Robert Lim Joseph, president of the Save Our Skies (SOS) movement and the Travel Cooperative of the Philippines, said data from the Department of Tourism showed that the policy of declaring long weekends by moving official holidays falling in the middle of the week to Monday or Friday has worked.
Figures said domestic travel has increased even in Mindanao as a result of long holiday weekends.
"What is revealing about the statistics of the DOT Office of Tourism Services and regional offices is that tourists have visited non-traditional tourism destinations like Region X (Camiguin and Misamis Oriental)," he said.
The top five regions that posted the highest hotel occupancy rates during Lent were Region XI (Davao provinces), 85 percent; Region 1 (Ilocos provinces, La Union and Pangasinan) 75 percent; Region V (Bicol) 74 percent; Region X and CAR (Abra, Baguio, Kalinga-Apayao, Mt. Province), 65 percent; and Region IV (Southern Tagalog); 63 percent.
Joseph said the increased domestic travel has benefitted hotels, resorts, beaches, restaurants, travel and tour operators, transport services as well as the so-called underground economy entrepreneurs like stall owners, eateries, fruit vendors, souvenir item sellers and tour guides.
"Everytime there is a long weekend the inclination of people is to plan where to spend the holidays. They do this to relax, avoid the traffic and escape the heat in the metropolis, rejuvenate or get relief from the tension of work," he said.
"It is just a matter of promoting and making known our tourist destinations. We have many wonderful places to visit. We don’t have to look far," he said.
Joseph said the people should give government the opportunity to continue its thrust to attract domestic and foreign tourists as he believed that tourism could be the country’s Number One revenue earner.
He said Tourism Secretary Richard Gordon should also take the credit for reviving the tourism industry with "his creative marketing initiatives as well as his go-go attitude."
"Gordon’s innovative marketing strategies to promote tourism to both local residents and foreign visitors are paying off. What we need is the cooperation of everybody," he added.
He said the travel and tour operators led by the Philippine Tour Operators Association (PHILTOA) have given their full support to Gordon," whose enthusiasm and fairness is commendable."