, called strata , and then selecting independent samples in each stratum systematically. This method ensures that all important subgroups of the population are represented in the sample and increases the precision of “overall” survey estimates.

The geographic domain of the 2020 STEP is at the national level. The industry domain/stratum is 5-digit industry classification, and the employment domain/stratum is the MSME classification.

Unit of Enumeration

The unit of enumeration for the 2020 STEP is the establishment.

Sampling Frame of Establishments

The frame for the 2020 STEP was the list of samples of the 2020 ASPBI, which was extracted from the preliminary 2020 List of Establishments (LE) as of 06 January 2021.   This is to ensure that the sample of STEP is a sample of ASPBI as well.

Estimation Procedure

By MSME Classification

a. Total Estimate by MSME Classification

     m    denotes the employment stratum based on MSME classification        j   1, 2, 3,…, nm establishments   X mj    value of the j th establishment in the employment stratum based on MSME classification at the national level W mj    weight of the j th establishment in the employment stratum based on MSME classification at the national level

N m   total number of establishments in the employment stratum based on MSME classification at the national level n m   number of sample establishments in the employment stratum based on MSME classification at the national level

By Industry Domain

a. Non-certainty stratum (All other establishments not classified as MICE)

    g    denotes the non-certainty stratum for an industry domain     j    1, 2, 3,…, ng establishments X gj      value of the jth establishment in the non-certainty employment stratum for an industry domain at the national level W gj    weight of the jth establishment in the non-certainty employment stratum for an industry domain at the national level

N g   total number of establishments in the non-certainty employment stratum for an industry domain at the national level n g   number of sample establishments in the non-certainty employment stratum for an industry domain at the national level

b. Certainty stratum (Establishments under Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions (MICE) as identified by the Department of Tourism (DOT)

The estimate of the total of a characteristic ( X c ) for the certainty stratum in an industry domain at the national level is

    c  denotes the certainty stratum     j  1, 2, 3, …, hc establishments X cj   value of the jth establishment in the certainty employment stratum in an industry domain at the national level h c   number of establishments in the certainty employment stratum industry domain within each region

c. Total Estimate by MSME and Industry Domain

where   d denotes the MSME or industry domain

Weight Adjustment Factor for Non-Response

To account for non-response and non-eligible respondents of the survey, the base weight was multiplied with the adjustment factor for each of the sampling unit. The computation of the weights is as follows.

a. Base Weight

W hj   = weight of the j th establishment in the h th stratum N h     = total no. of establishments belonging to the h th stratum n h      = total no. of sample establishments in the h th stratum

a. Adjustment Factor

To take into account for the non-responding sample establishments and non-eligible respondents, the adjustment factor by region and industry domain is as follows:

A s    = adjustment factor for industry domain s X 1i   = eligibility status of the ith establishment (1 if eligible, 0  otherwise) X 2i   = responding status of the ith establishment (1 if responding, 0 otherwise)

b. Final Weights

The final weights is the product of the base weight and adjustment factor.  That is,

VI. Response Rate

Response rate for 2020 STEP was 92.7 percent (9,132 out of 9,849 establishments). This included receipts of "good" questionnaires, partially accomplished questionnaires, and reports of closed, moved out or out of scope establishments.

Of the total respondents, 226 establishments responded online.

Reports of establishments which were found to be duplicate of another establishment, out-of-scope and out of business in 2020 were not included in the generation of statistical tables.

VII. Concepts and Definitions of Terms

Accreditation refers to a certification issued by the Department of Tourism, which recognizes the holder to having complied with its minimum standards in the operation of the establishment concerned.

Bed capacity is the maximum number of beds, which can be installed or set up in an assisted living facility at any given time for use of residents.

Booking office is a room where tickets are sold and booked, especially in a theater or station.

Carrier refers to a transportation company, such as an airline, motor coach, cruise line, or railroad, which carries passengers and/or cargo carrying capacity: the amount of tourism a destination can handle.

Carrying capacity is the amount of visitor activity that a site or destination can sustain.

Commission refers to the percentage of selling price paid to a retailer by a supplier. In the travel industry, travel agents receive commissions for selling tour packages or other services.

Computer reservation systems (CRS) are used for inventory management by airlines, hotels and other facilities. CRS can allow direct access through terminals for intermediaries to check availability, make reservations and print tickets.

Composting refers to the controlled decomposition of organic matter by micro-organisms, mainly bacteria and fungi, into a humus-like product.

Contractual employee refers to one employed by a contractor or subcontractor to perform or complete a job, work or service pursuant to an arrangement between the latter and a principal.

Disposal refers to the discharge, deposit, dumping, spilling, leaking or placing of any solid waste into or in any land.

Domestic tourism refers to tourism of resident visitors within the economic territory of the country of reference.

Electronic payment (e.g. Credit card, ATM) refers to money   paid electronically. Also known as e-money, electronic cash, electronic currency, digital money, digital cash or digital currency.

Inbound tourism refers to tourism of non-resident visitors within the economic territory of the country of reference.

Non-supervisory employees include any employee who does not have authority to hire, discharge, promote, transfer, suspend, layoff, or discipline other employees or to effectively recommend such action, or who is not in a confidential relationship with management. Determination of non-supervisory and confidential status shall be made by the manager.

Outbound tourism refers to tourism of resident visitors outside the economic territory of the country of reference.

Regular or permanent employment is when an employee performs activities that are usually necessary or desirable in the usual business or trade of the employer.

Seasonal workers are individuals who were hired for a specific period to augment the regular employees due to high demand of clients and/or increased work demands during peak months.

Solid waste includes all discarded household, commercial waste, non-hazardous institutional, ports/harbour and industrial waste, street sweepings, construction debris, agriculture waste, and other non-hazardous/non-toxic solid waste.

Supervisory employee refers to an employee who, in the interest of the employer, effectively recommends managerial actions if the exercise of such authority is not merely routinely or clerical in nature but requires the use of independent judgement,

Tourism refers to activities of foreign and domestic visitors traveling to and staying in places outside their usual environment for not more than one year for leisure, business and other purposes not related to employment with pay from within the place visited. Traveling for the purpose of conducting businesses, for education and training, etc., can also be part of tourism. Both foreign visitors (country of residence is other than the Philippines) and domestic visitors (Philippine residents) are covered in the survey.

Tourist/Visitor refers to a person traveling to a place other than that of his/her usual environment for less than 12 months and whose main purpose of the trip is other than the exercise of an activity remunerated within the place visited.

Tourism activities encompass all that foreign and domestic visitors do for a trip or while on a trip. It is not restricted to what could be considered as “typical” tourism activities such as sightseeing, sunbathing, visiting site, etc. From an economic point of view, the basic activity of foreign and domestic visitors is consumption, that is, the acquisition of consumption goods and services to satisfy individual or collective needs and wants.

Worker displacement is defined as the separation of workers to their jobs or termination of the employment relationship that is involuntary on the part of the worker, with a permanent effect without assurance of re-employment to the same employer or industry, and that is not caused by the worker’s job performance, work behavior and attitude, or work relations and other factors that are not attributable to the characteristics of the individual worker.

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES

Department of tourism.

PST:   8:36:19

Media Release

The Department of Tourism (DOT) endeavors to ensure the tourism resiliency of the country’s prime destination, El Nido, Palawan, through the full implementation of the Sustainable Tourism Development Project (STDP) this year.

