Millennials providing lift to Philippine domestic tourism

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine Tour Operators Association (PHILTOA) expressed confidence domestic tourism will further increase and surpass projections on the strength of an emerging “millennial” market.

“The millennial market is really the upcoming market not only in the tourism industry,” PHILTOA president and 26th Philippine Travel Mart (PTM) chairman Cesar Cruz said.

Cruz is expecting a 10 to 15 percent increase in sales for this year’s PTM from the P80.5 million generated in 2014, with the average package ranging from P5,000 to P10,000, 95 percent of which come from domestic destinations.

He said providing a boost to the 10 to 15 percent target hike in sales, is the substantial continuation  of the millennial market.

Furthermore, PTM is including Asean destinations plus Japan, Korea and China (Asean +3), in line with the Asean Economic Community which will start later this year.

“We would like to project to everybody that the Philippines could also be a hub for inter-Asean travel,” Cruz added.

But he said the travelling market has matured and is choosing more of the domestic destinations, adding local government units have been more involved in tourism.

Meanwhile, PHILTOA has inked a partnership with ABS-CBN Foundation and G Eco Tours to promote community-based tourism and help alleviate poverty in far-flung areas.

The 26th PTM, considered the biggest travel trade exhibition in the promotion and marketing of domestic and inbound tourism, is set from Sept. 4 to 6 at the SMX Mall of Asia with around 250 exhibitors offering more business opportunities and generating more interest from the public.