BIZ BUZZ: Sports tourism to the rescue
The latest tourism numbers have not given Filipinos much reason to smile these days, with foreign arrivals at the end of September this year falling by 2.37 percent to 4.33 million.
Sports tourism, however, may give the sector a much-needed shot in the arm, thus the private sector’s warm welcome to the formation of the National Sports Tourism Inter-Agency Committee that will oversee all government efforts to promote sports tourism locally and globally.
According to the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC), “the development of sports tourism in the country will not only strengthen the Philippines’ position as a premier international sports destination, but also generate employment, attract investments, stimulate local economies and contribute to infrastructure and tourism development.”
“The biggest tourism events in the world are sports events. Sports is a multibillion industry and the Philippines can absolutely position itself as a sports hub in the Southeast Asian Region,” said PSC chief Patrick Gregorio, citing the successful hosting of the Fiba Men’s Basketball World Championship in 2023 and the FIVB Women’s World Volleyball Championship.
This month, the Philippines will also host the Fifa Futsal Women’s World Cup and the Junior World Artistic Gymnastics Championships, with more high-profile events to follow.
Among those applauding the issuance of Administrative Order No. 38 is Lance Gokongwei, president and chief executive officer of JG Summit Holdings and lead of the Tourism Sector Group (TSG) of the Private Sector Advisory Council (PSAC).
During a meeting with President Marcos at Malacañang on Sept. 30, the PSAC-TSG recommended adopting a tourism marketing strategy anchored on sports.
Given his active participation in PSAC, Gokongwei may likely end up being one of the private sector representatives in the newly formed committee that was provided the exciting mandate to make sports tourism a significant contributor to economic growth.
