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Tourists flock to Naked Island in Siargao Island, Surigao Del Norte on October 24, 2023. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News

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Siargao Island

Bryan Reyes

ABS-CBN News

<figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments" id="isPasted"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1707844468392.png" alt="The Bellevue Resort offers &#x27;the luxury of sanctuary&#x27; in Panglao, Bohol. (📷: Handout)" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><figcaption>The Bellevue Resort offers &quot;the luxury of sanctuary&quot; in Panglao, Bohol. (📷: Handout)</figcaption></figure><div> </div>An industry player believes that in a world where travel is “even more essential than ever,” the hospitality sector should work harder to reap the benefits of revenge travel.Dustin Chan, managing director of The Bellevue Resort (TBR) in Panglao, Bohol, said the tourism industry must match the spending patterns of revenge travelers. <ul><li><a data-cke-saved-href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/lifestyle/2024/2/9/what-to-expect-at-the-bellevue-resort-in-panglao-737" href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/lifestyle/2024/2/9/what-to-expect-at-the-bellevue-resort-in-panglao-737">What to expect at The Bellevue Resort in Panglao</a></li></ul><div> </div>In an interview with ABS-CBN News, Chan said tourists are “willing to pay a lot even if some places offer substandard services, they still pay… so that gives a lot of opportunity for higher-end facilities, higher-end hotels and resorts and restaurants to come in.&quot;This, as economists believe that “<a data-cke-saved-href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/business/01/11/24/revenge-spending-not-yet-over-to-drive-growth-in-2024" href="news.abs-cbn.com/business/01/11/24/revenge-spending-not-yet-over-to-drive-growth-in-2024" target="_blank">revenge spending is not yet over.</a>”Victor Abola, an economist from the University of Asia and the Pacific, said that while consumer spending slowed down last year due to inflation, spending is expected to rise this year as inflation eases.“Revenge spending is not yet over. We’ve just seen the beginning of it… If you ask the hotels and resorts outside tourist destinations, it’s very difficult to book,&quot; Abola said.<ul><li><a data-cke-saved-href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/business/03/14/23/filipinos-still-looking-to-travel-despite-inflation-klook" href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/business/03/14/23/filipinos-still-looking-to-travel-despite-inflation-klook">Filipinos still looking to travel despite inflation: Klook</a></li></ul><div> </div>The TBR executive said that travelers “become more and more demanding on the quality of service, and they’re willing to pay for it.”It’s a welcome development for the lone five-star resort in Panglao, as it’s yet to hit its pre-pandemic tourist arrival numbers.“The numbers are still half of what it was if you look at the actual arrivals, if you compare in 2019 to 2023, it’s actually a bit less than half. But when you talk about spending patterns, it’s much, much more than what it was. Despite the prices going up… they really spend on quality… They really spend more than before,” Chan said.<div>Tourism as a ‘tangible and intangible memory’</div><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1707844468608.png" alt=" A relaxing view of the garden and the coast from the Deluxe Ocean View Room at The Bellevue Resort. (📷: Bryan Reyes, ABS-CBN News)" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><figcaption>A relaxing view of the garden and the coast from the Deluxe Ocean View Room at The Bellevue Resort. (📷: Bryan Reyes, ABS-CBN News)</figcaption></figure>Resort manager Andrew Fernandes, in a separate interview with ABS-CBN News, shared that though TBR’s number of tourist arrivals has yet to hit pre-pandemic levels, the destination property had its “best year yet” in 2023.“Last year was our best year yet even before the pre-pandemic na. It’s weird, if you will look at tourism statistics, there are only half the number of local and international tourists in 2023 than in 2019, but financially, total revenue mas maganda pa ‘yong kinita namin ng 2023 than 2019. They’re willing to spend more. Revenge tourism is here.”Fernades attributed revenge spending to the need of tourists who want to invest in worthwhile experiences after the anxiety caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.