Mindanao, promoted as a key tourist destination in the Philippines

The Department of Tourism (DOT) also launched the Colours of Mindanao campaign on 2 May

The Tourism Promotions Board (TPB) assured the safety of Mindanao as a tourist destination, saying measures are in place to provide tourists with a safe and memorable travel experience.

Maria Anthonette Velasco-Allones, COO of the TPB, seconded this, saying that peace talks are continually being done in the region, and that “military, national and local law enforcement are doing its best to keep our destinations safe, and local government units are also working with NGOs (non-government organizations) and international organizations to make their destinations more sustainable and inclusive.”

The Department of Tourism (DOT) also launched the Colors of Mindanao campaign on 2 May, which was spearheaded by Undersecretary for Mindanao Myra Paz Valderrosa-Abubakar and the directors of Mindanao’s five regions, as reported by the Cebu Daily News.

The campaign addressed new tourism products and circuits using distinct colours that corresponded to a specific aspect of tourism: blue for dive tourism; teal for sun and beach; green for ecotourism; brown for farm tourism; violet for culture and heritage; red for adventure and sports; orange for food tourism; and yellow for faith tourism.

According to industry stakeholders, the domestic tourism sector is likely to reach pre-pandemic levels by 2024. However, rising inflation may hinder demand, according to BusinessWorld.

More: The Philippines’ GDP for 2022 projected to reach 8%

Meanwhile, preliminary data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) showed that the local tourism industry’s contribution to the country’s GDP increased to 5.2 percent in 2021 from 5.1 percent in 2020. This is, however, substantially lower than the 12.7 percent witnessed in 2019.

Jose Clemente III, president of the Tourism Congress of the Philippines (TCP), noted that most countries and industry experts expect travel and tourism to reach pre-pandemic levels by 2024. John Paolo R. Rivera, associate director at the Asian Institute of Management (AIM) – Dr. Andrew L. Tan Center for Tourism, seconded this, saying that the 2024 goal is “reasonable,” but achieving that as early as 2023 is also possible, given there are no disruptions from the pandemic and other external factors.

The Property Report editors wrote this article. For more information, email: [email protected].