“We consulted our members, we also talked to some experts, reports coming from United Nations World Tourism Organization and many of them are really looking at 2024 as the year that we can go back to pre-pandemic levels. So, the next year and a half will be crucial,” Philippine Hotel Owners Association Executive Director Benito C. Bengzon, Jr. said in an interview withThe coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic brought travel and tourism to a standstill around the world.
Preliminary data from the Philippine Statistics Authority recently showed that the share of the local tourism industry to the country’s gross domestic product inched up to 5.2% in 2021 from 5.1% in 2020. However, this is still signiTourism Congress of the Philippines President Jose C. Clemente III said that most countries and industry experts are aiming to see travel and tourism to reach pre-pandemic levels by 2024.
“However, it is also possible to reach pre-pandemic levels as early as 2023 if no disruption will happen such as a surge, lockdown, war, political instability, and security threat. While it is not likely, we are living in a volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous world. Anything can happen,” Mr. Rivera said.“Any increase in oil will invariably aerent sectors… This is a challenge but we don’t really see it as a dampener,” Mr. Bengzon said.
Mr. Bengzon said the local tourism industry needs to achieve an “optimum balance” to achieve recovery.