Tourism
From The Report: Philippines 2018
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As efforts to develop tourist attractions ramp up inside the capital and beyond, the Philippines is well placed to capture a lucrative share of the 1.3bn-strong market of global business and leisure travellers. An archipelago of over 7000 islands with bountiful natural attractions and rich cultural traditions, the country drew 6.6m visitors to its shores in 2017, representing an 11% increase on the previous year. Tourist spending hit $27bn in the process, up from $25bn in 2016, contributing nearly 10% of GDP. This chapter contains interviews with Lawrence Ho, Chairman and CEO, Melco Resorts & Entertainment; and Andrea Domingo, Chairman and CEO, Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation.

Articles from this Chapter

Overview

Riding a wave: Mature offering capitalises on a global upswell in overseas travel
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As efforts to develop tourist attractions ramp up inside the capital and beyond, the Philippines is well placed to capture a lucrative share of the 1.3bn-strong market of global business and leisure travellers. An archipelago of over 7000 islands with bountiful natural attractions and rich cultural traditions, the country drew 6.6m visitors to its shores in 2017, representing an 11% increase on the previous year. Tourist spending hit $27bn in the process, up from $25bn in 2016, contributing nearly…

Analysis

Sighting sources: Efforts accelerate to draw foreign travellers from a wide range of countries
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On the back of encouraging arrival numbers, Philippine officials are expanding their outreach through marketing and promotional campaigns abroad, including incentive schemes, roadshows, new routes and special tours. Having exceeded their goal of 6.5m foreign arrivals in 2017 by over 100,000, the Department of Tourism (DOT) has targeted attracting 7.4m arrivals in 2018, and as many as 12m by 2022 – accompanied by P473bn ($9.3bn) in revenues, alongside the P2.1trn ($41.5bn) the DOT expects…

Interview

Playing the long game: Lawrence Ho, Chairman and CEO, Melco Resorts & Entertainment, on developing integrated offerings
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Interview:Lawrence Ho How does the country compare to other ASEAN states as an entertainment destination? LAWRENCE HO: The Philippines is unique in ASEAN: outside of gaming, the whole market is undergoing a step change in its consumer orientation. It is one of the region’s top gaming and entertainment destinations. The tourism market is attractive and growing fast, infrastructure is rapidly improving and expanding, and, geographically, it can attract potential players and tourists who have…

Interview

On a roll: Andrea Domingo, Chairman and CEO, Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation, on regulation and promotion strategies
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Interview:Andrea Domingo How can the Philippines distinguish its entertainment and tourism offering in the region? ANDREA DOMINGO: Here in the Philippines, we have all the amenities, auxiliary services and facilities of an advanced economy on the budget of an emerging one. Additionally, the country benefits from a very civilised way of life. The Filipino people are well educated and open-minded, and as such we are able to integrate well with people from other countries. Another very key point…

Analysis

Emerging attractions: The government pushes to diversify travel offerings by promoting destinations outside Manila
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To meet the goals of the National Tourism Development Plan (NTDP) 2016-22, the Department of Tourism (DOT) is working with the private sector to diversify the country’s tourism offerings, developing attractions outside the capital, and boosting connectivity and promotion efforts. This should help to reach the targets of welcoming 12m foreign arrivals by 2022 and boosting tourism employment to 6.5m people, or 14.4% of the workforce. TEZ One part of the Tourism Act of 2009 was to lay groundwork…

Overview

Meeting expectations: Security and engagement key to further growth in meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions (MICE) industry
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Countries and regions across the world have long understood the potential of the MICE segment as a vehicle to drive high-value tourism and economic development. In recent decades this has led to significant investment, with nations working to position themselves as centres for the industry, both regionally and globally, aided by greater air connectivity. At the same time, the industry has been shaped by new technologies and rising security concerns, as well as budget constraints brought on by such things as the 2008 global financial crisis and the lower oil price environment that emerged in mid-2014. Nonetheless, there are plenty of reasons…