TOURISM, MEDICAL TRAVEL & RETIREMENT
Given the natural, cultural, and human resrouce endowments of the Philippines, tourism has been identified as an important sunrise, globally competitive industry by the national government. Tourism development can have strong proverty reduction effects in remote and rural areas. It has been calculated that for every foreign tourist that visits the country and spends about a thousand dolars, one job for one year is supported. Each dollar US$1 spent by a tourist to pay for accommodation services gets multiplied 2.1 times.
Background
Travel and tourism is currently the fourth largest source of foreign exchange revenues. From 2000 to 2009, the average annual spending of US$2.2 billion by international visitors contributed 43.5% and 4.8% to the service export and total export revenues of the Philippines, respectively. [ Read This Chapter ]Recommendations
Tourism's contributions to the economy can be magnified considerably if the country can increase the volume of international visitors, which is still extremely low in comparison with top Asian country desginations. [ Read This Chapter ]
News Updates
Key Cabinet officials outline priorities to boost...
27 June, 2018 at 11:17
DECONGESTING the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia) is one of the priorities of the Duterte administration to improve the “customer experience” and support growth in the tourism sector.
Chinese Money Triggers a Dizzying Rally in...
7 May, 2018 at 09:57
In Manila’s main financial district and its fringes, signs of the new inhabitants are everywhere: the restaurants serving steaming Chinese hotpots and dumplings, the Mandarin broadcasts at the Mall of Asia, and the soaring property prices.
[OPINION] NAIA Consortium meets with Duterte
24 April, 2018 at 11:28
The battle for the redevelopment of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) is getting exciting. While the transportation department already rejected the Tieng-Belle tandem’s proposal to develop Sangley and Dennis Uy’s proposal for the Davao airport, it’s still a guessing game for NAIA.
Boracay closure to hit entire tourism industry
20 March, 2018 at 10:19
The total closure of Boracay for a maximum of one year will not only impact the tourism of the island but of the entire country, an industry group said yesterday.
Boracay a “tough” sell at tourism expo...
12 March, 2018 at 10:12
At a tourism expo in Germany, sentiment on Boracay is “mixed” due to reported pollution problems in the Philippines’ main draw for travelers, a European business executive attending the conference said Friday.
NAIA rehab, upgrade bid heats up
5 March, 2018 at 14:06
The group behind the ongoing upgrade of the Mactan-Cebu International Airport will go head-to-head against a consortium made up of some of the country’s biggest conglomerates in the bid to rehabilitate and upgrade Ninoy Aquino International Airport…
Finance dep’t to submit another tax reform...
24 January, 2018 at 10:56
The Department of Finance (DoF) will submit to Congress another tranche of the second tax reform package by the end of the month that will impose more levies on tobacco, mining and coal…
[OPINION] The missing link in our tourism...
17 January, 2018 at 16:00
About this time last year, members of Skål International, the world’s foremost organization of tourism professionals, had a meeting with the newly installed Chief Operating Officer of the Tourism Promotions Board…
2017 ends with 21 gov’t holidays
3 January, 2018 at 10:47
The Philippines will end 2017 with 21 national government holidays, the most ever declared in recent memory.
SMC airport, Megawide rail projects move up
20 December, 2017 at 10:46
Three unsolicited project proposals for rail, airport and flood control are expected to hurdle regulatory approval and rolled out next year, having been identified as priority infrastructure projects, the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Center said yesterday.
Megawide-GMR consortium offers lowest bid for new...
15 December, 2017 at 11:00
The consortium of local firm Megawide Construction Corp. and GMR Infrastructure Ltd. of India is the frontrunner to bag the contract for the design…
[EDITORIAL] Needed: Cleaner airport policy
15 December, 2017 at 09:18
Something exciting is happening in the aviation sector that may finally result in the much-needed rehabilitation and modernization of the old Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia).
Tycoons confirm Naia rehab bid
8 December, 2017 at 10:43
Seven of the country’s biggest conglomerates confirmed they were looking at rehabilitating and redeveloping the Ninoy Aquino International Airport…
NTRC warns vs adverse effects of foreign...
17 November, 2017 at 15:42
Think tank National Tax Research Center (NTRC) said a proposal to impose tax to foreign tourists visiting the country may negatively affect the Philippine tourism industry.
Manila cruise port to open before end...
16 October, 2017 at 15:30
To meet the growing demand for cruise lines in key Philippine destinations, a cruise-port facility will be opening in Manila before the end of the Duterte administration in 2022.