CORON, PALAWAN -- The Department of Tourism (DOT) expresses support for Coron’s sustainable tourism development to draw more visitors and hasten tourism recovery.

PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, PALAWAN -- Department of Tourism (DOT) Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat supports the decision of Puerto Princesa City (PPC) executives to reopen its attractions to more domestic tourists with minimum health and safety standards in place.

The Department of Tourism (DOT) starting today, March 1, opens the application for the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) Safe Travels Stamp to all DOT-accredited accommodation establishments (AEs) and tourism destinations that are open to local tourists.

The Department of Tourism (DOT) celebrates the inclusion of Boracay's world-famous White Beach at the 12th spot and El Nido, Palawan's Nacpan Beach at 18th of the TripAdvisor Travelers' Choice 2021 Best of the Best Awards Top 25 Beaches - Asia category.

The Department of Tourism (DOT) is for the safe reopening of tourist destinations as this allows us to restart our economy and help our tourism workers regain their jobs. The Department therefore welcomes the approval of uniform travel protocols for all local government units (LGUs) by the Inter-Agency Task Force on the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-MEID) to facilitate travel movement and promote local tourism.

DUMAGUETE CITY -- The Department of Tourism (DOT) commits to assist yet another provincial destination as the local executives of Negros Oriental heralds reopening its sites to more domestic tourists.

SAN JUAN, SIQUIJOR -- Department of Tourism (DOT) Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat yesterday (24 February) traveled to Siquijor, as part of the ongoing efforts to assist in the safe reopening of tourist destinations in the new normal.

The Department of Tourism (DOT) expressed support for the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG)’s ongoing streamlining of travel procedures and requirements imposed by local government units (LGUs).

The Department of Tourism (DOT) commends the local government of El Nido for the tight entry protocols enforced to guarantee the health and safety of guests, workers and host communities in the tourist destination.

The Department of Tourism (DOT), in collaboration with the Provincial Government of Bohol, announced its online travel fair, Balik sa Bohol: Bohol Online Sale, which will run from February 21 to March 14, 2021. The island-wide travel sale will offer discounts of up to 70% off on accommodations, dining, and tour services.

Department of Tourism (DOT) Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat announced today (February 17) the formal reopening of the historic walled city of Intramuros in the new normal.

Relaxed health protocols that are standard across tourism destinations and personalized packages will encourage more Filipinos to travel locally.

The Department of Tourism (DOT), after repeated warnings against tourists who falsify their COVID tests to enter Boracay, has filed charges against the six (6) Manila-based errant tourists who were nabbed in January 2021 for Falsification of Public Documents. Marc Judicpa of the DOT Region VI-Boracay Field and Compliance Monitoring Office (BFCMO) filed the complaint.

The Department of Tourism (DOT) expressed optimism for tourism’s speedy recovery with the decision of the Inter-Agency Task Force on the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-MEID) to reclassify industries for the continued reopening of the economy.

LAGUNA -- The Department of Tourism (DOT) elevates cultural tourism and ecotourism in the new normal as these will heighten domestic travel in the province amidst the pandemic.

The Department of Tourism - National Capital Region (DOT-NCR) is returning with the first installment of its Leadership Excellence Series (LES) featuring a 3600 virtual learning experience. The hybrid training program inspired by the world-renowned TEDTalks will be brought to life from the traditional webinar format through 3D and greenscreen technology and is happening at the Okada Manila on February 11, 2021, from 2:00 P.M.- 4:00 P.M via Zoom and simulcast over DOT-NCR’s social media channels @TourismMNL on Facebook and Twitter, and Tourism MNL on Youtube.

The Department of Tourism (DOT) lauds COVID Task Force Chief, Secretary Carlito Galvez for granting the DOT’s request to include tourism frontline service personnel in the Priority Group of the country’s vaccination program against the coronavirus disease.

The Department of Tourism (DOT) announced today that Baguio hotels can resume receiving domestic tourists even under General Community Quarantine (GCQ). This, after the Inter-Agency Task Force on the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-MEID) passed Resolution No. 98 dated 04 February 2021, which granted the request of Baguio City to resume hotel operations in consideration of the huge number of confirmed bookings for the month of February.

The Department of Tourism (DOT) lauds recent developments to ensure Southeast Asia’s competitiveness as a single tourism destination and to bolster the recovery of tourism in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.

Department of Tourism (DOT) Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat and Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Secretary Silvestre H. Bello III on Tuesday (February 03) signed the DOT-DOLE Joint Memorandum Circular (JMC) No. 2021-001 (Amended Implementing Guidelines on Providing Financial Assistance and Cash-For-Work Program for Displaced Workers in the Tourism Sector) which amends the former JMC to further expand the coverage of beneficiaries to include Local Government-Licensed Tourism Support Service (TSS) enterprises, providers and associations of providers.

In light of the recent case of six (6) tourists entering Boracay with fake RT-PCR test results, three (3) of whom were revealed to be positive for COVID-19, the Department of Tourism (DOT) appeals to travelers to stop forging and faking travel documents, else face fines and proper criminal charges from the local government units (LGU), which may include the penalty of imprisonment.

The Department of Tourism (DOT) reminds travelers that for most areas, especially for Boracay Island, a negative Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) test result is still a requirement before entry.

SAN PABLO, LAGUNA -- The development of green corridors play an important role in maintaining regional biodiversity, improving environmental quality, offering economic resilience opportunities, protecting heritage and culture, and supporting the jumpstart of the economy to restart tourism activities in the new normal.

SAN PABLO, LAGUNA -- The Department of Tourism (DOT) pledges to continuously promote Laguna as a fun, safe, and sustainable tourist destination with the help of the local government units (LGUs) and the private sector in the province.

The Department of Tourism (DOT) welcomes the new protocols for arriving passengers contained in the Inter-Agency Task Force on the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-MEID) Resolution No. 97 dated 28 January 2021, following the body’s decision to lift the travel ban on passengers coming from countries with reported cases of the new Covid variant.

The DOT Cordillera Administrative Region (DOT-CAR) is currently investigating the reported party at a DOT-accredited accommodation establishment in Baguio City. A Notice to Explain has already been issued to the establishment.

Manila - The Department of Tourism (DOT) officially welcomed on Monday (25 January) Joy Nostalg Hotel & Suites Manila and Grand Hyatt Hotel as the first two recipients of the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) Safe Travels Stamp issued through the DOT.

BACOLOD CITY - After the successful reopening of Boracay Island to local tourists in October 2020, the Department of Tourism (DOT) is now in talks with local government officials and tourism stakeholders of Negros Occidental to explore the reopening of the province to more domestic tourists.

The Department of Tourism (DOT) is saddened by the news of the management decision to temporarily close the operations starting February 1, 2021 of Makati Shangri-la Hotel.

The Department of Tourism (DOT) in partnership with the Slow Food Negros Community, Negros Museum, and Provincial Government of Negros Occidental, on Tuesday (January 19), launched an 82-page cookbook entitled “Negrense Heritage Cooking”.

The Department of Tourism (DOT), in its Resolution dated 14 January 2021, finds the City Garden Grand Hotel (CGGH) in Makati City liable for the offense of gross and evident bad faith in dealing with clients/fraudulent solicitation of business or making any false, deceptive, or misleading claims or statements for the purpose of soliciting business from clients under Section 13.2 (c) of DOT Memorandum Circular No. 2018-03.

The Department of Tourism (DOT) celebrates anew with the world as White Beach, Boracay and El Nido, Palawan place 2nd and 9th, respectively, in Condé Nast’s Traveler's 25 Best Island Beaches in the World: 2020 Readers' Choice Awards list.

