DOT seeks to lure back Chinese tourists to WV
Tourism Regional Director Edwin Trompeta is optimistic the Western Visayas tourism industry will be able to bounce back in the next three months as he disclosed his agency’s plan to mount a promotional marketing activity to entice Chinese tourists to visit the region.
The Chinese are among the most robust tourist arrivals in Western Visayas, he said.
However, the backlash of the Manila bus hostage crisis, which claimed the lives of eight Hong Kong tourists, also affected the region, leading to cancellation of millions worth of bookings in Boracay Island, which hosts about 60,000 Chinese tourists every year.
Figures of Department of Tourism 6 show that between August 23 and 26, 351 hotel bookings and reservations have been cancelled, translating to revenue losses of P7.439 million.
The amount represents only room costs, and if possible expenses of tourists on meals, transportation and other expenses are included, the figure could reach P20 million to 30 million.
Moreover, Trompeta said about 160,000 Chinese tourists also visit Iloilo every year.
They come to see the Dinagyang highlights in January and other festivals in nearby provinces.
As to how to reverse the negative impact of the hostage crisis, Trompeta said “the DOT will do something about this through massive tourism promotions in Hong Kong.”
He said government agencies, tourism partners in China and Hong Kong, travel agencies, hotels and other tourism stakeholders are currently working on their tourism strategies.
Tourist arrivals will definitely pick up in the last three months of the year
and may continue until January when the country has many festivals to offer to foreigners, Trompeta added.*
