Tourism sector a big winner in papal visit

The papal visit may well be the biggest event for the Philippines this year, and is expected to impact on the tourism industry.

 

It's not a daily thing for the pope to grace the Philippines, and the largest business group sees this as a big plus factor.

 

"Everybody is looking at the papal visit since were a predominantly a Catholic country," Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) president Alfredo Yao told GMA News Online. 

 

"Expected to benefit from the papal visit are tourism and services, particularly in those areas the Pope will go to," Yao noted. 

 

Arriving Thursday afternoon, Pope Francis' itinerary is mostly centered in Manila and Tacloban in Leyte.

 

Tacloban, which suffered the most from the wrath of Typhoon Yolanda in November 2013, is seeing a vibrant tourism industry to coincide with the papal visit, Leyte Chamber of Commerce and Industry president Henry Cua said. "It's not a normal event to have the Pope visit us."

 

Hotels and other service-oriented businesses are expected to flourish during the visit of Pope Francis, with international coverage from news agencies on top of the national coverage of local media, Yao noted. "It's like advertising for the Philippines."

 

Despite the global coverage, local tourists are the main drivers of the industry, said Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) economist Nicholas Mapa.

 

"In the region, we're the only nation predominantly Catholic. We may not see so much foreign tourists since the pope also visited South Korea and is currently visiting Sri Lanka," he added.

 

1M tourists in Tacloban

 

Pope Francis will celebrate the Holy Mass and will hold a motorcade in Tacloban – the only two activities open to the public.

 

As much as 1 million tourists, but not less than 150,000, are going to Tacloban on January 17 – mainly from Central and Western Visayas, Mindanao and Southern Luzon and Metro Manila, said Oliver Cam, the point person for trade, industry and ICT of the Eastern Visayas and Leyte Chambers of Commerce & Industry. She was citing government estimates. 

 

For security reasons, the Philippine National Police is discouraging large numbers of visitors during the Holy Mass at the Daniel Z. Romualdez Airport.

 

The venue can accommodate as much as 100,000 in the main area in front of the altar and another 40,000 at the rear section for non-registered attendees.

 

"Last week, less than 20,000 registered for the Holy Mass. But there was a last minute upsurge of late registrants last weekend prior to the deadline for registration last Monday January 12," Cam noted.

 

Despite limited public interaction with Pope Francis in Tacloban, all hotels, inns, pension houses, lodges, and boarding houses have been fully-booked since the papal visit was announced.

 

"Before Yolanda, there was less than 4,000 bed combined capacity for all hotels and tourist accommodation establishments in Eastern Visayas. 

 

"There is an acute shortage of tourist accommodations," Cam said.

 

Short-lived impact?

 

While the papal visit boosted Manila's tourism industry, its impact on the local economy may only be short-lived, city administrator Ericson "Jojo" Alcovendaz told GMA News Online. 

 

"Short-term lang talaga ang benefit ng Pope visit sa local economy. Business will be vibrant while the pope is here. I just do not know the moment he leaves on January 19."

 

Hotels in Manila have been fully booked since last year, the city administrator noted.

 

The papal visit actually attracted domestic travelers more than foreign tourists, Alcovendaz added. 

 

Still, he believed that the event "will definitely leave a mark in the international community... I am sure more people will be interested to know and learn more of our place and culture," he said.

 

Pope Francis is expected to draw some six million devotees on Sunday during the mass to be held in Manila's Rizal Park. 

 

No-fly, no-sail zones

 

"We expect the visit of His Holiness to be a big boost to our country's image as an important destination, where a colorful and active society thrives," Department of Tourism Secretary Ramon Jimenez told GMA News Online.

 

Maria Michelle R. Victoria, president of the Philippine Travel Agencies Association, said the papal visit will attract potential tourists. "It brings the Philippines back on the world map..." she said.

 

Pope Francis in the Philippines is another entry to the country's historical records, she added.

 

On the negative side, the visit will have a negative impact on local tourism. "Travel per se is at the stand still given the no-fly zone policy," she said.

 

The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines will implement a no-fly zone on Jan. 15, 17, and 19.

 

Adding to the no-fly zone is the no-sail zone the Philippine Coast Guard is implementing will implement within the vicinity of the papal events.

 

What the Philippines can expect are the reviews after the papal visit.

 

"Depending on the outcome of the visit: if it is smooth, we expect positive reviews and praises that will generate potential tourists for the country; otherwise knock on wood," she said. – VS, GMA News