The Department of Tourism (DOT) reiterates that there are only fifteen (15) accredited accommodation establishments (AEs) in Metro Manila that operate as staycation hotels as of 05 January 2021

The Department of Tourism (DOT) throws its full support for the implementation of more stringent entry protocols in view of the confirmed new COVID-19 variant.

Department of Tourism (DOT) Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat has cautioned DOT-accredited hotels currently used as quarantine hotels to refrain from accepting guests for staycation purposes.

MANILA, Philippines – In a bid to further expand access to affordable RT-PCR (Real-Time Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction) test in time for New Year domestic travels, the Department of Tourism (DOT) through the Tourism Promotions Board (TPB) Philippines, inks a Memorandum of Agreement with the Philippine Children's Medical Center (PCMC) on December 28, 2020.

The Department of Tourism (DOT) has launched the Balikan Ang Pilipinas campaign to encourage Balikbayans to travel to the Philippines this season and visit the country's sites and destinations with their loved ones.

The Department of Tourism (DOT) throws its unequivocal support to the decision of President Rodrigo Duterte to temporarily suspend all flights from the United Kingdom (UK) starting Thursday, December 24, 2020 until December 31, 2020.

Baguio City – Department of Tourism (DOT) Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat announced that about 27,000 qualified displaced tourism workers in the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) have been endorsed by the DOT to receive the P5,000.00 cash assistance under the DOT-DOLE Joint Memorandum Circular No. 2020-001.

The Department of Tourism (DOT) has slated two engagement meetings with local tourism stakeholders on the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC)'s Safe Travels Stamp and its step-by-step application procedure and requirements next week, December 21.

The Department of Tourism (DOT) sets forth to satisfy holiday cravings for Filipino cuisine through its fourth installment of the KAIN NA! Food and Travel Festival happening from December 17 to 20, 2020.

To usher in the Domestic Tourism Campaign in this holiday season, the Department of Tourism (DOT) and the Tourism Promotions Board (TPB) Philippines, launched “Pasko Na!”, an Audio Video Presentation (AVP) promoting traditional Filipino Christmas practices through Ryan Cayabyab’s original composition that spreads positivity and holiday cheer while aptly reminding of health and safety protocols.

The Department of Tourism (DOT) lauds local government units (LGUs) for their efforts in reopening safe tourist destinations all over the country in answer to the increasing interest in travel and tour activities.

The Department of Tourism (DOT) has collaborated with the Philippine Center for Environmental Protection and Sustainable Development, Inc. (PCEPSDI) in holding a webinar training program for the hospitality sector to reduce single-use plastics while keeping in mind health and safety protocols.

The Department of Tourism (DOT) through its partner, the Makati Medical Center Foundation Inc. (MakatiMed Foundation) received strong support for its pandemic response and security initiatives in local tourism destinations in light of the current coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.

The Department of Tourism (DOT), through the Tourism Promotions Board (TPB), takes a step further in promoting Manila’s cultural heritage sites, collaborating with The Manila Heritage Trail and Manila Heritage Alliance to bring a free virtual concert titled “Hinahanap-Hanap Kita Manila” bannering the music of iconic band Hotdog to performed by various OPM artists.

Mabini, Batangas -- Department of Tourism (DOT) Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat on Wednesday (Dec. 9), expressed support for the continued development of dive tourism in Anilao, otherwise known as the birthplace of scuba diving in the Philippines.

The Department of Tourism (DOT) has already launched an investigation into the matter, and after due notice and hearing, will mete the proper administrative sanctions to the resort.

The Department of Tourism (DOT) condemns yet another reckless social gathering organized at a tourism establishment, this time at the Blue Coral Beach Resorts Inc. in Barangay Laiya, San Juan, Batangas on Monday, December 7.

The Department of Tourism (DOT), as the co-vice chair of the Boracay Inter-Agency Task Force (BIATF), condemns the tourists from Luzon who counterfeited COVID-19 test results upon entry in the island on Monday (Dec. 7).

The Department of Tourism (DOT) reaches out to tourism workers who were affected by the closure of establishments or those which scaled down operations, to immediately avail of the expanded financial assistance as part of the Bayanihan to Recover as One Act interventions to address the pandemic’s impact on Philippine tourism.

MANILA— The Department of Tourism (DOT) welcomes the decision of the Inter-Agency Task Force on the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) through the ratification of IATF Resolution No. 87 on December 03, 2020, to allow some types of indoor business meetings in areas under General Community Quarantine (GCQ).

BORACAY - Department of Tourism (DOT) Secretary Bernadette Romulo Puyat in today’s Boracay Inter-Agency Task Force (BIATF) Meeting in the island, hammered in the importance of strictly enforcing health and safety protocols to raise visitor confidence. “We cannot stress fully enough the importance of showing our seriousness in carrying out our protocols and guidelines. Our local leadership is key in bringing forward our improved image. Furthermore, it is our wish to make more affordable RT-PCR tests to encourage more visits.”

MANILA (December 1, 2020) -- The Department of Tourism (DOT), in collaboration with Guide to the Philippines and the Asian Institute of Management (AIM)-Dr. Andrew L. Tan Center launched a follow-up survey on Philippine Travelers' sentiments in the new normal.

The Department of Tourism supports Coron, Palawan’s decision to ease its travel restrictions starting December 1, 2020, allowing local tourists from ages 15 to 65 years old to enter the island under a test-before-travel policy.

The Philippines’ dive sites and Intramuros once again bagged accolades at the 27th World Travel Awards. The award-giving body recognized the Philippines as the World's Leading Dive Destination and Intramuros as the World's Leading Tourist Attraction in 2020.

Now that the Philippines has reopened several tourist destinations after many months of closure, it’s time to show the country how to smile again. The DOT’s latest video, following the “Noypi” tribute to medical frontliners, brings us back to familiar, yet slightly different territory: tourism in the new normal.

The Department of Tourism (DOT) welcomes the ratification of the Inter-Agency Task Force on the Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) Resolution No. 85 which includes the provision on allowing balikbayans’ entry to the Philippines.

The Department of Tourism (DOT), as co-vice chair of the Boracay Inter-Agency Task Force (BIATF) slams the irresponsible mass gathering at the Casa de Arte, Sitio Cagban, Barangay Manoc-Mano in Boracay recently.

The Department of Tourism (DOT) touts cultural tourism in Baguio as it remains optimistic that initiatives such as the Ibagíw Festival will sustain the treasured traditions and art forms of the city.

ILOCOS SUR – Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat was among the first guests of Ilocos Sur as the province reopened to visitors, this time including tourists from Metro Manila.

The Department of Tourism (DOT) welcomes and supports the reopening of another premiere destination- Siargao Island.

The Department of Tourism (DOT) is grateful to the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) under the leadership of Senator Richard J. Gordon for the initiative to reduce the Reverse Transcription -Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) testing price to PHP 3,300.

The Department of Tourism (DOT) commends the City Government of Baguio, Baguio Arts and Crafts Collective, Inc., UP Baguio, DOT-CAR and the city government for the successful launch of Ibagiw 2020. The third edition of the month-long creative festival kicked off with a grand opening on November 6, 2020 at the Baguio Convention Center and was also livestreamed on Facebook.

More than 7,200 hotels, resorts and other accommodation establishments (AEs) have been authorized by the Department of Tourism (DOT) to operate under different quarantine classifications and cater to different types of travelers, depending on their location and purpose.

