Tourist arrivals hit 2.84m in 2006
BY RODERICK T. DELA CRUZ
BY RODERICK T. DELA CRUZ
INTERNATIONAL visitor arrivals to the Philippines hit a record high of 2.843 million in 2006 but fell short of the 3-million target set by the Department of Tourism, the government said yesterday.
“2006 was a good year for Philippine tourism,” said Tourism Secretary Joseph Ace Durano in a statement, adding that prospects for 2007 were better, with the expected completion of new resorts and accommodation facilities that would bring the total number of hotel rooms to about 18,000 by year-end.
The tourism chief did not say why foreign tourist arrivals fell short but powerful typhoons in the last quarter of 2006 and the lack of accommodation have led to cancellation of bookings.
The Philippine Travel Agencies Association earlier complained that the country has been losing 500,000 foreign tourists and $400 million in revenues annually because of inadequate hotel rooms, especially in the provinces.
Durano, however, said the present situation presented a fertile environment for growth in the accommodation sector.
“Prior to 2004, the erratic industry performance slowed investments. As it recovered, and with the consistent growth in tourist volume and the pressure placed on capacities, the business sector is moving swiftly to take advantage of the upward swing,” he said.
Data from the DoT’s tourism research and statistics division show that the number of foreign tourists who visited the country last year represented an 8.4 percent growth over the previous record of 2.623 million in 2005.
Durano said the robust arrival figures have been favorable to support fresh investments in accommodation facilities.
“The accommodation sector is now expanding. We are reaping the fruits of our collaborative marketing efforts with the increase in visitor demand, urging the hotels and resorts to fast-track expansion programs while fresh investments continue to pour in to build new ones,” the tourism chief said.
“2006 was a good year for Philippine tourism,” said Tourism Secretary Joseph Ace Durano in a statement, adding that prospects for 2007 were better, with the expected completion of new resorts and accommodation facilities that would bring the total number of hotel rooms to about 18,000 by year-end.
The tourism chief did not say why foreign tourist arrivals fell short but powerful typhoons in the last quarter of 2006 and the lack of accommodation have led to cancellation of bookings.
The Philippine Travel Agencies Association earlier complained that the country has been losing 500,000 foreign tourists and $400 million in revenues annually because of inadequate hotel rooms, especially in the provinces.
Durano, however, said the present situation presented a fertile environment for growth in the accommodation sector.
“Prior to 2004, the erratic industry performance slowed investments. As it recovered, and with the consistent growth in tourist volume and the pressure placed on capacities, the business sector is moving swiftly to take advantage of the upward swing,” he said.
Data from the DoT’s tourism research and statistics division show that the number of foreign tourists who visited the country last year represented an 8.4 percent growth over the previous record of 2.623 million in 2005.
Durano said the robust arrival figures have been favorable to support fresh investments in accommodation facilities.
“The accommodation sector is now expanding. We are reaping the fruits of our collaborative marketing efforts with the increase in visitor demand, urging the hotels and resorts to fast-track expansion programs while fresh investments continue to pour in to build new ones,” the tourism chief said.
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