The ban on all Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGO) should open doors for talks to ease visa restrictions for Chinese tourists, a tourism and hospitality expert said.
Alfred Lay, director of Leechin Hotels, Tourism and Leisure, highlighted the potential advantages of the Philippine government’s decision to shut down POGOs during the general membership meeting of the Hotel Sales and Marketing Association (HSMA) in Manila on Aug. 14, 2024.
Lay believes the move could create opportunities for the Philippines to attract more authentic Chinese tourists.
He said the closure of POGOs might prompt the Philippine government to rethink and potentially ease visa restrictions for Chinese nationals.
He also said that the adjustment could help the Philippines compete more effectively with its ASEAN neighbors in drawing genuine Chinese tourists, who represent a crucial market segment for the tourism industry.
“But in the long-term, China has to be a significant part of our tourism picture. Our top source markets are where we should focus our efforts because there’s already a connection with those countries. It’s easier to build on an existing base than to develop new source markets from scratch.” he said.
In response to the decline in Chinese visitors, the Department of Tourism (DOT) is revising its strategies to attract tourists from the United States, Japan and South Korea.
The DOT aims to achieve 7.7 million international visitors by the end of 2024. As of mid-August, the Philippines has welcomed about 3.55 million international tourists.