MANILA – Banking on tourism as a key economic driver, the Department of Tourism (DOT) and Nissan Philippines have embarked on a road trip geared towards promoting safe and responsible land traveling to boost domestic tourism.

To upgrade tourism education and skills training in the country, the Department of Tourism (DOT) has closed ranks with the Department of Education (DepEd), Commission on Higher Education (CHED), Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), and the Tourism Industry Board Foundation, Inc. (TIBFI).

The Department of Tourism (DOT) welcomes President Rodrigo Roa Duterte’s signing of Executive Order (EO) 118, today, November 4, directing the Department of Health (DOH), in coordination with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), to ensure the accessibility and affordability of COVID-19 tests and test kits for all.

The 27th World Travel Awards recognized the Philippines as Asia's leading beach destination and Asia’s leading dive destination in 2020. The award-giving body also declared the Philippine Department of Tourism as this year’s leading tourist board in Asia, besting 11 nominated countries.

The Department of Tourism (DOT) invites foodies to embark on "Food Trips" with the second leg of its virtual KAIN NA! Food and Travel Festival 2020 from November 3 to 6, 2020.

Department of Tourism (DOT) Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat and Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Secretary Silvestre H. Bello III on Friday (October 30) signed the DOT-DOLE Joint Memorandum Circular (JMC) No. 2020-001, which contains specific guidelines for the provision of cash assistance and cash-for-work program for tourism workers that were displaced due to the ongoing pandemic.

Manila, Philippines - The Department of Tourism (DOT) and the Tourism Promotions Board (TPB) Philippines launched Travel Philippines, the country’s official travel companion, today, 30 October 2020. The app provides users access to the latest travel advisories and safety guidelines in various destinations that have reopened to tourism. The easy-to-use platform allows users to create itineraries for their future trips, find up-to-date information on their favorite tourist attractions, and securely store digital copies of travel documents.

The Department of Tourism (DOT) celebrates the news that two of our prime destinations – Palawan and Boracay, have made it to Big 7 Travel’s list of the 50 Most Beautiful Places in the World (https://bigseventravel.com/2020/10/50-most-beautiful-places-in-the-world/), ranking 8th and 18th, respectively.

MANILA – The well-received online learning event dubbed the “Leadership Excellence Series (LES) 2020” is returning once again this October as it targets to rebuild consumer confidence and redefine standards for the Filipino brand of service.

Department of Tourism (DOT) Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat urged micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) to avail of the CARES for Tourism Rehabilitation and Vitalization of Enterprises and Livelihood (CARES for TRAVEL) Program to help them sustain their businesses and keep their workers amid the on-going pandemic.

Department of Tourism (DOT) Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat appeals for a price cap on the real-time Reverse Transcription-Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) and Antigen tests for COVID-19 to enhance tourism revival, as the Inter-Agency Task Force on the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) relaxes travel restrictions in areas under General Community Quarantine (GCQ).

The Department of Tourism (DOT) welcomes the decision of the Municipal Government of El Nido to ease its travel restrictions starting October 30, allowing tourists to enter the island under a test-before-travel policy.

The Board of Trustees of the Philippine Retirement Agency (PRA), an attached agency of the Department of Tourism (DOT), has directed the PRA to suspend the issuance of the Special Retirees Residence Visa (SRRV) pending the review and amendments of the policies on age and visa deposit requirements.

Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat announced today that the DOT has been given the authority, by the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID), to determine the allowable operational capacity (up to 100%) for hotels, including staycation hotels, in areas classified under a modified community quarantine (MGCQ) and general community quarantine (GCQ).

ILOCOS NORTE – Department of Tourism (DOT) Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat announced that the Ridge and Reef Corridor heralds another milestone in the country’s bid to spur domestic tourism recovery.

The DOT welcomes the news that the province of Ilocos Sur will open to Luzon residents on November 15 once all systems and health and safety measures are in place.

BAGUIO CITY – The Department of Tourism (DOT) welcomes the decision of the local government unit (LGU) of Baguio City to open its doors to guests from Luzon, particularly the National Capital Region (NCR) and Regions 2 and 3, starting on October 22, 2020, noting that the anticipated influx of tourists will generate tourism activities that will spur a swifter recovery of the industry.

The Department of Tourism (DOT) welcomes the amended guidelines from the Inter-Agency Task Force on the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EIMD) regarding the more liberal interzonal and intrazonal movement of persons traveling between destinations under general community quarantine (GCQ) and modified general community quarantine (MGCQ).

Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat issued a reminder to “staycation hotels,” to adhere to the guidelines and protocols set by the Department of Tourism (DOT) and ensure a memorable and safe staycation of guests taking a break from months of quarantine.

The Department of Tourism (DOT) calls on divers to dust off their masks, fins, snorkels, regulators, and other gear as popular dive sites in Batangas prepare to welcome tourists.

Bring your own gear and use a defog solution for your mask.

The Department of Tourism (DOT) and the Small Business Corporation (SB Corp) today (October 12) signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) to finalize the CARES for Tourism Rehabilitation and Vitalization of Enterprises and Livelihood ( TRAVEL) program that will extend loan assistance to micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) from the tourism industry.

The Department of Tourism (DOT) will provide a total of Php 1.6 million funding to Boracay to cover the cost of reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) testing for the island’s tourism workers, as it expects more local tourist arrivals in the coming months.

Ilocos Norte, which is famous for a variety of attractions, including panoramic ocean views, a breathtaking wind farm, baroque architecture, and sand dunes adventure, is reopening its doors to more tourists from the rest of Luzon on October 15.

Cebu and Visayas Islands have been named Top Island in Asia, leading three other Philippine islands in the top ten of the Conde Naste Traveler's (CNT) 2020 Readers' Choice Awards.

Department of Tourism (DOT) Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat welcomes the adoption of the Antigen Testing as a way to determine if Baguio City's visitors are COVID-19 free.

The Commission on Audit (COA) Renders an “Unqualified Opinion” over the Department of Tourism's Financial Statements as of December 31, 2019.

BORACAY — The reopening of Boracay, the Philippines’ top destination, to new market sources signals the safe and gradual revival of the country’s tourism industry amid the pandemic, Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat said Thursday (Oct. 1).

Tourism enterprises can now apply online for accreditation with the Department of Tourism (DOT) with the launch of its Online Accreditation System.

The Department of Tourism (DOT) has issued strict guidelines for “staycations” as part of the government efforts to re-start the economy through tourism.

On behalf of the Philippines Department of Tourism, let me warmly wish everyone a happy and meaningful World Tourism Day. This year’s theme, “Tourism and Rural Development,” is particularly relevant to our country as many of our rural areas depend on tourism but have been adversely affected by the pandemic.

PANGLAO, Bohol – Even in the most unusual ways, the travel business has to continue to keep tourism alive.

Boracay Island will further open its doors to more local tourists on October 1, thus signaling the continued resurgence of domestic tourism nationwide.

BAGUIO CITY –Department of Tourism (DOT) Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat is back in the Summer Capital of the Philippines to officially launch the city’s first online visitor management system today (September 22).

The World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) has given the Department of Tourism (DOT) a SafeTravels Stamp in recognition of its adoption of “health and hygiene global standardized protocols” that will ensure safe travel during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Domestic tourism will be the main concentration of the Department of Tourism (DOT) in rebuilding trust and confidence in the travel market for next year.

