AppleOne Group Inc., a Cebu-based property developer, is gearing up to welcome an increased influx of both local and international travelers this 2024 to showcase further its ongoing commitment to helping foster people-to-people connections, enriching cultural relations, and contributing to the boosting of tourism at the local and national levels.
The Department of Tourism (DOT) has highlighted the robust recovery of the country’s local tourism industry, surpassing initial expectations. In 2023, the Philippines witnessed over five million international arrivals, generating more than PHP 480 billion in international tourism receipts. Out of this, 91.80 percent accounted for 5,003,475 foreigners, while the remaining 8.20 percent (447,082) were overseas Filipinos.
Looking ahead, the DOT aims for 7.7 million international visitor arrivals within this year. The recent 2-day state visit of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. to Vietnam on January 29-30 further emphasized the Philippine government’s commitment to strengthening bilateral ties, particularly in boosting investments and tourism.
In response, AppleOne through its flagship properties has been consistently the pioneer of hosting and extending warm welcomes to international travelers, including those from South Korea, the USA, Japan, Canada, and now, Viet Nam.
With a focus to welcome international tourists with remarkable service, Ray Go Manigsaca, CEO and President of AppleOne Group Inc. stated, “Our services in Sheraton Cebu Mactan Resort showcase the local culture and heritage, while offering the best view and water activities in the Hilutungan Channel which is one of the richest sanctuaries in the country. We [at AppleOne] want our guests to experience the best version of Pinoy hospitality and enjoy the luxurious treatment from our well-trained staff.”
Manigsaca added, “We are proud and we are deeply aligned with the government’s vision of enhancing global relations through tourism. We have actively advocated stakeholder and community engagement both at the local and national level in our efforts to contribute to the economy and be at the forefront of tourism growth.”
Mr. Ray Go Manigsaca also emphasized their pride in aligning with the Philippine government’s vision of enhancing global relations through tourism. Through Sheraton and other well-located properties, AppleOne aims to be the representatives of Filipino culture, providing an exceptional experience for global tourists and further establishing Cebu as a prime destination they will come back to.
In addition to this, the Visayas market is witnessing a rise in mixed-use properties that provide all-in-one residential, commercial, and recreational spaces. AppleOne Group Inc. is eager to facilitate more conferences this year, given the surge of business events bouncing back post-pandemic. This aligns with meeting the evolving lifestyle preferences and addressing urbanization trends in the region, particularly in the city of Cebu.
There is also rapid growth in office-space users as more companies and industries enter the region, driving more competition in real estate and property development. AppleOne takes a lead on this through its headquarters, the AppleOne Equicom Tower, which has workspaces to accommodate this increasing demand while actively pursuing more expansion opportunities. The company also remains competitive in this landscape as the exclusive franchise partner of Regus in the Visayas region creating more flexible workspaces and business solutions. These spaces are located in growing business areas throughout Visayas, including AppleOne Equicom Tower in the Cebu Business Park, Regus Park Centrale in Cebu IT Park, as well as Iloilo Festive Walk Mall.
Moreover, with the Mahi Center currently being developed, the company is able to further address the specific needs of companies looking to expand in key provinces like Cebu. This strategic advantage is even more highlighted with their Marriott International partnership to develop Fairfield by Marriott, which has direct access to the Mahi Center responding to the escalating demand for hotels that can cater to the needs of both international and local tourists alike who are constantly on the go.
AppleOne is bullish that the government will achieve an exceptional rebound in the tourism sector, with the company as a keyplayer in contributing to the growth of local tourism while promoting cross-cultural ties through its very own luxurious accommodations and mixed-use properties. AppleOne intends to surpass its performance in the previous years as it gears towards more expansion in the region, and reinforce the tourism sector’s rebound back to pre-pandemic figures.