Colliers International, the property consultant expects at least 6.6 million foreign tourists to visit Philippines this year that marks a 10% rise in the tourism figures from last year’s 5.97 million arrivals.
However, it continues to be short of the government’s target of 7 million travellers.
Colliers said that the growth in the tourism sector of the country would be sustained by the arrival of tourists from its traditional markets including China, Japan, United States and South Korea that account for about 60% of annual tourist arrivals in the Philippines.
Also, it noted that the cordial relations between the Chinese and Philippine governments might result in more Chinese tourists in Philippines.
It said that late last year, the Chinese and Philippine governments had signed an agreement on tourism cooperation that includes checking out a probable increase in capacity entitlements in air services and also motivating airlines to commence brand new flights between the Philippine cities in the Visayas and Mindanao regions and also the Chinese cities.
It is believed that this agreement is likely to produce the desired outcome within the next six to twelve months.
Colliers also feels that the hosting of some of the most important international events in the past two years like the Asean Tourism Forum, Miss Universe, Routes Asia and the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit have also contributed generously to the growth in tourist arrivals in this part of the world. It mentioned that this also gave an impetus to the meetings, conferences and exhibitions locales in this region.
Colliers added that the hotel occupancy rate in Metro Manila had risen by 2% to 71% by the end of the year 2016 from 69% in the initial half of 2016.
Chris Wells who is the Colliers International Philippines’ consultant for hotels and leisure services said that the outlook for Philippine tourism continues to be bullish. This has been motivating the hotel developers to ramp up the construction of accommodation facilities throughout the nation.
Colliers also said that the developers are leveraging the popularity of two or four star hotels among the Japanese, Korean, Taiwanese and Chinese tourists.
A recent report released by the World Travel and Tourism Council portrayed the direct contribution of the tourism sector to the Philippine economy to about 8.2% in 2016.
