Hospitality & Tourism Industry News Updates brought to you by MY RANGGO Hospitality Magazine for 2-15 August 2025
Our Hospitality & Tourism Industry News Headlines:-
- Puerto Princesa Tourism Stakeholders Plea
- Closer Ties with India To Boost Tourism Arrivals
- Siargao Airport Expansion Underway
- DOT committed To Development Of A Digitally Enabled Culturally-rich Tourism Strategy.
- Objections Raised Against Proposed SMC Dam Near Boracay
Puerto Princesa Tourism Stakeholders Plea
Tourism Stakeholders called on the City Government to help address the drop in tourists numbers visiting the city (August 7), during a series of consultations and workshops held to update the Puerto Princesa Tourism Master Plan.
In 2019 the city saw more than 1.2 million tourist arrivals and earned 5.4Billion in tourism revenue. Puerto Princesa was also a stronghold for MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions) events, hosting 21,000 events that year.
While there has allegedly been no official Tourism Revenue Reports released since 2019, tourism stakeholders are concerned that the city hospitality businesses have not bounced back as well as El Nido and Coron. A number of business owners have been forced to close temporarily and permanently.
Consultations revealed a number of suggested reasons behind the failure to thrive once tourism was allowed again. These include:
- Delayed re-opening after the pandemic
- Climate impacts (with many of the areas nature attractions being affected by bad weather and storms)
- Poor tourism infrastructure
- Weak city promotions and marketing
- High cost of travel, tours, food and transportation
- Limited or no international flights
- Unregulated local transport
- Perception of neglect and lack of innovation
- Seasonal pricing with no discounts during lean months
Closer Ties with India To Boost Tourism Arrivals
Department of Tourism (DOT) Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco met with leading figures in Indian tourism this week, on the back of a newly established Strategic Partnership – 𝗣𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗽𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀-𝗜𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗮 𝗜𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗺 𝗼𝗻 𝗧𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗺 𝗖𝗼𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱-𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟴 – spearheaded by President Marcos and India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The Philippines saw nearly 80,000 Indian visitors during 2024 and the DOT is keen to see visitor numbers grow, with marketing campaigns aimed at attracting high-value and luxury travelers, in the pipeline.
With a push to establish direct flights between India, Manila and Cebu, and Visa-Free entry status, visiting the Philippines will become easier than ever for tourists from India.
Specific tourist markets that are being considered for growth opportunities include the wedding market and MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions).
According to a DOT report, leisure is the primary reason for Indian travelers, who typically have a strong interest in visiting beaches, shopping, and educational tourism.
Siargao Airport Expansion Underway
A ceremony was held on August 8, launching the start of work to expand Siargao Airport.
Currently the airport can accommodate a maximum of 200 passengers. The expansion will see the waiting area able to accommodate up to 750 passengers. Check-in counters will also be increased from 3 to 9 counters and additional restrooms will be added.
The project, which will double the airport terminals total land area, is being undertaken by the Department of Transportation and the CAAP (Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines), in collaboration with local government units (LGUs).
Siargao is also set to see a new Cruise Port Terminal and a ‘tourist first aid facility’. Currently, the nearest hospital is an hours drive from the main tourist area.
On August 6, the 2Go Group also announced the October launch of weekly ferry schedules from Manila, direct to Siargao. The ferry service will provide an affordable travel route to travelers, as flight prices stay high.
DOT committed To Development Of A Digitally Enabled Culturally-rich Tourism Strategy.
Two separate conferences highlighted the Philippines commitment to developing a digitally enabled, and culturally rich approach to tourism in the country.
The ASEAN Tourism Sectoral Plan post-2025 took place at the start of August, with the Philippines playing host. Held at the Boracay Newcoast Convention Center the theme of the summit was “Developing a Sustainable and Competitive Future for ASEAN Tourism”.
DOT Undersecretary Verna Buensuceso highlighted the Philippines’ commitment to the development of a forward-looking, digitally enabled, and culturally rich tourism strategy.
“Together, let us carve pathways toward a more connected region where every visit is a shared story, every cultural encounter an opportunity for understanding, and every partnership a contribution to sustainable prosperity.”
DOT Undersecretary Shahlimar Hofer Tamano attended the Metro Manila Business Conference (MMBC) 2025, in Quezon City on the 7th August, and delivered a similar message:
“Tourism is no longer just about arrivals and destinations. It is about jobs, value chains, digital transformation, and uplifting communities. We are investing not only in how we attract visitors, but in how we build systems and design experiences that are globally competitive and locally empowering,”
Objections Raised Against Proposed SMC Dam Near Boracay
Boracay and Malay residents have raised a number of objections against San Miguel Corporation’s (SMC) plans to build a dam on Nabaoy River, the only remaining watershed that provides fresh water to the Malay Municipality.
Their objections include
- environmental impacts to the area and community, and
- encroachment on a river and land that is sacred to indigenous tribes
SMC has submitted plans to build a dam on the Nabaoy River. With ongoing issues with rotating blackouts that affect the whole of Western Visayas, the dam will generate the additional electrical power SMC needs for its airport and hotel expansions.
Residents of Nabaoy and Boracay are shocked and are calling SMC and local decision-makers out on their failure to stand by ethical principles and CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility).
“Your agreement reflects a failure to uphold your moral and civic duty to protect the environment and ensure sustainable development for the people” – A response from a Netizen.
One member of a group campaigning against the plans noted that Mega Hydro Plants – like the one put forward by SMC – pose significant risks, disrupting natural river ecosystems and natural water patterns. Whereas Hydro Power Plant projects, that generate between 5-10kw’s, can be a multi-purpose initiative, offering benefits to the surrounding communities. But these multi-purpose initiatives can also bloat a projects cost by as much as three to 10 times.
The campaigners are clear that they would be open to other, non- or less destructive projects, but recognize they are more expensive.
Certainly, the dam plan does not align with the Department of Tourism’s commitment and drive for an environmentally sustainable tourism industry.
In 2023 the PetroWind Energy Inc. (PWEI) Wind Turbine Farm expansion, in the Panay Peninsula Natural Park, was halted, when campaigners highlighted the threats to biodiversity, damage to wildlife habitat, disruption to migratory birds’ flight routes and contamination of rivers and streams that fed into waterways.
The expansion to the farm, described at the time as the province’s “biggest source of local power” was set to see 6 more turbines erected, with only 3 being given the go ahead at the time. Read More at Cover Story
It could be argued that SMC – one of the largest corporations in the Philippines – has the capacity and ability to truly make a difference to the whole community, and Boracay island, by investing in improving access to a consistent electricity supply – that doesn’t involve building a dam on Nabaoy River.
