Foreign tourist arrivals topped the 500,000 mark in January, the first time it breached the level in a single month. The record number suggests that airports in the Philippines will be hard put to accommodate the influx, given the poor state of infrastructure in the country.
The Department of Tourism early this week reported that foreign tourist arrivals rose 13 percent to a record 542,258 in January this year from 479,149 year-on-year. The figure put the government on track of meeting the six million goal this year.
Rising tourist numbers are a boon to the Philippine economy. Foreign visitors instantly boost the local economy by creating jobs. They move hotels, restaurants and related facilities to expand their offerings to meet increased demand. The expansion of these establishments, in turn, will create additional job opportunities and boost the overall economy.
Tourism Secretary Ramon Jimenez Jr. was upbeat on the January tourism figure. “This rapid growth is allowing creation of decent jobs and livelihood for many Filipinos,” he says. “For 2015, tourism employment was estimated at 4.99 million with a share of 12.7 percent to national employment, already representing 4.8 percent growth from 2014.”
The tourism sector is already one of the major dollar earners in the country, along with exports, migrant Filipino workers and revenues from business process outsourcing companies. But its sustainability as a major contributor to the economy is suspect because of inadequate support facilities.
The government’s record in repairing and establishing world-class airports is poor. The country’s premier airport—Ninoy Aquino International Airport—for one, is not at par with its counterparts in Asia. Secondary roads leading to pristine beaches and other major tourist destinations are poorly maintained and do not provide comfort to foreign visitors.
Security is also a problem. The government still cannot ensure the safety of tourists in some secluded getaways.
The Philippines will take several years yet to match the tourism strides of Thailand and Malaysia, until the government has the resolve to prioritize airport expansion and make the stay of tourists safer and more comfortable.