Youth & Silver Travel Segments; Tourism businesses told to brace for new markets

CEBU, Philippines - Tourism stakeholders in Cebu are called to prepare their products and services to suit the preferences of the youth travel segment, as well as the "silver-traveler" group to hit the bullseye of the world's tourism market.

This is the call made by Department of Tourism (DOT) undersecretary Alma Rita D. Jimenez yesterday during the opening of the Cebu Tourism Summit held at Cebu City Marriott Hotel.

Jimenez, who was the keynote speaker during the one-day summit, reminded tourism players to adjust their directions towards accommodating the whims of young travelers or the millennial group, which covers 23 percent of the world's highly mobile traveling bunch.

This means that products and services will have to include the attractiveness of authentic places, interesting and socially relevant destinations and adventure, among others.

At the same time, the silver-market or the more mature travelers, who never mind paying more for a relaxed, stress-free travel, in a serene destination.

According to Jimenez, tourism players should consider to mind seriously these two emerging tourism markets, and marry this two diverse revenue booster of   the tourism industry.

Jimenez also presented the current administration’s thrust in accelerating the growth of tourism through implementing programs that support the sector's health, such as building of tourism roads across the country in close coordination the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).

Under the National Tourism Development Plan (NTDP), the government will realize the implementation of  P184 billion tourism roads projects, and P677 billion budget for tourism related infrastructure and programs.

Due to a more fluid environment, tourism is one of the most vulnerable industries, Jimenez said the government has understood its fragile nature, thus it is preparing to strengthen policies, programs, infrastructure and other supporting avenues, in order to maximize the Philippines tourism potential.

Tourism contributes 8.2 percent to the Philippines' GDP, generating 4.9 million jobs as of  2016.

Jimenez also reminded stakeholders that while tourism foresees rosy prospects for the Philippines regardless of the challenges, "expect a future that is twice as difficult as today." (FREEMAN)