The Philippine tourism industry remains optimistic despite the immediate impact of the August 23 Manila hostage drama, with the government expecting short-term negative effects on the tourism sector.
Tourism Secretary Alberto A. Lim said that the 3.3-million tourist target this year might not be met, with roughly 130,000 to 150,000 (or five percent) cut off from the total annual arrivals of Hong Kong and Chinese nationals. However, full-year sales are expected to still hold up, according to the tourism sector.
The Hong Kong government warned its citizens to avoid going to the Philippines. Lim said that positive news and good public relations for the country are really needed to bring back the tourists.
“We have to take [the Hong Kong Government decision] on the chin but at the same time we also have to do our own public relations counter-offensive,” Lim said.
Meanwhile, a number of hotels and resorts have received a large volume of booking cancellations for the months of September to October. A Manila Hotel official said that dropped bookings are 80% higher, but some establishments confirmed that they have only registered one to two cancellations so far.
Tourism sectors in Boracay and Cebu are expecting lesser number of bookings and reservations for the next three months, having reported several dropped reservations in the past few days.
Top tourist sites have noticed flagging demand. From a 90% occupancy rate in Boracay hotels down to only 50% after the incident, Boracay Chamber of Commerce and Industry President Charles Uy said.
In Shangri-La's Mactan Resort and Spa, sales and marketing director Michael Jaey C. Albaña said they now have approximately 100-room cancellations, but they still remain optimistic in year 2010.
"[This year is] still much better than 2009. Even if I include cancellations for August to October, we are still up ... around 10%. I think it’s the same for other resorts," Albaña said.
Metro Manila Hotels received varied feedbacks. Bellevue Manila registered cancellations about 80% higher compared to the past month while Sofitel Philippine Plaza and Microtel Inns and Suites had only few cancellations.
Tourism Secretary Alberto A. Lim said that the 3.3-million tourist target this year might not be met, with roughly 130,000 to 150,000 (or five percent) cut off from the total annual arrivals of Hong Kong and Chinese nationals. However, full-year sales are expected to still hold up, according to the tourism sector.
The Hong Kong government warned its citizens to avoid going to the Philippines. Lim said that positive news and good public relations for the country are really needed to bring back the tourists.
“We have to take [the Hong Kong Government decision] on the chin but at the same time we also have to do our own public relations counter-offensive,” Lim said.
Meanwhile, a number of hotels and resorts have received a large volume of booking cancellations for the months of September to October. A Manila Hotel official said that dropped bookings are 80% higher, but some establishments confirmed that they have only registered one to two cancellations so far.
Tourism sectors in Boracay and Cebu are expecting lesser number of bookings and reservations for the next three months, having reported several dropped reservations in the past few days.
Top tourist sites have noticed flagging demand. From a 90% occupancy rate in Boracay hotels down to only 50% after the incident, Boracay Chamber of Commerce and Industry President Charles Uy said.
In Shangri-La's Mactan Resort and Spa, sales and marketing director Michael Jaey C. Albaña said they now have approximately 100-room cancellations, but they still remain optimistic in year 2010.
"[This year is] still much better than 2009. Even if I include cancellations for August to October, we are still up ... around 10%. I think it’s the same for other resorts," Albaña said.
Metro Manila Hotels received varied feedbacks. Bellevue Manila registered cancellations about 80% higher compared to the past month while Sofitel Philippine Plaza and Microtel Inns and Suites had only few cancellations.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
BiyahengPinas.com thanks the following sources for this article:
Hermosa, Jessica Anne, Business World. Cancellations noted but tourism sector remains optimistic (Posted August 29, 2010) from
http://www.bworldonline.com/main/content.php?id=16804
Oiga, Jacky Lynne, The Manila Bulletin. Gov't expects short-term negative tourism effects (Posted August 24, 2010) from
http://www.mb.com.ph/node/273979/gov-t-expect
Philippine Daily Inquirer. Hostage fiasco deals big blow to RP tourism (Posted August 25, 2010) from
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/nation/view/20100825-288637/Hostage-fiasco-deals-big-blow-to-RP-tourism
