The Philippines Named a ‘Rising Star in Travel’ by Forbes — Here’s Why

Some good news, at last.
by Cristina Morales | June 08, 2020

The global tourism industry may be struggling right now, but the hunger to explore the world hasn’t gone away. And this may just be the perfect opportunity for some countries to establish themselves as prime tourist destinations, because once travel bans are lifted and international travel becomes more feasible, there’s bound to be a boom in international travel. Forbes.com contributor Jared Ranahan named the Philippines as one of the seven countries who have yet to become world-class destinations, but have all the ingredients to make it. (The ingredients being “pristine natural beauty, historic ruins, and fascinating cultural experiences”.)

“With roughly 7,500 islands to choose from, this massive archipelago has something to offer for even the most finicky of tourists,” Ranahan wrote. He cites how Manila and Quezon City are perfect for tourists who want to immerse themselves into mainstream Filipino culture, while Palawan and Boracay are must-visits for travelers looking to lounge on sandy shores.

The other countries that Ranahan mentioned in his list include Ethiopia, Iran, Myanmar, Georgia, Slovenia, and Tunisia.

 

Department of Tourism reacts

The Philippines’ revenue for foreign arrivals in the first quarter of the year was 40.62% lower than the first quarter of last year. In 2019, the Philippines saw a record-high international tourist arrival of 8.3 million. Micro-, small-, and medium-scale travel and tourist enterprises are among the hardest hit, especially those in communities that are highly dependent on tourism, such as Boracay and Bohol. According to Tourism Congress of the Philippines President Jose C. Clemente III, there will likely be “virtually no business for the remainder of the year as projections when the COVID-19 situation will improve still cannot be determined.”

With such bleak projections, Ranahan’s recognition of the Philippines’ tourism potential is great news for the industry.

“We are pleased to have received this bit of good news, especially after our industry had been hit hard by the global health pandemic,” Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat said in an official release. “International recognition, especially by a well-respected publication like Forbes, in this post-Covid-19 world will go a long way in helping the Philippine tourism industry get back on its feet.”

 

Do you agree with Forbes’ assessment?