The Department of Tourism (DOT) disclosed on Thursday (Sept. 17) some details of the loan program for tourism MSMEs that is being finalized with the Small Business Corporation (SB Corp) of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).

MANILA - A virtual ceremonial toast with customized wooden chalices marked the official start of the four-day KAIN NA! Food and Travel Festival 2020 on Tuesday (Sept. 15) with chocolate, coffee and tea taking the spotlight.

More than 10,000 jobs in the business process outsourcing (BPO) industry would be made available to displaced tourism workers nationwide this month.

Lifeguards will not be the only ones on patrol when the beaches and resorts reopen for business under the tourism industry’s “new normal.” Safety marshalls will also be on site to ensure physical distancing.

MANILA -- The Philippines, through the Department of Tourism (DOT), successfully hosted the virtual edition of the 3rd International Conference on the Association of Southeast Asian Nations Mutual Recognition Arrangement on Tourism Professionals (ASEAN MRA-TP) that is expected to largely influence the Department’s Tourism Response and Recovery Plan (TRRP), particularly its human resource component.

The Department of Tourism's food and travel festival, Kain Na!, is back and is prepared to serve exciting culinary tourism delights that everyone can enjoy online and in the comfort of their homes from September 15-18.

It’s official—the Philippine International Dive Expo (PHIDEX) is back for its 2nd edition through a digital platform from October 9 to 11, 2020.

The Department of Tourism (DOT), consistent with the President’s direction, has been engaging with the local governments, other national government agencies and local tourism stakeholders for the gradual reopening of the sector while underscoring the strict compliance of health and safety protocols.

TOKYO – The Philippines received the award as the Best Overseas Diving Area in the Marine Diving Awards 2020 held recently in Tokyo.

The Department of Tourism (DOT) celebrates the mention of multiple Philippine dive sites in the Lonely Planet's article entitled *quot;6 national parks around the world with surprisingly spectacular diving".

BAGUIO CITY – The Department of Tourism (DOT) threw its full support behind the Ridge to Reef Corridor Plan, one of the key strategies being explored to ensure Baguio City's gradual and safe reopening to tourists from nearby provinces within the year.

The Department of Tourism (DOT) expresses its deep gratitude to the Bicameral Conference Committee for approving the allocation of 10 billion pesos for the tourism industry under the Bayanihan To Recover As One or the Bayanihan 2 Bill. The recognition of the tourism sector by the Senate and House of Representatives, in the Bayanihan Act 2 measures, ensures the survival of our MSMEs since 99.9 percent of the 144,640 establishments in accommodation and food service activities are considered micro, small and medium, according to 2018 data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).

Online shoppers can now enjoy varied Philippine flavors, quality–sealed fresh and processed food selections, and other essentials all under one platform which provides a seamless shopping experience for the customer.

Panglao, BOHOL – Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo–Puyat assured the officials and tourism players of Bohol on Friday that reopening the island province to tourism would not be pursued at the expense of public health and safety.

The Department of Tourism (DOT) is pulling out all the stops to ensure that health and safety measures are in place in the country's tourist destinations and to reassure all stakeholders of government support as the industry prepares to slowly reopen.

It's a new world out there and we have to think out of the box if we want to go back to business as usual.

The Department of Tourism (DOT) expresses optimism for the recovery of the tourism industry, following the Senate approval of the Senate Bill 1564 or the Bayanihan To Recover As One Act on its third and final reading Tuesday (July 28)..

Boracay Island is now open to young and senior tourists from the Western Visayas region.

Meetings, conventions and exhibitions can be held only in areas under the modified general community quarantine (MGCQ) and only at 50 percent capacity, according to the guidelines set by the Department of Tourism (DOT).

The Department of Tourism (DOT) will team up with the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) to promote farm tourism and help the country's tourism industry recover from the COVID–19 pandemic.

Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo–Puyat has given the directive for schools to continue online English as a Second Language (ESL) programs to maintain the country's position as a leading ESL destination.

The Department of Tourism (DOT) today celebrates the hailing of Palawan as it reclaims the Best Island in the World title by renowned travel publication, Travel + Leisure.

Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo–Puyat said that more restaurants in Metro Manila are seeking accreditation with the Department of Tourism (DOT).

Dairy, fresh fruits, vegetables and other daily essentials will soon be delivered to your doorsteps by GrabExpress from 40 small farmers and MSMEs participating under the Department of Tourism's (DOT) Philippine Harvest online trade fair.

EL NIDO, PALAWAN -- Eyeing tourism recovery in the reopening of more destinations, Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat today checked the readiness of one of the Philippines' favorite destinations – Palawan.

Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat and Trade and Industry Secretary Ramon M. Lopez led the inspection of selected hotels and restaurants in the Ortigas Center on Wednesday (July 1) to check compliance with health and safety protocols under Metro Manila's General Community Quarantine (GCQ) guidelines.

The Department of Tourism (DOT) said that it anticipates the reopening of the tourism industry in concurrence with the local government units (LGU), with the easing of travel restrictions, as more places around the country transition to a modified general community quarantine (MGCQ).

Domestic travel will lead the recovery of the country's tourism industry with Filipino travelers expecting to go to destinations closer to home and spending less amid lingering health concerns caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat hailed on Friday the reactivation of the Tourist Police units, saying it would hasten the tourism industry’s recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.

The tourism industry will recover well from three months of quarantine and restore the jobs lost by millions of Filipinos dependent on the industry.

The Department of Tourism (DOT) celebrates the inclusion of Hidden Beach in El Nido, Palawan in Condé Nast Traveller's (CNT) "The 30 Best Beaches in the World" feature. The list was made in light of the pandemic, stating that "…while the world waits to find out when we can travel again, now is the time to think about a future summer holiday visiting one of the world's best beaches."

The tourism industry increased its contribution to the country's economy to almost 13 percent of the gross domestic product (GDP) last year, according to government statistics.

In line with the Department of Tourism's (DOT) priority effort to roll out its new health and safety standards as well as the Inter-Agency Task Force on the management of Emerging Infectious Disease (IATF-EID) restrictions among tourism stakeholders nationwide, the Local Government Unit (LGU) of San Juan, La Union recently conducted spot inspections among tourism stakeholders in its popular beach and surfing area and clamped down on enterprises that have violated national and local government issuances during the period of quarantine.

The Boracay Interagency Task Force (BIATF) decries the entry of a group of travelers to Boracay last June 12 that stayed up to June 14 when the island was not officially open for tourism.

The Department of Tourism (DOT) welcomes the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases' (IATF-EID) approval of the Department of Trade and Industry's (DTI) recommendation to allow the partial dine-in operations of restaurants in localities under General Community Quarantine (GCQ).

"The partnership of the public and private sector to ensure the safety and sustainability of tourism should be a model for other island destinations in the country," Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat said during the Boracay Inter-Agency Task Force BIATF meeting in Boracay on June 11, 2020.

While travel restrictions are still in place, for both domestic and foreign travel, the Philippine Department of Tourism (DOT) has been maintaining its presence online with its most recent digital campaign, “Wake Up in the Philippines” and its microsite philippines.travel/safeph for relevant updates on tourism-related sectors in the Philippines.

The Department of Tourism (DOT) has issued the New Normal Health and Safety Guidelines for Tourist Land Transport Services covering transport operators/owners, passengers, vehicles, and drivers.

