The Philippines is one of the most attractive countries for tourists in Southeast Asia. Its beautiful islands, stunning beaches, and historical heritage bring millions of tourists each year. The authorities have recognized the tourism potential of the Philippines, and they aim to boost the number of visitors in
2023.
A couple of previous years have been tough due to the situation with COVID, however, things could be
back to normal in the current year. The government will try to boost the number of foreign tourists, and
new integrated resorts could help significantly in that quest. In this article, we are going to investigate
how.
The Role of Integrated Resorts in the PH Tourism
The concept of integrated resorts has been around for years, but it has recently become quite popular. Thanks to integrated resorts, travelers can have all they need in one place – from lodging and retail to entertainment and casino. Therefore, investors in the Philippines have already launched several integrated resorts that can cater to all types of visitors.
Since the Philippines is well-known for its gambling industry, many tourists visit this country to get a Vegas-like experience. Entertainment City in Manila is a dedicated area for all casino game lovers, and players can enjoy a unique gambling feeling. It contains four integrated resorts with luxury casinos that attract many locals and foreigners.
Gambling in the Philippines is allowed, and you shouldn’t be worried about legal consequences. Also, if you prefer to gamble online, you can find legal online casinos in the Philippines explained on this page and pick the one that suits you the most.
Thanks to integrated resorts, the Philippines are one of the most popular gambling destinations in Asia. Only Macau has more IRs than the Philippines. With new plans and a potentially increased number of integrated resorts, this Southeast Asian country could take over the throne of the most attractive place to enjoy your favorite casino games.
Although Manila and Entertainment City are the epicenters of gambling activities in the Philippines, other cities like Cebu also provide excellent opportunities for having some casino action. Why is the casino industry important for tourism in the Philippines? Well, integrated resorts with such luxurious casinos attract numerous tourists, not only locals.
These gambling venues catalyze tourism in the Philippines, while the government can count on higher income from taxes as well. Therefore, many other industries, including tourism and hospitality, can benefit from integrated resorts and state-of-the-art land-based casinos.
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IRs Provide Different Possibilities for Tourism
Besides gambling tourism, integrated resorts provide quite a few other opportunities for increasing the number of travelers in the Philippines. Integrated resorts have diversified offers that cater to different kinds of tourists, from those seeking entertainment and leisure to business tourists.
They can facilitate business events and are usually located near major airports, which makes them a perfect venue for any business-related trip. Moreover, business trips now include leisure as well, which creates another tourism branch – bleisure. The number of business trips will continue to grow, and the Philippines may attract these types of travelers thanks to integrated resorts.
Integrated resorts can also facilitate big events, like conferences, exhibitions, seminars, tournaments, etc. They can accommodate all participants and attendees, offering them dining and retail establishments to enable everything in one place for all visitors.
On the other hand, if you want to stay productive during your stay in integrated resorts, they are equipped with the latest technologies, business centers, and conference rooms. When you want to relax from a busy day, IRs have many amenities at your disposal, like spas, pools, fitness centers, or gardens.
Those searching for pure entertainment can get everything they need in integrated resorts. Besides state-of-the-art casinos, integrated resorts have theatres, cinemas, nightclubs, restaurants with different cuisines, and numerous bars. They should keep you busy all day long, and you can enjoy top-notch hospitality in IRs.
The shopping experience in integrated resorts cannot be much better anywhere else since they have malls with the most famous brands. Therefore, any traveler can have everything in one place, whether on a business trip or visiting the Philippines' top travel destinations during their stay.
DOT Plans in 2023
The Philippines’ Department of Tourism has set a target to attract 5 million foreign tourists in 2023. The targeted number of foreign travelers in 2022 was set to 1.7 million, but the Philippines booked more than 2.6 million international arrivals last year. Therefore, this year’s target is set quite high, but estimates say that it is quite a realistic one.
Tourism secretary Christina Garcia Frasco stated that DOT has several initiatives to achieve the goals regarding the number of foreign visitors, and integrated resorts represent one of the pillars. Besides already existing integrated resorts, several others are in the process of construction.
Manila already has enough IRs to cater to its visitors, and the authorities plan to have more of them in other parts of the country. They could lead to new jobs, have a positive impact on local businesses, and bring more travelers to those parts of the Philippines. Also, integrated resorts could increase the quality of infrastructure in those regions, and they should become more attractive to tourists.
Conclusion
The Philippines have huge potential to attract foreign tourists, and the authorities will try to capitalize on their initiatives. They have set an ambitious goal of 5 million foreign visitors in 2023, but that did not come without a proper strategy to accomplish it. Integrated resorts can provide a massive boost to double the number of international visitors this year.
IRs can facilitate different kinds of trips, from business-related ones to leisure. They represent a great location for organizing various events and accommodating all attendees and participants. Those seeking fun can try their luck in Vegas-like land-based casinos or enjoy shopping or nightlife.
Although integrated resorts require considerable investments, they can provide significant revenue to the government. Besides boosting the number of tourists, IRs can help other sectors to grow, bring an increased income from gambling activities, and eventually brand the Philippines as the top destination for different types of trips.
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