Philippines travel industry heading toward record high

Philippines travel industry heading toward record high P5.4 trillion

Story by Elijah Felice Rosales
Philstar Global 
29 June 2024

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine travel industry is heading toward an all-time high value of P5.4 trillion this year, propelled by efforts to boost tourism in the provinces and upgrade aviation infrastructure.

Based on forecast by the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC), the country will grow its travel and tourism to new highs in 2024, particularly on economic contribution, job generation and visitor spending.

WTTC projects travel’s contribution to the economy to rise by almost a quarter to P5.4 trillion this year, from P4.34 trillion in 2023.

Likewise, travel will generate at least 9.5 million jobs for Filipinos, comprising one in every five of the labor force. Also, domestic visitor spending is seen to go up to P3.7 trillion, while foreign tourist expenditure is estimated to hit P715.6 billion.

WTTC president and CEO Julia Simpson said travel would benefit from public and private efforts to upgrade regional airports. The Department of Transportation (DOTr) is investing P14 billion for the development and reconstruction of provincial gateways this year.

Similarly, the DOTr is arranging public-private partnership contracts for the upgrade of airports in Bacolod, Bohol, Davao, Iloilo, Kalibo, Puerto Princesa and Siargao.

Apart from this, Simpson said travel would gain from the impending turnover of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) to the New NAIA Infrastructure Corp. led by San Miguel Corp.

The DOTr is set to hand over NAIA to the consortium by September, and from there the airport will undergo a P170.6 billion rehabilitation in the next 15 years.

WTTC estimates that travel and tourism will raise about P9.5 trillion for the Philippine economy by 2034. By then, the industry will take up 22 percent of the economy, creating jobs for as many as 11.9 million, sustaining one in every five Filipinos.

Regionally, WTTC believes Southeast Asia will grow its travel segment by 21 percent to hit P21 trillion this year. Additionally, jobs in travel and tourism will balloon to 42.4 million, expanding the role of the industry in livelihood generation.

The government is working on the improvement of transport infrastructure across the Philippines to enhance inter-island connectivity, benefitting industries reliant on tourism.

For one, the rehabilitation and upgrade of NAIA is expected to increase the passenger capacity of the airport to 62 million a year, from 32 million at present.

Baguio understudy for cable car system

Cable car system eyed in Baguio

Story by Adrian Parungao
Inquirer.net
26 June 2024

MANILA, Philippines — Baguio City is associated with a cold climate, strawberry farming, and beautiful landscapes, but what about cable cars?

That’s a possibility, as the Bases Conversion and Development Authority signed a memorandum of understanding with Japan-based company Zip Infrastructure Co. Ltd. for a feasibility study on a cable car system called Zippar, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) said on Tuesday.

Zippar will be installed in Camp John Hay.

"The Zippar or self-driven cable cars to be tested in Baguio City, could be a game-changer for urban public transport while presenting an ideal green transport model. But we choose to temper our excitement with the need to first undertake the requisite feasibility studies,” Bautista said in a statement

“We hope to determine the possibility of adopting Zippar to a highly congested metropolis like Metro Manila,” he added.

The proposed cable car system will be automated and will be operated from a control center, the DOTr chief said.

“If we can maintain the momentum of public transport innovations, we can be certain of achieving the promised benefits of these projects,” he added.

Philippines makes it to IMO 'white list'

Philippines makes it to IMO 'white list' — DOTr

Story by TED CORDERO
GMA Integrated News 
22 May 2024

The Department of Transportation (DOTr) said on Wednesday that the Philippines was once again included on the so-called “white list” of the International Maritime Organization (IMO).

In a news release, the DOTr said the country’s inclusion on the white list affirms the Philippines’ status as a major provider of world-class Filipino seafarers in the global maritime industry.

Citing the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA), the Transportation Department said the recognition was given for the country’s commitment to maintaining high standards in maritime education, training, and certification for Filipino seafarers.

It said that the IMO white list signifies that seafarers trained and certified in the Philippines meet the rigorous international standards set by the IMO Standards of Training, Certification, and Watchkeeping (STCW) Convention.

"Our goal is to entrench the position of the Philippines as the Maritime Capital of the World by continuously supplying the global maritime industry with high-standard Filipino seafarers," said Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista.

He added that the DOTr is determined to address challenges faced by the maritime industry in the country.

In December 2022, the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) notified the Philippines of some deficiencies, including serious ones, such as in the Philippine seafarers’ education, training, and certification system.

MARINA has since exerted efforts to consistently implement and monitor the corrective actions for the benefit of almost 50,000 Filipino seafarers employed by European-flagged vessels.

The IMO Maritime Safety Committee (MSC) later confirmed that the Philippines had fully complied with the relevant provisions of the STCW Convention. —VBL, GMA Integrated News