Decline in Korean, Chinese

arrivals, not just in Bohol

TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol, (PIA)—The tourism slow-down, which is experienced in Bohol with the decline in Korean and Chinese tourists, is not just a Bohol thing, and closing the unsustainable whale watching and diving activities in Virgin Island has nothing to do with it.

This sums up the gist of a presentation by Philippine Hotel Owners Association President and Executive Director Benito ‘Bong’ Bengzon, during the recent Bohol Tourism Business Forum, hosted by the Bohol Chamber of Commerce and Industry at the Metrocenter Hotel, October 7.

Bengzon, who used to be the Department of Tourism Undersecretary for Tourism Development and Planning and an incumbent Philippine diplomat to Maldives, cited a Leechiu property Consultants study for Hotels, Tourism and Leisure bared that short haul markets all experienced a -7.4 percent ‘growth rate’ in arrivals, with only Japan and Thailand showing positive growths.

Arrivals from China only registered 182,228, a -24.40% decline, arrivals from Indonesia only hand 30,395 for a -23.99% slowdown.

South Korean incoming tourists only registered 877,690 or a -18.59%, while Taiwanese tourists arrival was only 137,267 or a -22.49%, Bengzon showed.

Chinese Hongkong tourist arrivals also slowed with only 55,264 checking in for a -4.89% decline and 62,709 Malaysian arrived for a -2.66% slow down.

The rising competition in short haul markets is weighing down on the arrivals and the DOT and its Tourism Promotions Board initiatives in Japan recently has started to generate encouraging results, Bengzon commented.

After the DOT and PTB campaigns and trade mission, Japanese tourists increased to 309,067 or 18.52% hike and Thais bounced with 31,088 arrivals for a 1.19 % spike.

Amid the Asian slowdown, the former DOT exec said improved flight connectivity boosted arrivals from Australia with 195,461, France (51,672) and Canada (172,358).

Other long haul arrivals continue to show minimal but positive growths: United States of America: 8.22% (689,981), United Kingdom: 7.92% (117,163), Germany: 3.04% (55,289), Spain 8.49% (35,177), Netherlands: 14.53% (26,617) and India at 4.97% (58,612), the Leechiu study showed as presented by Bengzon.

With the Japan market potential, Bohol organized a tourism trade mission, which Bengzon said is a rarity as it is usually the national government through the DOT spearheading the trip.

Bengzon, who sits as president of the oldest hotel owners group, also shared hotel projects in the pipeline in Bohol, saying that Panglao is a top accommodation investment destination, ranking second in the country in prospects.

He said there are 16 new hotel projects in Panglao that could provide a combined 4,401 rooms in divers accommodation types from luxury hotels, budget accommodations and boutique options for those seeking a more personalized experience.

Much of the option for investors to locate in Panglao is the proximity of the beaches, and these investments involve international hotel chains that continue to offer standardized services and global branding, ensuring reliability and recognition among travellers.

Bengzon’s news also came with Panglao Bohol International Airport now operated by a private company that has an excellent track record of handling Mactan Cebu International Airport and Laguindingan International Airport in Cagayan de Oro.

PBIA under Aboitiz Infra Capital puts in over P5B in airport refurbishment investments to prepare for the 2.38 million tourist arrivals by the end of 2025.

AIC has bared that PBIA has breached its 1 million tourists and is now currently surpassing the 1.66 million arrivals in 2023. (PIABohol)

FIXING WHILE ON A LULL. Bohol Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI) has organized this semester’s Tourism Business Forum to gather all tourism stakeholders and discuss ways to strengthen Bohol’s tourism and reboot when needed, for an even more sustainable tourism industry as BCCI VP for External Affairs Argeo Melissimo and Bohol tourism pillar Peter Dejaresco hand out the token to Bong Bengzon, who shared the tourism slowdown which the hotels in Manila also felt. (PIAbohol)