Bringing you some of the latest Hospitality Industry News
Philippines records sharp increase in Middle East Tourist arrivals.
Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco recently reported a 500-800% increase in tourist arrivals from the Middle East, according to figures from the Middle East and the Gulf Cooperation Council.
The Tourism Department has been working hard to build a reputation of the Philippines being a Muslim-friendly Destination, and this has seen steady increases in outbound travel from the UAE, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Oman, and Bahrain to the Philippines
The country has topped the Mastercard-Crescentrating Global Muslim Travel Index for both 2023 and 2024 award it also received in 2023. in the 2024 Mastercard-Crescentrating Global Muslim Travel Index, an award it also received in 2023. The Philippine News Agency reports that “the Philippines secured a record-breaking PHP1.18 billion in sales leads at the recent Arabian Travel Market (ATM) 2025, held at the Dubai World Trade Centre from April 28 to May 1.” Read More
DOT announces Job Opportunities for Senior Citizens
On the 21st May 2025, the Philippine DOT and the National Commission of Senior Citizens (NCSC) signed a Memorandum of Understanding, which includes tourism training and job opportunities for senior citizens, in order to promote and support Inclusive Tourism.
DOT Regional Offices will be encouraged and supported to include senior citizens in its tourism stakeholders training. The Philippine News Agency reports that “a senior citizen needs only to be physically and mentally fit to qualify for the training program” according to Mary Jean Loreche, NCSC officer-in-charge Chairperson.
The two departments will also work together to develop policies that are sensitive to the needs of traveling senior citizens.
2% Drop in Tourist Arrivals into the Philippines during April 2025
April 2025 saw 450,493 foreigners arriving in the Philippines, which is 2% lower than arrivals in April 2024. This slight downward trend in arrivals started in January and has continued, with many linking fewer travellers to a shrinking South Korean market.
Whilst South Korea tourists continue to top the arrivals charts there has been an 18% drop in arrival numbers year-on-year. This drop is attributed to cautions recently issued by the South Korean Foreign Ministry after the deaths of two South Koreans, and a kidnapping, all occurring in the first quarter of 2025.
The Philippines celebrates 11 Michelin Guide Hotels
5 hotels have been added to the Michelin Hotel Guide this April and May, bringing the total up to 11 Philippine hotels featuring in the guide.
- Fairmont Makati, Manila
- Marriott Hotel (Newport World Resorts),
- Raffles Makati,
- Solaire Resort Entertainment City, Parañaque Manila
- Shangri-La The Fort, BGC Manila
- Admiral Hotel Manila – MGallery,
- Amanpulo, Pamalican Island Palawan
- Crimson Resort and Spa Mactan,
- Hotel Okura, Pasay Manila,
- Nay Palad Hideaway, Siargao
- The Peninsula Manila.
To secure and keep this coveted award Hotels must consistently deliver on service, authenticity, accessibility, value, and design.
Fun Fact: The Michelin Guide series was born out of a marketing ploy to increase tire sales, back in 1900! Learn more.
Switzerland Clamps down on Booking.com
Switzerland’s price watchdog has ordered Booking.com to cut Swiss hotel commissions by nearly 25%, with just three months to comply.
Booking.com disagrees with the decision and intends to appeal to the Federal Administrative Court, adding “No changes to our commission rates will be made while the appeal process is ongoing,” Read more
Spain orders the removal of 65,000 Airbnb listings
With a growing housing affordability crisis, especially in tourist areas like Madrid, Barcelona, Andalusia, and Catalonia, the Spanish Government has taken action and ordered the removal of more than 65,000 holiday rentals, primarily listed with Airbnb.
Since 2020 there has been a 15% increase in the numbers of registered Spanish holiday homes. At November 2024 there were 321,000 licensed holiday rentals, and many more are suspected of operating without permits or licenses.
The Spanish Consumer Rights Ministry focus is on Airbnb listings which
- are missing license numbers
- don’t identify whether the owner is an individual or a corporation
- have discrepancies between the listed information and official records.
The Spanish Consumer Rights Ministry demanded that Airbnb remove 5,800 specified listings earlier this year, and will be issuing two more orders, backed by Madrid’s Hight Court, for the removal of a total of 65,935 properties.
New Regulations for short-term rentals passed in January 2025 will come into force on July 1. Property owners are required to register in a national database and secure permits before listing their property on booking platforms, with fines of up to €600,000 for non-compliance.
There have been widespread protests about high rents and housing shortages, particularly in Spain’s tourist destinations, with many casting blame at platforms like Airbnb.
Residents of Spain’s Canary Islands have been protesting over the impact tourism is having on local infrastructure and housing availability. They are demanding tourism models that are more people-centered and environmentally responsible, respecting the archipelago’s ecological and social needs.
Elsewhere in Europe, Brussels is also taking steps to crack down on short-term tourist rentals, particularly in the central areas of the City, citing the need to protect local housing for residents.
Tourists in China narrowly escape being crushed
The roof of an historic Ming Dynasty tower in China collapsed this week, with visiting tourists running to avoid being hit and crushed.
Restoration repairs on the 650-year-old Fengyang drum tower, located in Anhui province, eastern China were only just completed in March 2024. As expected, investigations into the collapse are already underway.
Video footage shows a partial roof collapse occurring moments before hundreds of tiles slid and crashed to the ground, with tourists running from the immediate scene.
Originally built in 1375 during the Ming Dynasty, the Fengyang Drum Tower was designated a key cultural relic in Anhui in 1989.
