PH New Harbor Point for Big Cruise Line
Star Cruise SuperStar Virgo made Manila as their homeport and is expected to increase revenue this year with the anticipated hike in job offerings from the boost in the cruise tourism.
The Department of Tourism Secretary Wanda Tulfo-Teo said that the cruiseline choosing Philippines as their homeport would generate tourist in the country and promotion of the local products would be heightened.
It is also in the cruise line’s’ best interest to provide job opportunities to Filipino’s considering that most of the cruises’ manpower mainly comprises of Filipino workers.
Philippines operating as the harbor to a big cruise line in five years, auxiliary revenues would be collected for pre- and post- cruise activities which include provisioning, bunkering, garbage disposal and sludge removal.
Star Cruise President, Ang Moo Lim said that this plan would support the Asia Cruise Cooperation (ACC) project to boost promotion of existing tour programs and develop ties with other cruise companies.
DOT’s marketing director Ma. Corazon Jorda-Apo stated that the completion of the Philippines National Cruise Tourism Strategy with its membership with ACC would be a new direction to achieving the long-term goal to improve the economy and boost the Filipino capability for recreation accommodation.
“Our ultimate goal is to be as seamless as possible and gain competitiveness as a major cruise hub in Asia.”
