By Cleofe Uy Catuday
The Department of Tourism has recorded more than 4 Million Tourist arrivals in the country for the first 9 months of the year. Despite other countries in some regions recovering sooner, we are posed to celebrate on our own successes with the gradual recovery tourism that we have at hand.
We see multi sectoral efforts being done to promote the country and entice interest of travelers to include us in their bucket list. Private hospitality and tourism establishments putting out numerous promotions. There are evident efforts to improve distribution channels and make the most with the new trends in booking. The deliberate and conscious involvement and attendance to every single event, trade show or trade fair that allows opportunities to reconnect with industry partners, corporate accounts and potential businesses to tap and discover.
There is an obvious pressing need to deliver the numbers before the year ends, to ensure achievement of the business plan goals set before various stakeholders. The shift in tourism patterns is giving most of us some level of uncertainty but its noteworthy how everyone just keeps going. Everyone just keeps going.
It is an option to compare ourselves with countries doing better than us and create a litany of what we lag on. We can harp about inadequate infrastructure, limited connectivity between domestic and international destinations and the lukewarm recovery of the International inbound Chinese travelers. But we also have a choice to keep going and do our part.
Continue supporting the programs of the Department of Tourism and the Tourism Promotions Board. Strongly support the tourism and hospitality organizations like the Philippine Hotel Owners Association (PHOA), the Hotel Sales & Marketing Association (HSMA), Boracay and Iloilo MICE Alliances to name a few. We have numerous associations and chambers all focused on the advocacy of helping improve the industry and fast track the much-needed recovery.
A choice to fill our hearts with gratitude and celebrate what we have at hand. So, our days are filled with appreciation, so we are inspired to keep going.
My personal pick-me-up memories are the stories of the destination of Boracay. The island having went through so much after the rehabilitation closure, the pandemic and the many other challenges that revolve around its journey to recover. It has been a lot for businesses, for the local residents and the tourism workers. But despite all these challenging years that have passed this year has been a bout of hard work and extra effort to keep things afloat and keep everyone going. The beauty of the island that has rested for quite some time, the sunset and the white powdery sand. Not a year has passed that this destination did not get a global recognition for its amazing sceneries and everything it has to offer. All these will keep us going, not just for our business stakeholders but for the people whose lives are hinged on the tourism industry of the island.
There will be many more challenges that this journey will give us. But let us not underestimate the power of support, nationalism and synergy. These will help us achieve our common vision for our industry. As we continue to contribute in our own ways in the recovery of the tourism industry in our country, let us hang on in faith the time for us to genuinely recover will be soon.
