June 2, 2023, CNN Philippines, under the late-evening business news program, The Exchange hosted by the network's Senior Anchor and Director for News Content Development, Rico Hizon, invited ASEAN Tourism Research Association (ATRA), alongside with Tourism Congress of the Philippines and Klook in an episode, on separate interview series, to provide insights about Philippine Revenge Travel. The organization was represented by Ms. Xialeemar Valdeavilla, one of ATRA's Board of Directors, who shared her regional and straightforward perspective about the country’s situation and the contemporary challenges in tourism.
The enthusiasm of the country after almost 3 years of lock down might be a "Regret Travel", as its present long-term implications due to influx of tourist. The lack of infrastructure, ICT support, escalated the recent chaos in several airports and islands in the recent months. Notwithstanding several factors: return of pollution; environment destruction; overspending leading to unnecessary loans to cover the years of imprisonment at home; imbalanced supply and demand chain of tourism manpower, re-skilling and up-skilling phase considerations; businesses losing most employees, as a majority are demanding hybrid to total work from home arrangements which might not be applicable especially for hotel, accommodation, and leisure establishments.
Inspite of all these, the Philippines is moving forward, and catching up with its numbers. Having 2.6 million visitors before the end of 2022, wherein bulk of tourists were from the United States, Korea, and Australia, the Department of tourism expects 100% increase from previous year, which will present some economic opportunities for the industry and the republic as a whole.