The Inter–Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF–EID) further stressed the importance of the Department of Tourism (DOT) Certificate of Authority to operate for accommodation establishments (AEs) going back to business during the Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ), Modified Enhanced Community Quarantine (MECQ), and General Community Quarantine (GCQ) periods.

The Department of Tourism (DOT) has released Memorandum Circular No 2020-004 or the "New Normal Health and Safety Guidelines for DOT–Accredited Restaurants" that will cover the areas of Management; Configuration and Set–up; Employees; Customers; Service and other Procedure; Delivery; and Sanitation, Disinfection, Safety Measure, and others.

The Department of Tourism welcomes the latest tourism–related distinction received by the country, having been recently named as one of the "Rising Stars in Travel" by Forbes.com, the website of the respected American business and financial news publication.

The joint recommendations of the Department of Tourism (DOT) and Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) on health and safety protocols for restaurant dine–in operations were approved by the Inter–Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF–EID).

With the hampered travel movement brought about by the COVID–19 pandemic situation, work and play are inevitably done online. The evolving crisis and in anticipation of other challenges, the Department of Tourism (DOT) and its attached agencies are making sure that Philippine tourism remains competitive, adapts well and takes advantage of the digital revolution.

Department of Tourism (DOT) Secretary Bernadette Romulo–Puyat reminds tourism stakeholders, particularly hotel and resort entrepreneurs to secure a DOT Certificate of Authority to Operate before going back to business under the Modified General Community Quarantine (MGCQ).

The Philippine Department of Tourism (DOT) maintained its commitment to the Filipino Brand of Service and Hospitality, as exhibited by the agency's successful initiatives to assist a total of 36,947 stranded foreign and domestic tourists, since land, air, and sea travel restrictions were placed by the government as a precautionary measure to stop the spread of the disease.

We must make the transition to digital and online for our industry to survive.

The DOT welcomes the gradual re-opening of tourism operations in light of the varied community quarantine levels across the country, hoping to pave the eventual recovery of the Philippines' tourism industry.

The Department of Tourism (DOT) remains optimistic that the Philippines will regain the tourists' trust in the country as a safe and viable tourism destination sooner, and hasten recovery of the country's tourism industry.

The Department of Tourism (DOT) welcomes the encouraging developments towards reopening of tourist destinations and ensured that the tourism sector is ready to provide service under the post-lockdown "New Normal" scenario.

At least 84 domestic tourists stranded in Eastern Visayas since last March finally returned home with the assistance of the Department of Tourism (DOT) in joint efforts with other agencies and local government units (LGUs).

The Department of Tourism (DOT) has released the Health and Safety Guidelines Governing the Operations of Accommodation Establishments under the New Normal, indicating quite a number of significant changes in the country's frontline tourist services.

Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat expressed confidence that an imaginative Filipino gastronomy will remain a strong pillar of the country’s tourism industry under the new normal.

How will the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic crisis impact and reshape tourism, sustainability and conservation programs at the country' heritage sites under the new normal?

The Department of Tourism (DOT) commits to sustain the Filipino brand of hospitality and service to stranded tourists amid the government-enforced community quarantine brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic.

With Metro Manila now placed under modified enhanced community quarantine and the majority of the other places in the country under general community quarantine or GCQ, the DOT, together with the Inter–Agency Taskforce on Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF–EID) and several local government units (LGU), are preparing for the revival and re–opening of tourism in the Philippines once our places are classified under the modified GCQ (MGCQ).

The tourism industry will recover.

The Department of Tourism (DOT) in an advisory directed hotel operators and their ancillary establishments to submit detailed documentation on their safety protocols for their food preparation services.

Department of Tourism (DOT) Secretary Bernadette Romulo–Puyat said the tourism industry is ready to face the reality and daunting challenges of the "new normal," referring to new standards and protocols for safe and responsible tourism that will direct its path to recovery.

A total of 155,672 employees from 4,290 tourism–related enterprises received their cash grants under the joint program of the Department of Finance (DOF), Social Security System (SSS), and Bureau of Internal Revenue, called the Small Business Wage Subsidy (SBSW) program as of May 4.

MANILA – Over 1,000 domestic tourists who were stranded in various tourist destinations in the country have returned home, mostly in Metro Manila, with the assistance of the Department of Tourism (DOT).

MANILA, Philippines – Department of Tourism (DOT) Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat reaffirmed the country's commitment to the regional tourism cooperation of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) on the road to recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.

"PHL inbound tourism revenue nears quarter of a trillion pesos in H1 2019". — Friday, August 16, 2019

The Philippines' tourism industry has generated some 245 billion pesos in receipts from international visitors during the first six months of the year 2019, according to the Department of Tourism (DOT). The corresponding total receipts from the six—month arrivals increased by 17.57% from the half—year gross revenues in 2018. Data provided by the DOT Statistics, Economic Analysis and Information Management Division (SEAMID) show the highest monthly receipts of 48 billion pesos in the month of February. For June 2019, spending reached an estimated 38 billion pesos, which is 30.56% higher than the same month last year, while tourist per capita expenditure increased to $1,086.61 or 30.97% higher than June 2018. So far, the DOT is keeping up with its target to attract high spending and longer staying tourists in the Philippines. As proof that our guests truly find it more fun in the Philippines, average daily expenditure and average length of stay per tourist reached $120.60 and 9.01 nights, respectively, which is 28.64% and 1.81% higher than the same month last year. This is based on the data from visitor sample survey. "These economic numbers are exciting but the real purpose of why the government is working hard to push these numbers up year after year is for the Filipino people. Tourism in 2018 was responsible for 5.4 million jobs in 2018, contributing 12.7 percent or P2.2 trillion to the country's Gross Domestic Product (GDP). At the end of the day, it is the number of lives changed for the better by tourism that would truly count," remarked Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo—Puyat. Earlier, the DOT disclosed that 4.1 million foreigners have visited the country from January to June this year, indicating an 11.43% increase from 2018. Photos:-->

L—R: Executive Director Dolores Alforte of ECPAT PH, Ms. Renay Farrel of Friends International, Mr. Jose Clemente of TCP, PBGen. William Macavinta of PNP, Exec. Dir Mary Mitzi Cajayon-Uy of CWC, DOT Secretary Bernadette Romulo—Puyat, Asec. Roosque Calacat of DILG, Asec. George Ortha II of DOJ, OIC-Undersecretary for Legal Affairs Josephine Maribojoc of DepEd, Ms. Janet Ramos of CFO, and Ms. Cecille Gutierrez of PCW

DOT Secretary Bernadette Romulo‐Puyat welcomes the newly–inducted NPDC Executive Director Cecille L. Romero.

The Department of Tourism (DOT) hosts members the diplomatic corps in a lunch reception held today at the Ayuntamiento de Manila in Intramuros.

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How Chinese visitors could boost Philippine tourism in pandemic’s wake

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This is AI generated summarization, which may have errors. For context, always refer to the full article.

TOURISM DEAL. Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco and Culture and Tourism Minister Hu Heping sign a deal on bilateral tourism cooperation on January 4, 2023.

Department of Tourism

MANILA, Philippines – The Philippine tourism industry still has a long way to go before hitting pre-pandemic levels – but the return of Chinese visitors in the hundreds of thousands may just help us get there faster.

Countries all over the world are already welcoming Chinese visitors back with open arms. Hotels in Singapore have prepared packages for Chinese visitors who will be there to celebrate the Lunar New Year. Meanwhile, a Japanese tour bus firm has similarly readied the revival of its Chinese-language tour.