“During the pandemic, you have two sides of the coin eh. There were people with a lot of material things… nag-invest sa experiences. On the other side naman, may mga guest naman, ‘bibilhin ko na ‘yong mahal na bag kahit magkautang-utang ako. I could die tomorrow.’ Ang maganda lang sa tourism, you can have both: ‘I don’t mind spending for a beautiful vacation because I will carry it for a lifetime.’ Your precious moments with your family will always be with you. The good food memories, the good island-hopping memories they’re always with you. We’re both a tangible and intangible memory.”For his part, Chan said that “it’s not a question to make [traveling] affordable” as tourists are willing to spend more, especially the middle class.“The spending pattern of the Filipino is still good… people still spend despite the increasing prices… Price[s] really exploded, but people can still afford [them]. Sometimes you wonder where they get the money or how come Filipinos spend a lot.&quot;<div>The Bellevue Hotels &amp; Resorts to diversify</div><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1707844468971.png" alt="The Bellevue Resort aims to attract more travelers as Panglao&#x27;s tourism is &#x27;booming.&#x27; (📷: Bryan Reyes, ABS-CBN News" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><figcaption>The Bellevue Resort aims to attract more travelers as Panglao&#x27;s tourism is &quot;booming.&quot; (📷: Bryan Reyes, ABS-CBN News</figcaption></figure>After the pandemic, The Bellevue Hotels &amp; Resorts (BH&amp;R) realized that “you cannot just rely 100 percent on one business,” so they plan to diversify, according to Chan.Aside from the Panglao resort, the BH&amp;R has three properties in Metro Manila: The Bellevue Hotel Manila in Muntinlupa City, B Hotel Alabang, and B Hotel Quezon City. They also have a lifestyle mall, Silang Village Square, in Silang, Cavite.Chan revealed that their group is constructing an open-air township in Panglao near the tourist-favorite Alona Beach. The project’s construction stopped due to the pandemic, and the BH&amp;R aims to open it by phases towards the end of the year. Heritage will be the motif of the lifestyle mall, with the aim of making it sustainable.“The other bigger groups in Panglao are also building their own. It’s really not just for us, it’s a growth for the whole island,” he added, highlighting that tourism on the island is &quot;booming.&quot;The Bellevue Resort practices sustainable farming, which also figures in their diversification plans as they look into farm tourism and cacao production in Bohol.<ul><li><a data-cke-saved-href="https://news2.abs-cbn.com/ancx/travel/where-to-stay/02/10/24/panglao-resort-banks-on-sustainability-to-boost-tourism" href="https://news2.abs-cbn.com/ancx/travel/where-to-stay/02/10/24/panglao-resort-banks-on-sustainability-to-boost-tourism">Panglao luxury resort banks on sustainability to boost tourism</a></li></ul><div> </div>“Galing lang kasi kaming pandemic, we’re concentrating on our current properties, making it better, we’re looking at renovation. Do’n most of the focus, tapos ‘yong diversification to lifestyle malls... Small diversifications. In the future we’re looking into farming, looking at growing cacao in Bohol. Maybe later it can transform into a farm tourism. Goals talaga namin is to really contribute for the province to grow, so we look into growth initiatives.”<div>-with a report from Jekki Pascual, ABS-CBN News</div><div>Related video: </div><figure><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/R4ZMkhXIanI?enablejsapi=1"></iframe></figure>Watch more News on <a data-cke-saved-href="https://www.iwanttfc.com/#!/browse/Genres/News/tag_id_genres/id_news" href="https://www.iwanttfc.com/#!/browse/Genres/News/tag_id_genres/id_news" target="_blank">iWantTFC</a><div> </div><div> </div>

An industry player believes the hospitality sector should work harder to reap the benefits revenge travel brings.

An industry player believes the hospitality sector should work harder to reap the benefits revenge travel brings.

'Revenge travel' opens opportunities for hospitality sector - industry player

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'Revenge travel' opens opportunities for hospitality sector - industry player

Bryan Reyes,

ABS-CBN News

Published Feb 14, 2024 01:16 AM PHT

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