Tourism and Hospitality Industry News Updates brought to you by MY RANGGO for the week ending 7 November 2025.
Our Tourism & Hospitality Industry News Headlines:-
- Typhoon Tino Hits Hard
- Netizen’s Alternatives To Expensive Tourism Expo Venues
- Palawan Listed in Best Places To Go 2026
- Puerto Princesa Under Fire for Poorly Maintained Underground River
- Ongoing US Government Shutdowns Puts Airlines (& Travelers) At Risk
- TripAdvisor Now Integrated With ChatGPT
- Growing Use of AI For Travel Inspiration
- Kayak Increases Ad Spending To Attract Online Traffic
- Impacts of AI Search & Chat On The Customer Journey
Typhoon Tino Hits Hard
Typhoon Tino (Kalmaegi) made landfall in the Philippines on 2 November 2025, at 5:30 AM, after entering PAR (Philippine Area of Responsibility). Tino didn’t exit PAR until the early hours of November 6, 2025, leaving behind a trail of destruction across the Visayas and surrounding areas.
It is estimated that between 10-12 regions in the Philippines have been affected by Tino, in varying degrees. The current estimated death toll is at least 180 people, with many people still missing following unprecedented floods and landslides.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. declared a State of National Calamity on Thursday 6 November 2025 after a briefing by the NDRRMC (National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council).
Issuing a State of Calamity is not just about recognising the extent of the deaths and damage that has occurred. It enables the Government to access the emergency funds and resources needed to respond quickly by enacting faster procurement processes.
P760 million in financial assistance has already been released to LGU’s (Local Government Units). See Rappler’s coverage for a breakdown of the financial assistance by Province.
The Department of Tourism (DOT) is yet to release an official statement (at time of publishing) on the state of tourism establishments in the affected areas, other than to report that there have been no reports of death or injury of tourists.
It is expected that a statement and Public Advisory from the DOT will be released once assessments and updates have been collected from the affected regions, many of which are without electricity and internet.
In the meantime the DOT has urged the public to postpone non-essential travel to affected areas and continue to monitor official advisories from PAGASA and authorities as the next Tropical Storm – Fung-wong – builds strength just outside of PAR.
Tourists currently in affected areas are advised to remain in safe accommodations and follow the guidance of their hotels and local authorities.
For assistance, travelers may reach the DOT Tourist Assistance Call Center through:
- Hotline – 151-TOUR (151-8687)
- Mobile – 0954-253-3215
- Facebook – Department of Tourism
- Email – touristassistance@tourism.gov.ph
- Click2Call / Live Webchat
Fung-wong is currently expected to arrive in PAR, and traverse the Luzon region, in the early hours of Monday 10 November 2025.
Our support and condolences to every one that has been affected directly or indirectly by Typhoon Tino.
Netizen’s Alternatives To Expensive Tourism Expo Venues
Recently “Madame Talks PH” called out the Department of Tourism (DOT) for what they consider a lack of inclusivity in “tourism expos and other exclusive events.”
The Facebook post called in to question the use of “malls and glossy commercial centers as the primary spaces” for these events:
“How can our micro and small businesses – the weavers, the carvers, the craft makers, the food vendors and farmers – ever recover if they are pushed into spaces where stall fees alone are already impossible for them to afford?”
“Instead of building platforms for recovery, we are watching DOT create events that only the already-privileged can afford to join. That is not inclusivity. That is exclusion masked with PR gloss.“
One commenter responded: “Sad reality. There’s an expo in my home province of Quezon. The joining fee is P15,000. I wanted to participate as a cultural advocate, but decided not to. 15k is not justifiable.”
The post, and comments left in response, raised some interesting talking points suggesting instead that money and support should be ploughed into creating more public plaza’s and plaza-based events, free or low-cost events in parks, and weekend and night markets where local farmers and artisans can shine.
Certainly, these types of spaces are increasingly on the go-to ‘bucket list’ of travelers to our neighboring Asian countries, if social media is anything to go by. And:
- 75% of travelers now use social media to choose where to go.
- 40% of Millennials pick vacation spots based solely on how “Instagrammable” they are.
- 86% of travelers feel more interested in visiting a place after seeing it online.
- 83% of travelers use social media for travel inspiration *
*Source: Hotel Agio
But is this something the DOT could or should consider? Or are the more locally-focused community events operated by LGU’s and Regional Tourism Departments the better venue for artisans and creatives?
What are your thoughts?
Palawan Listed in Best Places To Go 2026
Palawan is the only Philippine destination listed in Frommers Best Places to go in 2026 Guide.
Arthur Frommer published his first guide Europe on $5 a Day, in 1957. Now, nearly 70 years later Frommers has its own website and close to 100 guidebooks.
Palawan was just one of sixteen destinations highlighted in the 2026 guide:
“Each destination is marking a milestone, honoring traditions that predate all of us, or garnering attention for the first time. Even in a moment of uncertainty, they are evolving.”
Palawan was brought to the publications attention as a result of movie The Last Resort – set to be released in February 2026. The movie centers on a woman’s visit to Palawan to purchase a resort, and her romance with a pilot – and the region itself.
Frommer comments: “Palawan serves as the film’s backdrop, but don’t be surprised if the spectacular shooting locations upstage the cast.”
