Friday, September 23, 2022

TPB, DOT spearhead Philippines participation in Tourism Expo Japan (TEJ)


The Tourism Promotions Board (TPB) Philippines, together with the Department of Tourism (DOT), brings the Philippines to the Tourism Expo Japan (TEJ), the biggest travel trade fair in Japan from 22-25 September 2022.

The country’s participation in TEJ aims to reintroduce the country’s new tourism products, sustain the presence of the country, and develop and renew business partnerships, not only with the Japanese market but also with other tourism stakeholders worldwide.

Jointly organized by the Japan Travel and Tourism Association (JTTA), Japan Association of Travel Agents (JATA), and Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO), the four-day exhibition started off with business-to-business meetings to strengthen partnerships among tourism industry practitioners. The expo site will be officially open to the public on 24 September where visitors can see and experience tourism products from different countries.

This year’s expo carried the themes “Taking on the New Era: Restart” for trade and “Hello New Journey” for the general public, and with this, visitors of the Philippines booth will be treated to culture, adventure, and gastronomic offerings catering to the new and diverse trends of tourism and traveling. The Philippines will be highlighting its top tourism destinations such as Manila, Boracay, Cebu, and Bohol among others.

The country’s delegation was headed by DOT Undersecretary Shahlimar H. Tamano and TPB Officer-in-Charge Charles Aames M. Bautista, together with private sector partners from Attic Tours Phils. Inc., Bai Hotel Cebu, Bohol Beach Club, Cebu Air, Inc., Gladex Travel Services, Herald Suites Hotels, Hotel 101 Manila, Philippine Airlines, Shangri-La’s Boracay Resort and Spa, Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority, and Waterfront Hotels & Casinos.

“Tourism Expo Japan opens an avenue for every national tourism organization to stimulate demand for overseas and domestic travel. The Philippines has so much to offer with our 7,641 islands. This is an opportunity to showcase that beyond our amazing beaches, we get to highlight our adventure, culinary, wellness, and MICE offerings,” said TPB OIC Bautista.

DOT Undersecretary Tamano will represent the Philippines as one of the panelists in the Ministerial Round Table Discussion to tackle on “Climate Change – Tourism Stakeholders’ Endeavors” and “Coexisting with COVID in the Post-Pandemic World – Solutions for the New Tourism Industry” with other tourism ministers and key representatives from the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) and the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC).

TEJ is expecting to receive 150,000 visitors with 1,800 exhibitors from 154 countries and 47 prefectures. The event has become an important brand exercise for national tourism offices in Asia showcasing destination attractions and product offerings.

Friday, September 16, 2022

New Airbnb data shows how tourism has dispersed post-pandemic, benefiting rural off-the-beaten-path communities in the Philippines and Southeast Asia

     Across parts of Southeast Asia and Asia Pacific, Airbnb recorded an increase in non-urban nights booked in Q2 2022 when compared with Q2 2019

     In the Philippines, travel interest in destinations outside major cities have increased with guest searches for Siquijor surging over 280 percent

     Tourism dispersal is creating new economic opportunities for more people in emerging destinations as they look for ways to combat rising costs of living

As the travel rebound continues to unfold, the benefits of tourism are spreading across the Asia Pacific. In Southeast Asia, new analysis by Airbnb reveals that the resurgence in domestic and inbound tourism is empowering locals to earn a living and make ends meet.

With people continuing to embrace flexible new approaches to travel and living, communities that have traditionally missed out in the past are increasingly well-positioned to secure a bigger slice of the tourism pie, according to new Airbnb report Further Afield: Spreading the Benefits of the Travel Revolution’. Across the region, this has presented fresh opportunities for locals looking to supplement their income as they grapple with rising costs of living.

Across the Asia Pacific, Airbnb nights booked in non-urban areas have increased in South Korea (up more than 180 percent ), India (up about 140 percent), and Australia (up about 60 percent) in Q2 2022 as compared to Q2 2019. In Southeast Asia, searches for stays in Siquijor in the Philippines surged by more than 280 percent while searches for Marang in Malaysia almost doubled.

The typical earnings for non-urban Hosts increased correspondingly in the same period for a number of destinations. In Australia and South Korea, typical host earnings have more than doubled as travel returned in full force. In the Philippines, almost half of local Airbnb hosts surveyed said their earnings have helped them navigate rising costs of living including housing, daily necessities, and home improvement needs.

Not only are travelers eyeing destinations off the beaten path, they’re also looking to stay longer. Notably, nights booked for long-term stays (stays longer than 28 days) in non-urban areas approximately doubled in popular travel and remote working hotspot Thailand in Q2 2022, up from Q2 2019 pre-pandemic.

In Southeast Asia, a number of destinations outside major metropolitan hubs were popular  among travelers on Airbnb for long-term stays in Q2 2022. Examples included:

       Dapa, Panglao, Dumaguete and Silang in the Philippines

       Ipoh, Kuah, Semenyih, and Port Dickson in Malaysia

       Koh Pha Ngan, Koh Lanta and Krabi in Thailand

Mich Goh, Airbnb’s Head of Public Policy for Southeast Asia, India, Hong Kong and Taiwan, said: “More than two years since the start of the pandemic, we continue to see fundamental shifts in travel that are creating new opportunities for off-the-beaten-track communities. It’s incredibly exciting to see travelers so enthusiastic about exploring new destinations, as well as the positive economic impact cascading to locals.

“The increasing popularity of Dapa, Panglao, Dumaguete and Silang reinforce the importance of the Department of Tourism’s plans to drive tourism development in the countryside and promote lesser-known destinations.  We are committed to continuing to work together with governments and stakeholders to keep inspiring travelers to step off the beaten path, and help ensure more communities can share in the benefits of tourism.”

In addition to encouraging travelers to explore further afield through innovative search tools such as Categories and I’m Flexible, Airbnb remains committed to partnering with governments and communities in Southeast Asia, including in the Philippines. The company has partnered with Thailand and Indonesia’s tourism authorities on a range of ‘Live and Work Anywhere’ initiatives to attract global digital nomads and remote workers, as part of broader efforts to drive inbound tourism as travel returns.

Readers can view the full report here https://news.airbnb.com/further-afield/.

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