THE Philippines is faring well in terms of international arrivals, making it one of the most visited destinations in Southeast Asia this year.
In a new report published for the ongoing World Travel Market in London, ForwardKeys showed the Philippines just 55 percent behind 2019 international arrivals. Other top destinations in the region were: Indonesia (less 71 percent from 2019 arrivals), Malaysia (-76 percent), Singapore (-69 percent), Thailand (-75 percent), and Vietnam (-77 percent).
Founded in 2010, ForwardKeys compiles and provides air ticketing data to tourism organizations, hotels, and retailers. Its latest report is based on actual air tickets as of October 18, 2022, combining historic results and booked tickets until the year-end.
In terms of cities, the top destinations in Southeast Asia were Bangkok (75 percent behind 2019 arrivals), Denpasar (-74 percent), Ho Chi Minh City (-69 percent), Kuala Lumpur (-73 percent), Manila (-50 percent), Phuket (-72 percent), and Singapore (-69 percent).
Asia Pacific destinations, overall, are still 76 percent short of arrivals in 2019, while worldwide international arrivals are 45 percent behind, indicating that much of the tourism recovery is happening in the West and in Europe.
Still, “Asia Pacific’s gradual recovery is positive news for the industry as a whole, and if governments, destinations and airlines can work together to inspire consumer confidence, it is only a matter of time until every region is welcoming similar numbers of international tourists as in 2019,” said ForwardKeys.
Americans driving arrivals
THE Philippines reached an historic high of 8.26 million in international arrivals, pre-pandemic, in 2019.
Data from the Department of Tourism (DOT) showed, from February 10 to November 8, international arrivals in the country reached 1.96 million, of which 1.43 million were foreign passport holders, and 529,231 were overseas Filipinos.
Like much of the world, the Philippines’s tourism recovery is being driven by arrivals from the United States, with 373,372 visitors accounting for close to some 19 percent of total. “The US outbound market is currently the world’s travel recovery powerhouse, with a high number of travelers keen to explore and spend their hard-earned cash on new experiences. Destinations that have depended on this audience in the past now face more global competition and cannot rely on a generic approach, while destinations that depended more on markets such as China and Russia ought to shift their focus to communicating more openly with travel-hungry American audiences,” said ForwardKeys.
The Philippines is participating in this year’s edition of the World Travel Market from November 7 to 9 at ExCeL London.
‘Hilot’ in WTM London
IN a news statement, DOT’s marketing arm, the Tourism Promotions Board (TPB), said the Philippines booth is featuring popular destinations such as Palawan, Cebu, Boracay, Bohol, Siargao, the Cordilleras, and Manila. It is also highlighting diverse cultural offerings including the Kadayawan Festival of Davao and the Bicol Express dish from the Bicol Region.
With this year’s theme revolving around wellness and sustainability, a Philippine Networking Night will be conducted on November 8 at “The Retreat,” a Philippine-sponsored area where visitors can experience a nature-inspired wellness spa setting and indulge and the traditional Filipino massage, hilot.Visitors will also be treated to flair bartending, a food demo, and pocket performances by notable Filipino artists.
“With experiential travel as one of the biggest travel trends in this post-pandemic period, our goal is to immerse visitors in the unique Filipino brand. The heart and soul of our people and the stories we fight to keep alive,” said TPB COO Maria Margarita Montemayor Nograles. “Wellness, sustainability, design, culture and tradition are just some of the many components that come with our most recent travel packages. Coupled with our sun, beach and dive destinations, adventure tours, colorful festivals, and a mélange of culinary delights, we have high hopes for the Philippines to be a top of mind destination,” she stressed.