Number of Chinese tourists up from Jan-Sept. -- DoT exec Veronica Uy INQ7.net
November 14, 2006
THE NUMBER of tourists from China has jumped by 34 percent for the period of January to September this year compared to the same period last year, an official of the Department of Tourism said Tuesday.
Arlene Alipio, head of the China team of the DoT, said the Philippines would be cited on November 16 in Shanghai by the China International Travel Mart both as among the top 10 in new rising destinations and as among the top 10 in MICE (meetings, incentives, conventions, and exhibitions) destinations.
Alipio said the department was targeting the China market, as 30 percent of its one billion-population was estimated to be outbound travelers.
“Imagine getting only one percent of that 30 percent,” she said. One percent of 30 percent of one billion is three million, the department's total target of tourists for 2006.
The tourism official said China was one of the fastest growing markets. She said that two years ago, Chinese tourists to the Philippines numbered only 32,000; this number grew 300 percent to 100,000 last year.
Alipio said that for 2006, the target for Chinese tourists was 152,000. She said China and Taiwan usually vied for the fourth place of top tourists to the country by nationalities; the top three are the United States, Korea, and Japan.
“Although the China market is price-sensitive, they're starting to travel. The profile of a Chinese tourist is: They love shopping in malls. We should take advantage of that opportunity,” she said.
To jumpstart its MICE campaign among Chinese, Alipio said her group recently flew in 11 tour operators and media people from China and took them to Boracay Island in the province of Aklan. She said that while the government shouldered all ground expenses, Philippine Airlines took care of the fare.
“For the past several months, we've been seeing an increase in company-sponsored trips like Amway-China which held a convention here last October. We expect more such activities next year,” she said.
Alipio said Shanghai Airlines' corporate tour packages to the Philippines would be expected to boost the country's MICE campaign.
