All set for PHL’s push for domestic tourism

By Samuel P. Medenilla, Businessmirror, 18 Feb 2020

THE number of local tourists is expected to spike next month as the government launches its initiatives to “arrest and to cushion” the effects of the slowdown in tourist arrivals from the travel ban in some countries due to the novel coronavirus (Covid-19).

During a press briefing in Malacañang on Monday, Department of Tourism (DOT) said on Monday they have already coordinated with their stakeholders to launch their national campaign to promote local tourism by March, a strategy to recoup billions in losses to the sector’s stakeholders, that officials announced last week.

“Part of this would be a several airline seat sales, packaged promotions whether value added or marked down, and these are all the commitments made by the private sector,” Tourism Undersecretary Arturo Boncato Jr. said.

Presidential spokesman Salvador S. Panelo said President Duterte’s travel to local tourist sites, which is tentatively scheduled in late February or early March, is also expected to draw more local tourists.

Initially, Duterte is scheduled to travel to Boracay, Cebu and Bohol.

“He is just like a magnet. His presence attracts people [to attend] an event,” Panelo said.

DepEd activities

Further contributing to the DOT’s projected increase in local tourism traffic next month are the rescheduled activities of the Department of Education (DepEd).

Education Secretary Leonor Magtolis Briones said they opted to reset the regional athletic meets which will lead to the Palarong Pambansa to March and April, as well as their National Festival of Talents in the coming weeks.

DepEd events usually generate significant economic activity. We foresee this will have a big contribution not only for hotels, but also for food and supply of equipment,” Briones said.

Upon the recommendation of the Department of Health, DepEd suspended all of its national and regional activities for this month to reduce the exposure of students and DepEd personnel to Covid-19.

Boncato said they anticipate these aforementioned initiatives to boost domestic tourism will take effect by next month.

“We expect market response by March given our activation,” Boncato told the BusinessMirror in a SMS.

International market

Despite their focus on local markets, Boncato said they are still not ruling out the contribution of foreign tourists to the country’s tourist receipts this year.

He said they launched a “tactical promotion,” to “short haul” countries, which have the potential to offset the lower tourism contribution of China, namely, South Korea, Japan, members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nation (Asean), Taiwan as well as homecoming Filipinos from the United States and Western Europe.

Boncato said their tactical promotion involves highlighting the country as the No. 1 summer destination, as well as one of the best dive and retail destinations.

He said DOT still maintains its 9.2-million target tourist arrival for 2020.

Foreign Affairs Assistant Secretary Eduardo Meñez said no country has imposed a travel ban on the Philippines due to its three incidents of Covid-19.

Travel ban impact

Boncato said the stronger local tourism will help reduce the negative impact of the country’s travel ban for China, which is expected to cost the country P14.8 million worth of tourist receipts for February alone.

He said this is supported by their 2018 tourist receipts: the value of domestic tourism in 2018, at P3.3 trillion, was significantly higher than the P2.2 trillion from foreign travelers.

“The value of domestic tourism is really high. A slight spike in domestic tourism like what Secretary Briones said if the events of DepEd will proceed—will ensure one part of the economy will not be affected [by the slowdown in international arrivals],” Boncato explained.