Philippines can be world’s top tourist destination

A leading European leisure travel company said that the Philippines could become one of the top tourist destinations in the world.

TUI Travel PLC Chief Executive Officer Peter Long said their firm expects to see another 600 million to 700 million people traveling from and within Asia over the next five years — and mainly to other Asian destinations.

Long said that despite the economic slowdown, the Philippines remains resilient since it has a lot to offer to travelers, in terms of destinations.

The Philippine Department of Tourism (DoT) said this development (if it materializes) will translate into economic growth for the country, which will somehow be an offsetting factor against the contagion effect of the ongoing worldwide economic slowdown.

The DoT said it is optimistic in spite of the crisis and that “there is still a huge tourism potential waiting to be tapped.”

A study conducted by the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) said tourism, along with the business processing outsourcing (BPO) industry, is an “exciting” industry that can compensate for lowered economic forecasts for the Philippines.

The study also indicates the strong belief tourism experts pin on the industry.

It noted that OFW remittances remain steady despite the global slowdown, ensuring that private consumption remains the key factor driving the economy.

The DoT said the first half of this year looked promising, with tourism receipts growing from various global regions, specifically Australia and the Asia-Pacific, at a 5.8 percent rate.

Data from the DoT Office of Tourism Standards, increased tourism investments have been reported to take effect early this year. The data indicates that additional hotel and hospital rooms will further beef up the carrying capacity of the country to accommodate travelers.