Mideast fast emerging tourism market for RP

CEBU, Philippines – Because of their limited exposure to the global economic crisis, the Middle Eastern market is still considered as one of the big potential travel markets that can be tapped by the country’s tourism industry.

During yesterday’s opening of the 3rd Philippine International Travel Fair (PITF), the Middle Eastern market was introduced as one of the country’s emerging markets aside from China and Russia.

And for the first time, PITF brought to Cebu, buyers from Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) specifically from Dubai.

Aside from these Middle Eastern buyers, there were also around 51 foreign buyers from Japan, Hong Kong, Singapore, Russia, India, China, and North America composed of tour operators, travel agents and representatives from hotels and airlines in their respective countries.

In an interview with the Department of Tourism (DOT) director for the Office of Tourism Coordination Benito C. Bengzon, he said that DOT has identified the Middle East as an important market for the Philippines.

He said that considering the fast growth rate of the influx of tourists from the Middle East for the past couple of years, the figure is “encouraging.”

Bengzon said that the United Arab Emirates (UAE) recorded a growth rate of about 32 percent in 2008 compared to that of the previous year while Saudi Arabia also grew at a fast rate.

He said that DOT has been targeting Middle Eastern countries to come to the Philippines specifically those from the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) which include: Saudi Arabia, UAE, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain and Oman.

“The products that we have here in the Philippines are just what this market are looking for. We have resort holidays, beaches and shopping with a different kind of twist that is unique in the Philippines with our apparels and handicrafts. We are using these features as handles to get more Middle Eastern tourists,” said Bengzon.

He said that the recent Arabian Travel Mart that was held in Dubai last May signalled the renewed interest of the Philippines to the Middle East market.

“The next stage now is for us to bring as many travel agents, tour operators and media from the Middle East to come to the Philippines to help us promote our tourism to these countries,” said Bengzon.

He said that DOT is targeting this year to at least maintain the positive growth rates of the influx from the Middle Eastern market and be more aggressive in coming up with publicity and promotions to really sell the Philippines to this emerging market.

Meanwhile, in an interview with Middle Eastern buyer Godfrey Lim Dingal, Jr. who is the general manager of Seat Holidays Dubai, he said that the inbound Middle Eastern travellers going to the Philippines is still relatively small in number.

However, he stressed that Middle Eastern travellers from Dubai are keen on visiting the Philippines especially their expats.

He said that Middle Eastern travellers are interested with leisure, relaxation and specifically prefer beach destinations that is why the Philippines especially Cebu has a big potential to establish good business partnerships with the Middle Eastern market.

“If only there will be well-placed and organized programs and tour packages that will suit the interests of travellers from Middle East then there is a big potential that they will consider coming to the Philippines,” said Dingal.

He said that Middle Eastern travellers usually spend a maximum of one week in a destination and they are well spenders especially if they bring their families along with them.

He added that usually, Middle Eastern tourists go Far East to tourism destinations like Thailand and Malaysia for their leisure travels and the Philippines is still an emerging destination that they are currently exploring.