Local government units should focus on five key sectors to become competitive tourism destinations, an expert on tourism told local officials Wednesday.

During the 2008 Local Government Unit Summit held in Makati City, Samie Lim, vice chair of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI), said that to develop a strong tourism industry, policies and investments must focus on the five A’s of tourism—arrival, access, accommodations, attractions, and activities.

Lim, who was behind the PCCI’s BizTour5 program that aims to develop private sector initiated tourism programs, said there should be available budget airlines, and chartered planes, cruise liners and ferries to accommodate the arriving tourists. He added that there is a need to develop travel agencies, tour guiding businesses, and world-class airports and seaports.

Investments, he said, should also be poured to tourism infrastructures like roads, ports, energy, telecommunication facilities and sewerage system.

To develop the accommodations needed by the industry, Lim said the country must follow the model of Malaysia.

“Malaysia created a chain of hotels in every major province,” he said adding that these hotels were used not only as for tourist accommodations but also as venues for regional and local conferences.

LGUs should also try to develop historical, cultural and heritage sites and build parks, museums and camping sites, and it must offer sports and recreation activities.

The influx of tourists, Lim added, will help boost the growth of shopping malls, medical tourism facilities, retirement homes, spa and resorts, casino-hotels and convention centers.

Growing industry

Tourism is one of the growing industries of the Philippines.

Data from the Department of Tourism (DOT) showed that tourist arrivals in the Philippines reached a record high of 3.09 million for 2007. The figure is 8.7 percent higher than the 2.843 million tourists in 2006. The DOT said expenditures from tourists grew by 41 percent from 2006 and reached US$4.89 billion.

For 2008, the tourism department said tourist arrivals can reach 3.3 million while expenditures may reach by as much as US$5.8 billion.

Neighboring countries of the Philippines, however, have outperformed the country’s tourism industry in 2007. According to the website of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), five ASEAN countries received more tourists than the Philippines.

Malaysia received 18 million tourists in 2007 while Thailand and Singapore have 10.4 million and 10.1 million tourist arrivals. Vietnam received 4.14 million tourists in 2007 while Indonesia had 4.11 million tourist arrivals.

Medical tourism, too

Ruy Moreno, vice chair of the Center for Global Best Practices, said the health and wellness industry (including retirement) can also help LGUs because it needs support services like tours and transport, and lodging and restaurants. “LGUs can be the source of the food supply.”

Moreno said that health and wellness sector is expected to generate US$2 billion in the next five years. Of this amount, 40% will come from the retirement sector while wellness sector and medical procedures will account for 30% each.

“Filipino health and wellness professional services are experienced at their global caring best in the Philippine homeland,” Moreno said. He said the industry is targeting the 4 million Filipino-Americans and the Northeast Asian market, which is composed of Japan, Korea, Taiwan and China.

The Philippines, however, is facing competition from Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia and India. Moreno said Indian doctors in other countries usually tell their patients to try the medical services in India. (abs-cbnNEWS.com/Newsbreak)

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