Strategic Planning & Research
August 4, 2014
One-pager information brief on current developments in:
Phil. Medical tourism needs boost
The Philippine medical tourism continues to get a miniscule share of
the medical tourism market even if it offers better prices in surgical
procedures than its Asian competitors. In 2010, the country is
th
ranked 11 on medical tourism which has 80,000 medical tourists
trailing behind Thailand with 1.2 million, Singapore with 600,000
and Malaysia with 350,000 medical tourists.
To improve the country’s status, the government recommended the
establishment of a coordinating body among offices and agencies
involved in medical tourism: (1) Marketing campaign for the 21
premier hospitals included under the Philippine Medical Tourism
Program, (2) Attractive websites should be developed , (3) Medical
facilities should also work toward international affiliations for
quality assurance and vibrant medical campaign, (4) Medical airline
packages should be developed so that more tourists will be enticed
to visit the country, (5) Strong ties between hospitals and
international health insurance companies that will build a
responsive and transparent pricing of medical facilities, and (6)
Accreditation
from the Joint Commission International, an
accrediting body in global healthcare, as the country is still lagging
behind in terms of JCI-accredited hospitals among its Asian
competitors.
ASEAN tourism plan said 75% done
The Asean has nearly completed tourism measures ahead of
the regional economic integration by 2015. These
interventions to include: (1) improving connectivity via the
open skies policy; (2) increasing competitiveness of the
tourism workforce through the Mutual Recognition
Agreement (MRA); (3) simplifying visa procedures through
the Asean common visa; (4) improving readiness for crisis and
climate change; (5) establishing quality tourism through the
standards on hotels, homestays, public toilets, spa services,
tourism safety and secuirity; and (6) developing sustainable
tourist destinations and products.
DOT has officially declared 2015 as Visit Philippines Year
(VPY) and confirmed the country’s hosting of the Asean
Tourism Forum (ATF) in 2016. VPY 2015 is an invitation to all,
especially to our brothers and sisters in Asean to come and
partake of the enduring promise of more fun in the
Philippines. VPY will feature events and activities that are an
exciting mix of all the outstanding work of the Filipino people,
as well as the unveiling of many more historic treasures,
natural wonders, and unforgettable adventures.
Industry Performance
The Philippines received 2,433,428 international visitors
for the first half of 2014, growing at 2.22% compared to
the same period in 2013 with registered arrivals of
2,380,593. Of these arrivals, the month of June 2014
hosted 372,293 visitors (+0.87%) relative to the 369,073
the previous year. For the period in review, visitor
arrivals from the Asian region accounted for 58.78% with
South Korea, China and Japan leading the region. The
Americas and Europe comprised 19.28% and 10.64%,
respectively.
Legaspi City- Albay eco-nautical tourism development program
called Blue Lane involves tapping rich marine and coastal resources and
environment. It counts on the expertise of marine scientists, diving
enthusiasts and island development specialists. It focuses on the
oceans as “development spaces” providing a substantial portion of the
global population with food, livelihood and means of transport for 80
percent of world trade. Fired up by Albay’s 66-percent tourism growth
in 2013, the Blue Lane aims to further enhance the pro Albay’s recent
tourism gains and at the same time solve coastal poverty through
sustainable development, pioneered four years ago by the coastal
resource agri bio-system development program strategy.
Bohol, Tagbilaran - Months after a 7.2 magnitude earthquake rocked
Bohol in Central Visayas, the island province is attempting to put
behind it what its governor considers to be a “temporary setback.” Part
of the efforts is the ongoing tourism rebranding campaign to lure back
tourists to the province. Governor Edgar Chatto admits that the
province’s tourism industry suffered greatly because of the
earthquake. The earthquake destroyed many of the centuries-old
churches; some are beyond repair while others are closed for
rehabilitation with their completion dates still uncertain. The
province’s engines of growth are eco-cultural tourism, agri-industrial
tourism and information technology.
Foreign tourist arrivals into the country reached 4.68 million
for the whole of 2013, which is a 9.56-percent growth
compared to 4.27 million arrivals recorded in 2012.
Total revenues gained from inbound visitors for 2013 was up
by 15.1 percent and estimated to be at $4.4 billion. The
domestic tourism industry demonstrated sustained growth
despite the challenges from the previous year like the
Zamboanga seige, the Visayas earthquake and Super Typhoon
Yolanda.
Cruise tourism is expected to contribute at least 20 percent to
total foreign arrivals in the Philippines this year. Last year,
there were 40,000 tourists who arrived by ship and DOT
expects to double the number this year. For the past years, the
country’s cruise tourism industry has been growing at an
annual rate of only nine percent but recent developments
have allowed more ships to pass through Philippine waters.
The high cost of doing business in the Philippines though, is
hindering the growth of local tourism. The current incentive
policies of the government must be revisited in order for the
tourism industry to compete with its neighbors in the region.
SOURCES: Daily Tribune, May 21, 2014 ; Business World, February 4, 2014; The Philippine Star, February3, 2014; Manila Standard Today, April 11, 2014
http://business.inquirer.net/176296/bohol-tourism-industry-rising-from-the-rubble
Department of Tourism