Envoy: Swedes prefer Thailand over the Philippines

CEBU, Philippines — While the Philippines has the most pristine and attractive beaches in the whole of Asia, Swedes still prefer Thailand as their top tropical destination due to developed tourism and air access.

In an interview with Ambassador of Sweden to the Philippines Annika Thunborg, she said the Philippines has a high potential to lure more Swede tourists, but it has to work on adding air access and “a little more development” in the tourism sector.

“Why Thailand is so popular with the Swedes, it’s because Thailand has developed tourism industry, [ample] direct flights,” said the Thunborg adding that from Thailand's capital Bangkok, it is easier for Nordic tourists to go to the smaller, quieter islands as smaller flights going to outskirts are plenty, not to mention the availability of chartered flights to going different island destinations.

“Thailand has a very developed tourism industry. We have several direct flights from different Swedish Cities to Bangkok,” she added.

According to the Ambassador, it would not be difficult for the Philippines to attract high-spender Swede tourists, if basic infrastructure such as direct flight access, and easier transportation connections to beautiful islands in the Philippines were in place.

Generally, Swedes love to go on vacation to beaches with developed systems of ‘Cabanas’ or cabins, less populated getaways. “[We] are less interested in huge hotel complexes.”

Sweden, a country with only 10 million population in a land a third larger than the Philippines, “Swedes like to be alone.”

She said the Philippines has all the attractive tourism charms Swedes would love, like diving, thousands of islands to choose from, and beautiful underwater life, but the problem is accessibility.

Also, the Ambassador stressed the importance of tourism destinations and facilities that implement strong sustainability systems, such as employing circular economy solutions, and other environment-conscious initiatives like preserving life, “anything that has to do with sustainability is very attractive for Nordic tourists.”

“With a little more development, and more direct flights,” the Ambassador said the Philippines could attract more Swedes to visit the country.

From January to December 2020 there were a total of 6,996 Swedes visited the Philippines, it dropped to 508 in 2021.

Meanwhile, the Department of Tourism (DOT) announced earlier that the Philippines has breached the two million target in 2022 of international tourists visiting the country.

DOT recorded a total of 2,002,304 international visitor arrivals from January 1 to May 12, 2023. This figure is already higher than the entire year’s target for 2022 of 1.7 million foreign visitors.

South Korea was the top source market for the Philippines, contributing almost a quarter of the total number of visitors with 487,502 (24.35 percent).    

The US came in second with 352,894 (17.62 percent), followed by Australia with 102,494 (5.12 percent), Canada with 98,593 (4.92 percent) and Japan with 97,329 (4.86 percent).