Staying on top in tourism, PH has more than beaches – Glamping Passion

‘BLeisure, glamping, sustainable leisure, cuisine, adventure and cruise tourism are just some of the activities that went abuzz the past year.’

As described by no less than the Department of Tourism (DOT), the past year was a mix of challenges and successes for the industry.

But the Philippines remains a top-of-mind destination among travelers, receiving in 2023, six major accolades from the World Travel Awards (WTA) : World’s Leading Dive Destination, World’s Leading Beach Destination, the World’s Leading City Destination for Manila as well as Asia’s Best Cruise Destination, and Asia’s Leading Dive Destination. For the first time, the Philippines also earned the spotlight on its inaugural win for the Global Tourism Resilience Award for demonstrating “global leadership, pioneering vision, and innovation to overcome critical challenges and adversity.”

The Philippines, during the previous year, also garnered more than 15 travel and tourism honors from prestigious award-giving bodies in the categories including diving, beach, cruise, culinary, retirement, and Muslim-friendly tourism, “a testament that the Philippines is indeed an emerging tourism powerhouse.”

Those awards are backed up by numbers. Foreign tourist arrivals hit 5.45 million in 2023 and are projected to reach 7.7 million in 2024 or a 93 percent recovery rate from the all-time high of 8.26 million in 2019.

Beyond the traditional tourist attractions and the famous beaches the Philippines that helped lift the numbers last year, the country has much, much more to offer.

BLeisure (business-leisure), glamping, sustainable leisure, cuisine, adventure and cruise tourism are just some of the activities that went abuzz the past year. These and more are seen to contribute further to the growth of foreign tourist arrivals and to sustain the strength of domestic tourism this year.

The Philippine Travel Agencies Association (PTAA) in a statement said it is set to capitalize in the so-called B leisure where business and leisure travel come together.

“We see travelers blend business trips with cultural exploration. Productive mornings (are) followed by afternoon kayaking in the calm waters — the ultimate work-life balance,” said Evangeline Tankiang-Manotok, PTAA president, in decribing B leisure.

PTAA said this trend entails more co-working spaces in hotels, resorts offering wellness retreats, alongside conferences and flexible-work-from- anywhere.

Another tourism trend PTAA hopes to promote is sustainable adventures where travelers seek destinations with a commitment to responsible tourism practices like reducing carbon footprint, preserving natural resources and supporting local communities.

“The lifting of COVID-19 restrictions made travel to the Philippines much more accessible compared to the previous years. Initiatives like the e -arrival cards streamlined the entry process and improved ease of travel,” said Manotok.

‘(T)he country’s infrastructure network should continue improving to support the DOT’s goal of attracting more foreign tourists and making the Philippines a MICE hub in the region’

Manotok said travelers nowadays are seeking authentic, real world experiences, means immersing themselves in other cultures and seeking curated experiences that are unique or out of the ordinary.

Manotok expressed confidence that the country can ensure continued success in the post- pandemic travel landscape due to its beaches, friendly locals and affordability.

PTAA in fact continues to promote beyond the famous beaches and islands, showcasing eco-tourism, adventure, activities, cultural immersion and culinary experiences.

“We should implement responsible tourism practices to protect natural resources and ensure local communities benefit from the increased traffic,” Manotok said.

Alfred Lay, director for Hotel, Leisure, and Tourism at Leechiu Property Consultants (LPC), said the recovery of the tourism industry calls for innovative strategies to navigate the evolving landscape and harness the maximum potential of the sector.

Lay sees the emergence of a prominent trend in hotel development: alternative accommodations.

Fueled by the normalization of post-COVID demand, a focus on professionalism, and the
blurring distinction from traditional hotels, these alternatives include unique experiences like glamping,converted buses, and container lodgings, LPC said in a report.

It added this diversification stands as a response to the challenges posed by funding rates, loans and construction costs in traditional hotel development.

Meanwhile, property consultancy Colliers recommends that developers and stakeholders maximize opportunities from public and private sector’s initiatives to attract more domestic and foreign travelers.

“In our view, the DOT’s push to boost domestic tourism and the recovery in foreign arrivals should stoke demand in the country’s leisure sector and lift hotel occupancies and daily rates,” Colliers said in a report.

According to Colliers, the leisure sector should also benefit from the development and improvement of infrastructure projects such as airports and roads.

It said these public projects should provide opportunities for developers to build more hotels and meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions or MICE facilities in emerging tourist spots across the country.

“In our view, the country’s infrastructure network should continue improving to support the DOT’s goal of attracting more foreign tourists and making the Philippines a MICE hub in the region,” Colliers said.