Domestic tourism remains strong amid challenging times
Department of Tourism 6 (DOT 6) Director Edwin Trompeta said the country’s tourism industry continues to be strong in the face of the prevailing global economic crisis and lately, the occurrence of Influenza A (H1N1).
Trompeta said the expected arrival of some 100 MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Convention and Exhibitions) International Buyers and Executives in the country on July 5-10 is a strong indication of the continuing attraction of the Philippines.
“Of these 100 buyers and executives from other countries, 33 are expected to go to Boracay Island,” said Trompeta, adding that “last May, 50 Swiss tour operators were also here to update themselves of the different tourism experiences in the country which was preceded by the visit of 250 Tour Operators and counter staff of Meiers Weltreison from Germany and Austria.”
Trompeta also noted that the DOT 6 has not received any report of cancellation of business from travel operators in the region because of the flu.
“What we have here is a mild case similar to an ordinary flu and treatable, it is not the virulent type as compared with that of Mexico,” said Trompeta.
He also stressed that the World Health Organization (WHO) has not issued any travel restrictions from or to any country in the planet.
Recently, WHO, together with the United Nations Secretary General also recommended against restrictions on travel and border closures despite the move to phase 6 pandemic status of the A(H1N1) virus.
As of June 24, the World Health Organization reported 55,867 A (H1N1) cases with 238 deaths from 102 reporting countries.
In the Philippines, Health Secretary Francisco T. Duque III reported 134 more mild cases of A (H1N1), noting all are responding positively to their treatments, as of June 26. These additional cases bring the total count of confirmed cases to 861 in the country.
However, Trompeta admitted that Influenza A (H1N1) has a negative effect in the tourism industry because of all the publicity, some of which are overblown.
“In other countries, news of this kind are found in their inside pages while ours are always in the front page,” said Trompeta.
He expressed optimism that the strong and active domestic market can cover the travel business lost brought about by the occurrence of the A(H1N1)virus in some areas of the country.
“The DOT has not let up in its marketing promotion efforts and the government is doing its best to contain the spread of the virus,” said Trompeta. (PIA)