The Philippines has big plans, too. The Department of Tourism (DOT) warmed up to the Chinese market during the three-day state visit of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to China. The DOT and its counterpart China’s Ministry of Culture and Tourism signed an implementation program on tourism cooperation between China and the Philippines. The deal promotes “bilateral tourism cooperation” between the two countries in an effort to revive an industry waylaid by the pandemic.

Even before the deal, Philippine tourism was already picking up. In a press release on January 2, the DOT said that it logged 2.65 million international visitor arrivals in 2022, well above the department’s target. That, of course, also meant a boost in tourism revenue. That year, travelers brought in P208.96 billion – a more than 2,000% jump from the same period in 2021.

But remember, the pandemic was still very much ravaging the world in 2021, so using figures in that year as a benchmark may paint a deceptively rosy picture. See in this line graph just how far we’ve fallen from our pre-pandemic tourism levels.

To be clear, it was not just Philippine tourism that took a beating during the pandemic. According to the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), tourism suffered its worst crisis in history at the peak of COVID-19 in 2020, with international arrivals dropping by 74% . Since then, global tourism has speedily recovered up to 65% of its pre-pandemic levels.

However, the number of arrivals in Asia and the Pacific has lagged, according to UNWTO. This is where the crucial role of China comes in. China, among the biggest tourist markets for countries in the region, kept its borders mostly shuttered.

But that was all set to change when in late 2022, China made a surprise U-turn on its strict zero-COVID policy. Already, Asian countries are preparing for an influx of Chinese tourists. Among them is the Philippines, which has consistently counted China among its top 3 tourist markets. (READ: Asia’s tourist hotspots prepare for boom as China relaxes COVID-19 rules )

Before understanding why international arrivals from China are so integral to our tourism industry, we first need to take a deeper look at the people who came to the country in 2022.

Philippine tourism in 2022

Since the Philippines reopened its borders to travelers on February 15, 2022, it welcomed visitors from nearly every country. Here’s a map visualizing all Philippine-bound international arrivals in 2022, with data coming from the DOT’s monitoring of arrivals from February to December 2022.

In the map below, international arrivals are grouped by nationality, with their respective origin region shaded to represent the number of visitors coming from their area. Hover over the map to see specific numbers.

Returning overseas Filipinos comprised the majority of international arrivals in 2022, with 628,445 making the journey home. The rest of the 2.02 million arrivals consisted of foreign tourists, with American and South Korean visitors accounting for almost half of all tourist arrivals. 

Here’s the breakdown of the country’s top 10 tourist markets:

• United States – 505,089
• South Korea – 428,014 
• Australia – 137,974 
• Canada – 121,413
• United Kingdom – 101,034 
• Japan – 99,557
• Singapore – 53,448 
• India – 51,542
• Malaysia – 46,805
• China – 39,627

Comparing the top 10 tourist markets in 2022 to pre-pandemic years, what immediately sticks out is the massive drop in international arrivals from China. China, along with the US and South Korea, has traditionally been among the top three foreign tourist markets in the Philippines. 

And while tourists from the US and South Korea have already started trickling back into the country, the number of international arrivals from China has been limited, dropping to 10th place.

So what happened to Chinese tourists?

Take a look at how the country's top tourist markets have changed from 2010 to 2022, and keep an eye on how international arrivals from China have steadily grown – only to crash following the pandemic.

Recovery has been slow in large part due to President Xi Jinping's strict zero-COVID policy, which has restricted the movement of people and production in factories. For instance, in the first half of 2022, China began hard lockdowns in Shanghai.

Bankers and traders in the bustling city's financial districts slept in offices and lived off instant noodles to keep the country's financial markets turning. Snap lockdowns of buildings, routine mass PCR testing, and mandatory quarantines kept Chinese citizens on their toes for most of the year.

This extended to travel restrictions outside the country as well. China required returning travelers to have seven days of centralized quarantine along with three days of self-isolation. Travelers also had to go through a combination of PCR and antigen tests, on top of also securing a "health code" from the local embassy. This has all worked to discourage Chinese citizens from traveling at all, except for the most pressing of business – never mind for mere sightseeing.

Recently, this has begun to change as President Xi committed to a full reopening of his country’s borders. Quarantine requirements for returning travelers were removed while China also resumed issuing passports and travel visas for mainland residents. (READ: China reopens borders in final farewell to zero-COVID )

What can we expect?

The Philippines is banking on cash-rich Chinese visitors to bolster its tourism industry. And it seems that in the case of Boracay – with its glittering sand – China is eager to oblige. The Chinese ambassador to the Philippines Huang Xillian already met with Aklan officials and business groups on January 9, just as Boracay prepares to welcome back its biggest tourist market.

“We talked about the possibility of the return of Chinese tourists soon. We are happy about his visit,” Malay Mayor Floribar Bautista said in a phone interview with Rappler. 

Pre-pandemic, Chinese tourists had dominated arrivals in Boracay. Nearly 150,000 Chinese visitors came to the island in 2018, with the number of tourists growing by only 46% the following year.

“There used to be 20-plus direct flights from China per week and almost 400,000 tourists yearly to Boracay before the pandemic. China is opening up again for international travel, and anticipates more Chinese outbound tourists later this year,” said the ambassador.

Chinese ambassador’s Boracay visit hints at return of biggest tourist market

The DOT has also laid the groundwork for a wider revival of warm tourism ties with the Implementation Program signed during the President's recent state visit.

“This implementation program with China will generate massive employment opportunities and investments across all sectors of tourism throughout the Philippines," Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco said in a statement.

The deal broadly gives assurances that the two countries will mutually support development of their hotels, resorts, cruise, port, tourism products, and competency standards. Joint workshops and training sessions for cruise and port development, lake development, tourism security measures, tourism market and industry research are also in the works.

"Our governments will work together on increasing tourist arrivals, resuming and adding direct flights to key and emerging destinations, joint promotional activities, and inviting tourism investments in infrastructure, among others,” Frasco emphasized.

Both countries are also expected to support the other's travel fairs and tourism expeditions, with a renewed awareness about environmental protection and sustainable development.

“Among the salient points of this Implementation Program is to advocate the best practices and knowledge in sustainable tourism which includes the promotion of eco-friendly products and services," the tourism chief said, adding that both governments would also encourage investments in tourism infrastructure.

What about COVID-19?

However, China's recent COVID-19 surge threatens to hurt tourism before it even begins its recovery. Japan, South Korea, the US, and Canada have all increased restrictions on arrivals from China, such as requiring pre-departure or arrival COVID-19 tests and limiting flights.

For many tourist hot spots, the choice has become a delicate balancing act between economic recovery and pandemic safety. Chinese tourists represented the world’s largest outbound travel market in 2019. In the same year, Chinese tourists contributed $2.33 billion of the $9.31 billion in Philippine tourism revenue. Setting stricter quarantine measures could mean losing out on billions in revenue, should tourists be dismayed.

That in mind, countries have made varied adjustments to their health protocols. For instance, Thailand has been quick to remove vaccination requirements for inbound travelers ahead of an expected rush of Chinese tourists. Australia and Germany have also said they would not impose additional requirements for Chinese travel. The US, on the other hand, has required COVID-19 tests on travelers from China.

Currently, travelers arriving in the Philippines are only required to present a negative COVID-19 test if they are partially vaccinated or unvaccinated. Despite reporting on January 4 that eight unvaccinated Filipinos from China tested positive for COVID-19, the Department of Health does not yet see the need to tighten travel restrictions on arrivals from China.

