WTTC: PH tourism to come back stronger after pandemic slump
The travel and tourism industry in the country is keen on the road to recovery, with industry players predicting that the sector’s contribution to the economy would grow by 6.7% in the next 10 years.
Boracay
The latest World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) Economic Impact Report revealed that the travel and tourism sectors in the Philippines have generated $41 billion in 2021, representing 10.4% of the country’s gross domestic product. It also reported that those sectors have recovered 1.3 million jobs last year, raising the country’s overall tourism workers to 7.8 million.
WTTC President and CEO Julia Simpson attributed this to increased frequencies of domestic travel and the government’s efforts to relax restrictions in the country.
Meanwhile, Department of Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat said both the public and private stakeholders are working together to restore revenues and arrivals at pre-pandemic levels.
Burnham Park, Baguio City/IMAGE from Philippine Primer
“What we are just happy now is finally we are open, we’ve been open since February 10 and to all countries since April 1… I believe that in Asia we have the least number of restrictions. We have no more deaths upon arrival, no more quarantine. We’re hoping to make it simpler with regard to pre-pandemic levels. Of course, I don’t think it can be as soon as the 2019 levels but at least we are getting there,” she added.
The WTTC Global Summit is an annual gathering of the entire spectrum of the industry, including airlines and airports, hotels and hospitality groups, tour operators and retail travel agents, online distributors, cruise lines, investment companies, insurance groups, and the technology industry.
Source: DOT
