Tourism

As efforts to develop tourist attractions ramp up inside the capital and beyond, the Philippines is well placed to capture a lucrative share of the 1.3bn-strong market of global business and leisure travellers. An archipelago of over 7000 islands with bountiful natural attractions and rich cultural traditions, the country drew 6.6m visitors to its shores in 2017, representing an 11% increase on the previous year. Tourist spending hit $27bn in the process, up from $25bn in 2016, contributing nearly 10% of GDP. This chapter contains interviews with Lawrence Ho, Chairman and CEO, Melco Resorts & Entertainment; and Andrea Domingo, Chairman and CEO, Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation.