Tourism sector anticipates brighter 2010

CEBU, Philippines - The Philippine tourism industry anticipates a much brighter 2010 now that the global outlook for tourism slowly becomes encouraging.

“Throughout the global crunch, Philippine tourism remained optimistic and adaptive to the challenges. Being a key driver for economic growth in the country, the tourism industry continues to carry a positive outlook. In spite of the difficulties, the sector continued to be strong because the over-all focus is on opportunities instead of the threats,” said Department of Tourism secretary Joseph Ace Durano.

Durano made this positive pronouncement of the Philippine tourism trade following the release of Euromonitor’s International’s report, a market research group based in the United Kingdom, which said that 2010 is a better year for the tourism sector, citing new opportunities and innovation, and suggesting pro-active measures to reverse the slump to continue recovery.

Euromonitor International, recently released the World Travel Market (WTM) Global Trends Report, which extensive outlook is supported by the report by the latest edition of the UNWTO World Tourism Barometer, which indicated that “the rate of decline has eased from January to August of 2009,” and stated that a “moderate growth can be expected” for the following years.

Published this week to tie-in with one of the world’s largest gatherings of travel industry leaders, the WTM in London, the reports estimate that global travel bookings will pick up steadily in 2010 after ‘a challenging year,’ dotted with a change in the travel landscape in light of the global scenario.

The Global Trends Report shed light on the current developments and issues affecting the sector. It mentioned, “Governments have been responsive; implementing tourism stimulus packages to varying degrees of success,” an important factor which Durano acknowledged.

“The support of our partners and other tourism stakeholders has played a vital role in maintaining the vibrant travel activities within and to the country. The DOT truly credits them for the united effort they have shown in boosting domestic tourism,” he added.

The report further revealed that while the recession cast a grim shadow a global scale, consumers also responded well by focusing on ‘life’s small luxuries’ – apparent with spas and nature travel, said Eduardo Jarque Jr, undersecretary for Tourism Planning and Promotions Eduardo Jarque, Jr.

According to Jarque these small “life’s luxuries” has been one of the country’s key strengths.

“Filipino creativity in times of adversity truly shines as we see more diversified packages that promote nature-based, low-cost, and low-impact travels around the country, in the midst of these trying times,” Jarque said.

“The Philippines’ inclusion in National Geographic’s elite list of 25 Best New Trips for 2010 is good news we can bank on,” Jarque added.

Meanwhile, the UNWTO Travel Barometer indicated that results for the first eight months of 2009 show that international tourist arrivals declined in all world regions, however, “Asia and the Pacific showed ‘the clearest signs of improvement with growth already positive.”

According to the UNWTO’s initial forecast for 2010, “International tourist arrivals are likely to witness a moderate recovery next year, with 1-3 percent growth.

This outlook reflects the gradual improvement of international tourism figures in recent months, as well as the better-than-expected economic indicators in some major source markets.”

The report further emphasized that, “Asia will show the strongest rebound, while Europe and the Americas will probably take longer to recover.”

The results as well as the outcome of the UNWTO Minister’s Summit on ‘The Roadmap for Recovery: Sustainable Tourism in Challenging Times,’ have been recently presented in detail at the recently-concluded World Travel Mart in London.—Ehda M. Dagooc