Puerto Princesa Under Fire for Poorly Maintained Underground River
Joemar Revelo, the man behind Pinoy Islander, penned an Open Letter to the Department of Tourism and Local Government Unit (LGU). In his letter he raised concerns about the “state of tourism facilities and management” at the Underground River – an UNESCO World Heritage Site – in Sabang, Palawan.
His concerns included:
- Old and poorly-maintained ticket booths
- Handwritten Recording Logs, rather than a digitalized system
- Disorganisation and long queues at Sabang Boat Terninal
- Slippery and wet waiting sheds, stairs and docks
- Poorly maintained and unsafe boats, using anchors that damage coral reefs
- Manually operated audio guides
The Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park Protected Area Management Office (PPSRNP-PAMO) responded, admitting problems with its facilities and services.
In a statement released Friday, October 31 Management said that it “appreciates the feedback and recognizes the need for change” and listed planned improvements.
These will include new ticket offices with a digital booking system launching in 2026, updated waiting areas, and modern rest rooms which will include breastfeeding areas.
There are plans to upgrade the audio guides and replace old wooden boats with electric boats, as well as introduce a PWD accessible boat to transport visitors to the Underground River site.
PPSRNP-PAMO added that several projects are already being prepared or implemented but these must first go through strict environmental and technical reviews as per the Expanded National Integrated Protected Areas System (ENIPAS) Act.
Industry News Updates: Global News
Ongoing US Government Shutdowns Puts Airlines (& Travelers) At Risk
It’s been five weeks since the US Government ‘Shutdown’ and the shutdown is putting Air Traffic Control and Airlines in an increasingly difficult position, with many staff working overtime while not receiving a salary.
Flight delays have remained minimal – less than 2% – as many staff continue to work and take on overtime hours, despite not being paid. However, with upcoming cuts to SNAP (Government food subsidy payments) and the increases in cost of living, it is expected that many of these employees will reach a point where they can no longer afford to even commute to work.
The lobbying group Airlines for America, along with Airline Execs are calling on the Government to resolve the issue ahead of America’s key holidays – Thanksgiving and Christmas.
The U.S. Travel Association now puts the loss to the travel industry at around $5million since the shutdown started on 1st October 2025. The American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA) puts the loss at far greater:
“Each day of the government shutdown costs the economy $31 million in activity that would’ve been generated by hotel stays. To date, AHLA estimates that the hotel industry alone has lost $650 million in business.”
A government shutdown occurs when the legislative branch does not pass key bills which fund or authorize the operations of the executive branch, resulting in the cessation of some or all operations of a government.
Industry News Updates: Tech News
TripAdvisor Now Integrated With ChatGPT
In a move to capitalize on conversation travel planning and hyper-personalized travel advice, Tripadvisor has embedded its user‑review database into ChatGPT.
Growing Use of AI For Travel Inspiration
A recent Marriott Report shows that the use of AI for Travel Inspiration is growing quickly.
- Growing adoption: The use of AI for travel planning is on the rise, with 50% of travelers having used it at least once, up from 41% last year and 26% the year before.
- Frequent use: A smaller but significant portion, about 14% of travelers, say they use AI “all the time” for planning.
- Generational differences: Younger travelers are leading the adoption, with 71% of those aged 18-24 having used AI for travel, while those aged 25-34 are the most likely to use it frequently (24%).
- Increasing trust: The trend suggests greater familiarity and trust in AI, as a majority of travelers also indicated they would be comfortable booking accommodation through an AI platform in the future.
While Recommendations from Family and Friends, and Social Media remain the top sources for travel inspiration, their positions have both weakened in 2025. AI – as a trusted source – has more than doubled to a 14% share in one year.
Kayak Increases Ad Spending To Attract Online Traffic
With more people using AI Overviews to get answers to their travel questions, fewer travelers are “clicking thru” to websites, resulting in a significant drop in organic traffic to travel and hotel websites.
Last week, Booking Holdings (Booking.com, Kayak etc) announced an “accounting write down” of $457, as a result of projected reductions in cash flows and a need to increase Ad Spend to try to maintain their customer acquisition levels.
Trivago and Tripadvisor are also reportedly feeling the squeeze from AI Overviews, increased Paid Ad costs and a decline in Organic Traffic (SEO).
Meanwhile, Google has been increasing the price of its ‘cost-per-clicks’ (CPC) Ads – on average by 4% year on year. So, while Ad click-thru traffic volume has also reduced as a result of AI platforms, Google continues to see profitability from its Paid Ads.
Read More: Yahoo Finance
Impacts of AI Search & Chat On The Customer Journey
The news summary above highlights that OTA’s, travel and hotel websites are seeing a noticeable drop in organic search visitors, as more travelers switch to AI Search platforms to research and plan their trips.
Research and reports indicate that the customer journey from discovery to purchase is not just shifting but is speeding up too. And once the tools are in place to purchase through AI platforms too, with many of the biggest OTA’s funneling efforts into the tech needed to be ready for this, we could be looking at another seismic shift in how and where travelers book – similar to when business like Expedia, Agoda and Booking.com first launched on the market.
If you’re already worrying about how AI could put your travel or hotel website on a backfoot, and you’re not sure if your website is even ready for AI Search, check out these useful tips from Hospitality Today (below) and download this FREE tips guide to being AI-Ready from Milestone and HSMAI
