The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) reported that the country’s tourism industry consumed more water and energy last year than the previous year.
However, the consumption levels still fall short of pre-pandemic figures, indicating that the industry is still working to fully regain its momentum.
The industry’s energy consumption doubled from January to December 2023, jumping 107.4 percent to 6,135.28 Kilotonnes of Oil Equivalent (KTOE), with transport services accounting for 36.9 percent of the total.
Even so, energy consumption in 2023 was still 34.7 percent below the 9,379.88 KTOE recorded in 2019.
As a result of the recent consumption surges, carbon dioxide emissions—resulting from the use of electricity, petroleum and other fuel products—also rose 104.8 percent in 2023 to 8,034.20 Gigagrams (Gg), with transport services contributing 67.3 percent of the total.
Emissions in 2023 were also 33.5 percent below the 12,089.22 Gg of carbon dioxide recorded in 2019.
Relative to 2019, 2023’s lower consumption level is attributed to the partial recovery of the tourism industry from the pandemic.
Michael Ricafort, Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. chief economist, said tourism, which was “one of the hardest hit during the pandemic,” has not yet fully recovered.
Ricafort noted that while foreign tourist numbers are projected to increase to around seven million in 2024, up from 5.5 million in 2023, this figure remains below the pre-pandemic level of over eight million tourists.
The PSA reported in June that tourism’s contribution to the Philippine economy soared 47.9 percent to P2.09 trillion in 2023 from P1.41 trillion in Tourism Direct Gross Value Added (TDGVA) in 2022.
According to the PSA, the sector contributed 8.6 percent to the economy which marked the highest growth since 2000.
This growth was due to the 87.7 percent increase in the spending of visitors from abroad, the 72.3 percent increase in domestic spending, and the 75.3 percent surge in overall spending on tourism within the country. (Derco Rosal)