DOT looking to turn PH into sports tourism hub
The Philippines may soon be the next big destination when it comes to major sporting events, as the Department of Tourism (DOT) is promoting the country as a sports tourism hub.
SPORTS, MORE FUN IN THE PHILIPPINES. If the recent push by the DOT is successful, we might see more Manny Pacquiao fights and other major sporting events being held in the country. Photo taken by Jun-Ely Fernan Gayosa, grabbed from flickr
In a press briefing released by DOT on October 3 (Monday), Tourism Sec. Wanda Teo said “The Philippines has a huge potential to become one of the world’s great adventure travel destinations. With our country’s natural attractions and the Filipinos’ love for sports, we certainly have the competitive edge to make it big in this fast growing niche market of sports tourism.”
She also disclosed plans to mount more local and international sports events that have the potential to draw more tourists to the country. This happened during the recently-concluded United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) Conference held in Da Nang, Vietnam last September 23.
Tourism Undersecretary Katherine de Castro, who represented the DOT during the conference, said the Philippines should go for a bigger share in the multi-billion dollar business of sports tourism.
She also stressed water sports such as surfing, wake boarding, and diving as some of the country’s key tourism products, saying “This alone can spur tourism growth in the country.”
The UNWTO considers tourism and sports as “two social phenomena in the 21st century that mobilize millions of people the world over,” as shown during the 2016 Rio Olympics. They also said tourism and sports are some of the “most powerful economic driving force of society today, with “enormous potential to generate a very wide-range of economic spin-offs.”
Source: Department of Tourism Official Facebook page, GMA News Online, BusinessMirror
