SOME travel consultants have criticised the Philippine Department of Tourism’s (DOT) approach in downplaying the impact of China’s territorial standoff with the Philippines.
During a recent trip to the US, Philippine Secretary of Tourism, Ramon R Jimenez, was quoted by media as saying: “The Philippines has at least ten primary markets. China is only one of them and not even in the top three. Last year, the Philippines welcomed 243,000 visitors from China – nothing to write your mother about.”
In the wake of en masse Chinese cancellations, DOT officials responded by stepping up marketing and promotion efforts in alternative source markets, but neglected to clarify its stance over China.
Branding the behaviour as “misplaced pride”, Sef Lam, director, Via Vai Travel Hong Kong, said: “You cannot control China’s stand, (but) you can control yours, so be sensible. While it is always good to develop new markets and strengthen old ones, the NTO should continue its marketing efforts in China, highlighting the historic ties between the two countries.”
According to Mary Ann Ong, China market director for Blue Horizon Travel & Tours, China remains the market to tap if the Philippines wants to achieve its arrivals targets.
“The World Tourism Organization has estimated that 100 million Chinese will travel (overseas) by 2020. In 2010, 57.4 million Chinese travelled abroad. We, in the Philippines, would love to get a piece of this pie”, she said.
In response to queries from TTG Asia e-Daily, DOT assistant secretary, Benito Bengzon, said the NTO’s marketing and promotions activities for China had not changed.
He explained that DOT had so far initiated two meetings with the private sector in Manila, to exchange ideas on how to address the raft of cancellations from China. Refunds of paid tour packages and cancellation charges were also on the agenda.
Bengzon said these meetings in Manila would continue, in addition to future sessions with industry players in Bohol and Cebu.
