MANILA, Philippines - Investments in tourism in the Philippines reached P62 billion in nine years (2000-2009), a recent study conducted by The Asian Foundation (TAF) and the Centre for Research and Communications (CRC) revealed. These investments created 3 million tourism-related jobs in various communities.

The study was presented at the Retrospective Seminar on Tourism Accomplishments held last week at the Almacenes Hall of Fort Santiago attended by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, Tourism Secretary Ace Durano, and tourism industry professionals.

The 3 million jobs generated by the tourism investments correspond to a 9.5% share of national employment, said Cherry Lyn Rodolfo of CRC, based on data from the National Statistical Coordination Board (NSCB).

As of May 2010, in Central Philippines, Metro Manila, and Tagaytay alone, a total of 46,048 jobs were generated through 2,343 tourism-related establishments in the area.

With increased tourism came an increased demand for food supplies totalling P14 million in tourism destinations. Majority of the food supply (60%) are sourced from local markets and neighbors, such as what Palawan resorts Amarela, El Nido, Dos Palmas, and Microtel resort in Boracay have done.

Private investors have made a lot of tourism investments in many places in the country, including Boracay.

 Durano lauded private investors who made tourism investments. “Their aggressive presence internationally and domestically, through their promotions and various packages, continued to entice tourists. The growth in the supply side was spurred by expansions, new businesses that they invested in, which then created local employment,” he said.

New markets abroad

Marketing efforts were stepped up by the Department of Tourism (DOT) the past four years, resulting in new markets tapped for the Philippine travel market. “A large part of new marketing efforts were DOT-initiated, such as tapping the incentive market in China,” Durano said.

Aside from traditional markets in the travel trade, such as the US and Japan, niche markets have been developed the past years, which include China, South Korea, Russia, India, and the Middle East.

Community tourism

Within the country, the DOT has also been actively supporting community-based, local government-initiated projects such as the Sohotan Cave Tour in Basey, Samar; the Danao Adventure Park in Bohol; and, the Iwahig River Project in Palawan. DOT gave training and technical assistance to these projects.

“Community-led tourism initiatives greatly helped in the development of tourism in the grassroots level. The DOT was the supporting role in the case of Palawan’s Iwahig River Project initiated and funded by Bantay Kalikasan. The DOT gave technical support, training, and promotions,” Durano said.

“If you look at it, it is a combination of DOT initiatives and various partnerships. It’s the sum of all of these efforts that resulted to the gains that CRC reported about,” Durano continued.

Marlon Dioquino from the Iwahig Community Ecotourism Association in Palawan shared how tourism investment in their area have helped him. “From being unemployed, I am now earning up to P20,000 a month by being a boat man for the Iwahig River Cruise,” he said in Filipino.

Dioquino is just one of the locals who benefited from tourism investments.

Rolando Cañizal, Director for Tourism Planning and Development of the DOT, said, “Focusing on the effects of tourism at the micro-level allows for a better appreciation of the long-term benefits in local, grassroots communities. We have always believed that effective tourism development means finding the hidden qualities in a small town for economic and livelihood growth.”