Travel Log: Philippines should step up travel-growth momentum

David Scowsill, president and CEO of World Travel & Tourism Council at ITB Asia: Strength in the Philippines

MANILA, Philippines—The 5th ITB Asia travel trade show, which was held in Singapore last Wednesday-Friday, reflected the continued robustness of Asia as a destination. Dr. Martin Buck, vice president of Messe Berlin (Singapore), the organizer of ITB Asia, said the travel exhibition was the largest ITB Asia to date, as it attracted 865 exhibitors from 72 countries, or a 15 percent increase from 2011.

Industry research authority PhoCusWright released a study at the ITB Asia that stated that Asia-Pacific, in fact, would continue to lead as the world’s fastest-growing travel region in 2013. It expects the travel sector to rake in $357 billion, an increase of 64 percent from 2009 earnings.

Neeta Lachmandas, assistant chief executive of the Singapore Tourism Board, said that “indeed with Asia fueling the growth in global tourism, there is no better time to focus our efforts on this region.”

The Philippine should take advantage of this rosy outlook and not lose its growth momentum as it managed to post a high single-digit (9.78 percent) growth in tourist arrivals from January to August this year. The Philippines’ good showing has been acknowledged at the ITB Asia. David Scowsill, president and CEO of World Travel & Tourism Council, said the “strength in China, India, Indonesia and the Philippines is compensating for weaker growth in Thailand, Singapore, Australia, New Zealand.”

Tourism stakeholders should take note of what PhoCusWright’s  research analyst Chetan Kapoor says about the trend in Asia: “Wholesalers and traditional travel retailers continue to serve a large segment of leisure travel demand as travelers in many markets prefer buying tour packages and completing transactions offline, especially for more complex international travel.”

At the same time, he adds: “But travelers are steadily shifting to the Internet in search of price transparency, variety, information and convenience, and demand for independent travel is also on the rise.”

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The Philippine Postal Corp. (PhilPost) has issued stamps in honor of Pedro Calungsod, who was canonized a saint on Sunday, October 21, in Vatican City.

The single stamp design illustrates the saint holding a palm leaf on his left hand and his right hand at the chest signifying his deep Roman Catholic faith.

The PhilPost is issuing limited edition of 50,000 stamps with the denomination of P9, which will be available starting Monday, October 22, and up to October 20, 2013 at selected post offices nationwide. Call the postage and philatelic department at 527-01-32.

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The Philippines bagged an award at the UN Biodiversity Summit in Hyderabad, India, last week. The Philippines was bestowed with the Silver Future Policy Award 2012 in recognition of its exemplary Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park Act.

In her laudatory speech, Dr. Naoko Ishii, CEO and chairperson of the Global Environment Facility (GEF), praised the Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park Act: “In 1999, the Global Environment Facility confirmed its support for the challenging effort to establish the Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park. Thirteen years later, I am very proud to present the Future Policy Award to the Government of the Philippines for the Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park Act. This award recognizes the Philippines’ vision and tireless effort to make the Tubbataha Park an essential asset for local prosperity and globally significant biodiversity conservation.”

The Gold Award was given to Palau for two outstanding marine policies, the Protected Areas Network Act, initiated in 2003, and the Shark Haven Act from 2009. Namibia also won silver for its Marine Resources Act from 2000.

The Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park is the Philippines’ first national marine park and is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is home to some of the most beautiful coral reefs in the world. It rises from the volcanic depths of the Sulu Sea in the western Philippines.

Pierre-Alexandre, who dived in Tubbataha way back in 2008, wrote in travelblog.org: “They say this (Tubbataha) is nearly as good as Palau…and I confirm, I did both!”

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