Why tourists skip RP
We claim to be a tropical paradise where natural beauty is boundlessly spread over 7,107 islands. We beckon tourists to our historical sites. We ask them to sample our culture, which we describe as “a delightful blend of east and west” and promise them “more than the usual” fun and excitement. Beyond beaches and seafood we even dabble in medical tourism and ecotourism. If anything, our reputation as the world’s friendliest nation is reason enough to spark an invasion of global sightseers.
The Philippines, an English-speaking nation spells ease for most tourists. In Switzerland, Japan or China, they’d be lucky to get their message across using hand signs or mental telepathy if they don’t speak the language.
Ours is a nation where sins are not taxed despite our staunch Catholic leanings. Tourists can get drunk for less than 3 dollars as liquor costs like basic commodity. They can smoke Marlboros for about 60 US cents while in Singapore the same pack costs 3 dollars and can only be puffed in designated areas lest one is agreeable to a 500-dollar fine. In the Philippines, tourists can shop to their hearts’ content in malls and stores that are perennially on sale and teeming with wares, whether branded or fake.
With what it has to offer in rock-bottom affordability, the Philippines would have been a tourist’s haven in Asia’s heartland. But it’s not and it has never been. Instead they go to Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia and Singapore.
Malaysia, which in 2009 landed in the world’s top 10 destinations according to the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UN-WTO), hit an all-time high in tourist arrivals and receipts. It is now the ninth top country visited by tourists (France, USA, Spain, China, Italy, UK, Turkey, Germany, Malaysia, and Mexico respectively) and one of only two Asian countries on the list. RP is nowhere in sight even in the next 10.
When speaking total Asia, the Philippines is pushed back further as heavy weights China, India, Japan and Korea rule as destinations. RP rests slightly above war-torn and underdeveloped Cambodia, Laos or Sri Lanka.
Since the 1990’s our tourism ranking has been southbound. The Philippines used to be the fifth top destination in Southeast Asia (Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore, Indonesia and RP) but according to a study by the Pacific Asia Travel Association by year 2000, Vietnam had seized the fifth spot. It has been downhill for RP as travelers just skipped this pearl of the orient for some reason.
According to the Philippine Institute of Development Studies in its publication, “Sustainable Tourism, the challenges for the Philippines” a number of stumbling blocks resulted in Philippine tourism’s failure to launch:
Safety and Security. Tourists’ perceptions of conflict in the southern provinces and the recurring travel advisories issued by their respective governments weighed down on the country’s image. Visitors also look for safety even in the urban areas and Metro Manila does not exude peace or order so far.
Low Capacity and Accessibility Problems. We may have cheaper hotels and resorts but an APEC survey implies these alone will not entice tourists to come. Limited rooms and ground transport deficiencies hinder travel. Many hotels in the provinces lack amenities while some of the country’s destinations are almost inaccessible due to bad roads, poor transport facilities and safety hazards.
Limited Flights. Flying into the Philippines is also too much for travelers making the most of a short vacation. There are barely direct flights to RP from Europe or the US. Most flights have stops in Singapore, Hong Kong, Japan or Seoul making travel time-consuming and inconvenient. Direct flights via open skies could be the boost RP tourism badly needs.
Lack of Qualified Manpower. Manpower training is also essential. The country needs a workforce that’s competent and world-class. All the qualified ones have left the country. Even in the hospitality and service industry, there is brain drain.
Sustainable Tourism Through Preservation Of The Environment. Tourism and the preservation of the environment should go hand in hand. While infrastructure brings in more visitors, it is crucial that the environment is preserved for it defines the destination.
A bitter lesson for the Philippines over a decade ago is courtesy of Boracay Island, whose resort expansion along the white beach resulted in Coli form bacteria contamination. Many businesses were left high and dry for a while as it scared away tourists. May this be a grim reminder of just how fragile the ecosystem is and how irresponsible expansion could easily kill the goose that lays the golden eggs.
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Today is World Tourism Day with a theme “Tourism and Biodiversity.” In line with 2010 as the International Year of Biodiversity, nations are encouraged to embark on Sustainable Tourism.
Sustainable Tourism raises awareness among tourists and local communities of the importance of biodiversity. The UN-WTO urges governments to use part of the income generated by tourism for nature conservation.
Efforts to protect biodiversity are necessary as local economies depend on it.*
