philippines targets uk and european investment in resurgent tourism industry

8/8/2019 PHILIPPINES TARGETS UK AND EUROPEAN INVESTMENT IN RESURGENT TOURISM INDUSTRY

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PHILIPPINES TARGETS UK AND EUROPEAN INVESTMENT IN

RESURGENT TOURISM INDUSTRY

(9th November, London) - An exotic, tropical island nation in Southeast Asia

blessed with a skilled, English-speaking population and an abundance of

natural beauty, history and an abiding sense of hospitality, the Philippines is a

genuine magnet for tourism investment.

Today, with a fresh Government keener than ever to raise the Philippines

profile among discerning world travellers, recognition of the country as a vital

tourism investment hotspot is certainly within reach. And help is at hand, in

the form of generous tax incentives and a more responsive regulatory system

designed to attract investors from across Britain and Europe.

These were the messages conveyed today to a select group of UK and

European-based hotel and resort owners, operators, management companies,

institutional investors and investment advisers attending the very first

Philippine Tourism Investment Forum in London.

The forum, hosted by Berwin Leighton Paisner (BLP) LLP at its offices in the

City - with a vintage Routemaster bus bearing the Philippine brand as a

backdrop - coincided with the 31st World Travel Mart, the worlds largest

tourism and travel trade fair held at London Excel. Jointly organised by the

Philippine Department of Tourism, the Philippine Trade and Investment Centre

(PTIC) in London and hotel consultancy Hotel in a Box, the event provided an


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opportunity to showcase the favourable investment climate and opportunities

offered by the Philippines burgeoning tourism industry.

The forums theme was Promoting Investments in Philippine Tourism and

Resort Developments. A high-level Philippine delegation comprising the largest

and most prestigious hotel and resort companies and property developers in

the country -- including Amanresorts, Ayala Hotels, Boulevard Holdings,

Elizalde Land, Eskaya Beach Resort and Spa, Fairmont Raffles Hotels, Shangri-

La Group, and Travellers International Hotel Group -- elaborated on the

message by taking part in discussions on the advantages of investment in

Philippine urban mixed used and integrated and destination resort

developments. They were joined at the forum by representatives of

international travel and investment leaders including IMG, Royal Bank of

Scotland, Club Med, Orient Express, and Six Senses resorts, among many

others.

Hon Alberto Lim, Philippine Department of Tourism Secretary, in his keynote

address, set forth the many benefits and advantages that make the Philippines

one of the most attractive investment destinations in the world.

These include a responsive new administration that welcomes and encourages

tourism investments; a resilient economy that has enjoyed 41 successive

quarters of GDP growth; a new civil aviation policy regime that will lead to

greater air access; a coherent expenditure program to upgrade transportation

systems and infrastructure; an abundance of skilled managerial talent and

technical manpower; rich natural and cultural endowments and attractions,

English as the medium of communication, and, not least, the countrys location

in the fastest growing region in the world.

Secretary Lim further underscored the importance of tourism to the Philippine

economy by highlighting the countrys new landmark Tourism Act. Introducedin 2009, the new legislation creates a fiscally empowered Philippine Tourism


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Promotions Board as well as a Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone

Authority (or TIEZA) to generate new investment in the tourism sector by

granting fiscal and other incentives.

Among the key value propositions to tourism investors offered by TIEZA are

duty free importation of capital equipment, a six year income tax holiday

extendable by up to another six years for substantial expansions or upgrades,

and a special social responsibility tax credit.

Secretary Lim said, This year, the Department has already endorsed tourism

development projects that will result in 2,000 additional rooms, generate

investments amounting to 350 Million US Dollars, and create jobs for 3,300

Filipinos. And we see bigger developments looming in the horizon, with

industry giants like Fairmont Raffles, Hyatt, Ascott and Shangri-la committed

to developing new properties in the Philippines within the next three to five

years.

Other speakers at the forum included former UK Ambassador to the Philippines

Paul Dimond, who shared his personal insights and experience of doing

business in the country, PTIC-London Commercial Attach and Director Michael

Alfred V. Ignacio, who presented a business and investment environment

introduction on the Philippines. Fairmont Raffles Director Global Sales-Europe,

Susannah Donne, provided a case study on Raffles Makati, and HSBC Director

and Head of London Infrastructure Team-Project Finance Trevor Sturmy,

described the Philippines banking environment. Katrina Panlilio-Craig,

Managing Director of Hotel in a Box and one of the key organizers of the event,

spoke on Philippine market trends.

A panel discussion on Urban Hospitality Developments was moderated by

Andrew Sangster of Hotel Analyst, with Ayala Hotels Chief Operating Officer

Michael Alexis Legaspi, Travellers International Hotel Group President KingsonSian and Executive Vice President Steve Reilly sitting as panel members.


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Another panel on Integrated and Destination Resort Developments was

moderated by Ian Graham of Hotel Solutions Partnership, with Shangri-La

Hotels and Resorts Vice President Austin Frost, Elizalde Land Vice President

Federico Joaquin Elizalde and TA Advisory Services Director Mila Abad as

panellists.

Philippine Charg d Affaires Reynaldo Catapang concluded the forum by noting

the UK governments recent focus on strengthening relations with emerging

economies in Asia such as the Philippines.

Reynaldo Catapang said, We very much welcome the plans of the UK

government to promote opportunities in our part of the world and we are

pleased that UK Trade & Industry has recognized the Philippines as one of the

top ten economies for global investment.

After the forum, guests took part in one-to-one business matching meetings

between Philippine developers and potential UK investors.

For more information, contact:Michael IgnacioPhilippine Trade and Investment Centre-Londoninfo@investphilippines.org.ukwww.investphilippines.org.uk

Rosario Afuang

Philippine Department of Tourism-Londoninfotourism@wowphilippines.co.ukwww.wowphilippines.co.uk

Emmanuel GuzmanPhilippine Embassy in [email protected]://philembassy-uk.org
mailto:[email protected]://www.wowphilippines.co.uk/http://investphilippines.org.uk/http://investphilippines.org.uk/http://philembassy-uk.org/http://philembassy-uk.org/mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]://www.wowphilippines.co.uk/http://www.wowphilippines.co.uk/mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]://investphilippines.org.uk/http://investphilippines.org.uk/http://investphilippines.org.uk/http://investphilippines.org.uk/

philippines targets uk and european investment in resurgent tourism industry

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