What is our competitive edge now?

Latest statistics put us in 6th place in the most visited countries in the ASEAN, with Cambodia on the way to dislodging us in a year or two. For a country that has a lot of natural resources and attractions, we should be in the Top 3. Boracay, Palawan, Bohol are consistently rated in the Top 10 attractions in the world, and only Bali in Indonesia is rated consistently among our neighbors. We have yet other surprises like Siargao, Cebu, and Ilocos.

But first, do we have the intent to be competitive?

A stakeholder recently told me that if English proficiency was our advantage years ago, it is not anymore now. Of course, in general, more Filipinos speak English even in the provinces, but in the tourism and hospitality industries, there is marked progress that English is already well-spoken by the front liners of the rest of the region, and that is what matters.

Meanwhile, DOT will roll out The Philippine Experience Cultural Heritage and Arts Caravan centered around the country’s Filipino-ness with thematic experiences on food and gastronomy, pilgrimage and wellness, festivals, living culture, and heritage.

In the CEO World survey of January 2021, the Philippines is at #64 of 165 countries surveyed in the World’s Best Countries for Cultural Heritage Influence, Thailand is #5, Indonesia is #46, Vietnam is #52, Malaysia is # 83. Singapore is #39. Top

5 is Italy, Greece, Spain, India, and Thailand.

The key attributes were architecture, artistic legacy, music, literature, history, cultural attractions, and cultural accessibility.

It is safe to say that the common denominator of all the countries ahead of us is the tourism budget allotted for promotions. That reflects on the government’s lack of support no matter how much lip-service politicians give to the public. A lack of creative effort and innovation Is also noticeable, compared to our competitors whose tourism budgets are so large like Singapore that they can even come up with Farm Tourism and promote it. The list also shows that the most with cultural influence are among the richest.

However, The survey also showed that when other countries can be rich and showy, heritage is a stand alone feature that explains why countries like New Zealand rank low in the list.

So, how influential are we with cultural heritage?

It is generally believed that many of the top-rated countries have kept their key attributes despite being victims of war, incursions, and natural disasters as in the Philippines. The Philippines is also known as the most westernized country in Asia. Colonized by Spain for more than 300 years and 5 decades under the United States, our big cities have assimilated their culture as if it’s their own. Many Filipinos speak and understand English more than Tagalog, the national language.

We have some of the best beaches in the world, although beaches do not make an influential culture.

What else do we have to show?

Our churches pale by comparison to the churches in

Europe and the temples in Asia. For shopping alone, the Philippines isn’t a high-end destination. Foreign tourists spent only USD27 million on luxury goods at retail in 2018. But Filipinos buy a lot of luxury brands, fortifying the fact that we are a consumer nation of 107 million,

We have better chances in food tourism. Our cuisine is #23 in the world according to Food Atlas and Filipino food has started to make waves globally with more than 10 million Filipino OFWs who can offer a sampling to citizens of the country they are working in.

We need some more critical thinking in creating more value-added tourism products to offer the tourist if we have to make it big in the region, if not the world.

Are we competitive?

We should sell our culture more than buy from other cultures. Get the drift?

DAVAO from mice to MICE Davao’s rise into a significant MICE destination in the Philippines happened gradually over many years, concurrent with the city’s expansion into the thriving economic hub that it is today. Its development from an up-and-coming MICE destination to an established one took decades and worked as a slow burn.

The local economy heavily relies on the tourism sector, which has been nurturing the seeds of the MICE industry. And the city’s natural island to highland appeal, which is rooted in its location along the powerful Davao Gulf and bordered by the majestic ranges of Mt. Apo, the nation’s highest peak, lies at the heart of all this.

Its captivating natural attractions, melting pot culture, dynamic business environment and tourism policies only fortified Davao’s bid to transition from minor to major MICE destination.

Unquestionably, the expansion of its infrastructure including its international airport and seaport and road networks in various parts of Mindanao highlights Davao’s position as a key business center in the region.

Improved access and connectivity are major draws to foreign visitors as it inspired economic cooperation with neighboring nations. And exponential growth in business events and MICE activities also had a ripple effect in MICE and MICE-related investments such as in accommodation, transportation, and travel trade.

And while host communities adapted to the influx of local and foreign visitors, unique Davao hospitality and service easily gained popularity among visitors further branding the city as natural in MICE.

Here are milestones through the past four decades that can be attributed to Davao’s slow but sure growth from mice to MICE:

1981

Pontiff John Paul II, now Saint John Paul II, paid a historic pastoral visit to Davao on February 20, 1981. Thousands of locals and tourists enthusiastically welcomed the Holy Father at the Davao International Airport.

This was the most prominent international special event in the city for that decade that required a major coordinated effort by the national and local governments, private sector, and host communities. It was