Why PH not keen on tightening borders for China travelers

Nevertheless, Frasco was optimistic that the reopening of the country and the easing of COVID-19 restrictions would allow the tourism industry to further recover in 2023. She added that the DOT is aiming for 4.8 million international arrivals as its baseline target for 2023.

“In the recent past, we have overcome a global pandemic, survived various calamities, and thrived throughout a host of many other challenges, yet, the Philippine tourism industry has managed to exceed expectations and our tourism partners and frontliners continue to offer the best of Filipino grace and hospitality to the world,” said the tourism chief in a New Year’s Eve message. – Rappler.com

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On the front lines of Philippine tourism

HEARD IT THROUGH THE GRIPE-VINE: OUR NEW ABNORMAL  

The other week saw me at the Lanson Place, attending the HSMA General Membership Meeting and media launch of this year’s HSMA Virtus Awards – the landmark 10th year that the awards are being held. HSMA is the Hotel Sales & Marketing Association Philippines, and it was very interesting to engage in the tourism “shop talk.” On board was Capt. Stanley Ng, president and COO of Philippine Airlines, as he was the lunch’s keynote speaker. 

Interesting because assembled in the function room were the frontliners of Philippine tourism. You had representatives from the airline flying in these arrivals to our country, and from the hotels and resorts that provide accommodations to these foreign visitors. They’re also the lifeblood of what makes domestic tourism click; and help drive our tourism industry to be such a great source of employment, and an important contributor to the annual GNP.

One key takeaway from a number of the speakers that afternoon was that while being hosted by a sales and marketing coalition, the consistent refrain was how innovation and revenue were both now key to moving forward and enhancing the tourist experience – that it wasn’t just about sales and marketing. I had just arrived from a four-day stay at Fukuoka the previous night, so there was a lot I shared in terms of visitor experience – but I’ll touch on that later. 

I liked this mention of innovation and revenue, as it dovetails nicely with the sustainability mantra of people, planet and profit. Too often, we treat revenue and/or profit like it’s some dirty word. And yet, the fact remains that you can have the best of intentions, the most wonderful service and amenities; but if you aren’t keeping an eye out on revenue and profit, as it’s not a bottomless pit of capital and subsidizing, the “well” will soon run dry. You’ll then be talked about as last year’s gallant enterprise, “ahead of it’s time,” or whatever cliche is brought out to describe a now defunct operation – and that’s just the painful truth. 

Innovation was similarly key, because in a post-pandemic world, one cannot trot out the same formulaic offerings, or think it’s just a matter of reset. Understanding the needs and wants of a changing, younger market is crucial for surviving. And I loved how both Stanley Ng and Loleth So (president, HSMA) were echoing these same sentiments, as an exhortation to be resilient. Any entity connected with tourism needs to understand and embrace this change, customizing their response. Philippine Airlines for example, has the unusual situation where their international flights represents only 40 percent of their passenger load, but accounts for 80 percent of their revenues. 

The HSMA Virtus Awards is on it’s 10th iteration, and culminates in October. It’s extra significant as it coincides with the 45th Anniversary of the HSMA Philippines. The Virtus Awards bestow on three of the nominees the honors of Outstanding Sales and Marketing Associate, Outstanding Sales and Marketing Manager, and Outstanding Sales and Marketing Leader. One group award is handed out, that of the Institutional Award for Most Outstanding Marketing Campaign of the Year. What’s important to note is how the Virtus Award is more than just a trophy to place on a shelf, it also helps pave the way for a more successful professional career. It’s recognition of excellence from your own peers and from within your chosen industry.

I mentioned above how I had just arrived from Fukuoka, Japan, apparently one of the fastest growing foreign destinations of choice for Filipinos. Tokyo and Osaka are still getting the lion’s share of Filipinos flying out to Japan, but we’ve been discovering Fukuoka as a new alternative city to visit. My visitor experience in Fukuoka (and with past trips to Japan) was wonderful, and it really contributes to how Japan will always be one of my favorite countries to visit. And it’s not just the sights, the food, or the shopping. You have all those; but it’s also the people, the culture, and the values. Why do I say this?

It was a rainy four days, and at the Mitsukoshi Fukuoka, I had left the Grand Hyatt umbrella I borrowed. I couldn’t even remember where I had left it – in the toilet, or on some shopping floor. As it began pouring, I realized my mistake, told Issa to go on to Daimaru, and headed back to Mitsukoshi and their Information desk. The woman manning the Desk hardly spoke English, but used her device to understand my concern. They called, said nothing had been retrieved, so I asked where I could purchase an umbrella. A few minutes later, passing that same desk, she called out to me to wait, as the Hyatt umbrella had been found, and was on it’s way to the Information Desk. And you could feel the pride emanating from her, in having solved my problem. 

Whenever Issa or I would stop some pedestrian to confirm something, they would really go out of their way to be of help and direct us, sometimes even taking us some way in the right direction. Small things like this mean a lot, and it brings home how we all play a part in the visitor experience for arrivals to our shores. In other words, we are all frontliners as well. Let’s not forget that if we want our tourism to effectively boom.

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ATM 2024: How AI can make your travel better

Travel & tourism.

Through personalisation, it can dramatically improve the customer experience of travellers

Artificial intelligence can help elevate customer experience in the travel and hospitality sector through personalisation. For that, accurate data is required, panellists at the Arabian Travel Market said on Wednesday.

In the discussion, "Putting the traveller first with AI", moderated by Kate Harden-England, Editor of Travolution, Shaon Talukder, CEO & Founder of Geotourist; Samir Abi Frem, CEO of Lokalee; Ramzi Al Qassab, Managing Director of Sabre Travel Solutions, Middle East; and Frank Trampert, Senior Vice-President and Global Managing Director of Community Sales for Sabre Hospitality, agreed that AI can enhance travel experience, streamline operation and automate manual tasks.

Travel and hospitality are intimate sectors, and each person's preference drastically differs. From flights to hotels to transportation, AI promises to tailor them according to your likes and dislikes. That's personalising customer experience.

Why personalisation matters

Personalisation is a huge revenue driver for the industry. Harden-England quoted a McKinsey report that said there was a 40% increase in revenue from personalisation for fast-growing companies compared with slower-growing companies. The report said 71% of consumers expect personalised experiences from the company they're working with and interacting with."

So, expectations in the travel and hospitality sector are high. Trampert said hotel customers expect hyper-personalisation, and AI will make the tasks easier. "[With] rising expectations, the introduction of artificial intelligence through better algorithms will make the points of friction easier. It's easier for staff members to service customers; it's easier for us as travellers to find the products and services that we really want and really desire. So it's a match made in heaven," he said.

AI in the travel industry is not without challenges. Highlighting some roadblocks, Talukder said AI is useless without data, and data in the travel and tourism industry is pretty poor. Calling it a foundational challenge, the Geotourist CEO said, "Our focus has been on making sure that the data we get for visitors is clear and is of high quality." Only then can we see returns on using AI, he added.

Al Qassab agreed that sorting and marketing data is a challenge. That shouldn't stop us from adopting AI. "If we look at the future of AI and machine learning, the ability is endless," he said, adding that we shouldn't fear and learn as much as possible.

Abi Frem admitted that AI and data collection have improved the customer journey. "You're able to generate more accurate personal experiences, and by providing these personalised experiences, we were able to enhance the customer journey and provide better booking processes. All this changed over the last few years," he said.

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