The Catholic Simala Shrine in Sibonga, Cebu, Philippines | INQUIRER.net
CEBU CITY — Hotel industry experts expect an influx of international tourists in the last quarter of 2022, particularly in Manila, Cebu, and Clark.
“We are very optimistic about the fourth quarter. We see that our business pace is in good shape, the best we have seen in the last three years. So that is great news,” said Bruce Winton, multi-property vice president for the Philippines of Marriott International, in an interview on Sept. 1.
While domestic travelers fuel the tourism industry, international travelers are coming fast since more than 50 percent of international carriers are already operating, he said.
“We are seeing robust results in the Asia Pacific region. Being based in Manila myself, I can see that the overall Philippine market has recovered about 90 percent of its 2019 business levels,” Winton said.
“It is also great news that the international arrivals for Manila, Cebu, and Clark seem to improve month after month.”
Korea
Duke Nam, area vice president for Korea and Philippines of Marriott International, said expected international arrivals would come from South Korea.
Nam, however, said Korea still has “very low” air traffic, with only 34 percent compared to pre-pandemic levels. But he believed that in a couple of months, Koreans would soon come out to travel for leisure and to the Philippines.
Cebu
“Our market has not yet fully recovered, but I am sure that in the next couple of months, it will change. As I have said earlier, Cebu is one of the most popular destinations for Korean travelers,” Nam said.
In preparation for the influx, Marriott International, owner of the Sheraton Hotels and Resorts chain, has opened a 261-room resort on Mactan Island in Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu.
The resort is near the marine sanctuary in Hilutungan Channel, a favorite for divers and snorkeling activities. It is also near the bird sanctuary of Olango Island.
The resort is its re-entry of the Marriott group in the Cebu market after closing down the Marriott Hotel in Cebu City in 2017.
Local officials and Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco graced the opening of the Sheraton Cebu Mactan Resort.
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