What were the landmark events that are meaningful to the growth of the company?
We are lucky to have several milestones in Rajah Travel. This includes the implementation of having a dynamic business model so that we can continuously and consistently address the needs of the times. We had the expansion of our corporate travel division in 1995 when we cemented our partnership with the leading international Travel Management Company, Carlson Wagonlit. We are also the appointed distributor of Insight Vacations, Luxury Gold (since 1981), Contiki (since 1997), Uniworld (Since 2014), and most recent are Club Med, Heart Of Alsace, AAT Kings, Dubai Stopover which were signed just this year.

One of the landmark events close to our hearts is the establishment of the Tourism Knowledge Center (TKC). The Tourism Knowledge Center is a one-stop-shop of all data and information regarding the tourism industry. Information gathering and data sharing are some of the initiatives under the TKC.
Another event we are proud of is being part of the taskforce that initiated the commemoration of the Palawan Liberation annually since 2015. More than being an event, this is the culmination of the advocacy of Rajah Travel on Lost Pieces of History where we feel there is a need to remember and honor achievements of our Filipino heroes during World War II.

What partnerships have you forged with the private and government sectors that have contributed to the growth of the company?
We choose to partner with best-in-class suppliers that are able to provide service at par with the Rajah Travel brand of service “fit for royalty.” We aim to forge long-term relationships with our suppliers, clients and other industry stakeholders by treating them as partners, with whom we work to find win-win solutions to any situation that may arise. We are an active participant within the industry and members of different associations and chambers of commerce. By working with other industry stakeholders, we are helping to shape the future of the industry towards the reality we would like to have.

How have your services evolved over the years, now that you are in property management?
I always say, RTC is not just a normal travel agency. It is a travel corporation covering the entire sphere of the tourism industry. Yes, we do handle tours, issue tickets, etc. We also have some of the departments that are not found in normal travel agencies. We have our M&E, Program Management, and our recent additions, the TKC and the Tourism Site Management.

How has the company grown through the years?
We have grown exponentially since we were established. From a population of 25 when we started in 1992, we grew to 105 in 2005 and at present, we have 260 team members and still growing. We have also grown in terms of our number of clients, sales volume and the diversity of our service offerings.

How has the internet affected your business?
The internet has changed the landscape in so many ways. It is a tool for increasing efficiency in the workplace with cloud services, SaaS, availability of information, an additional channel for reservations, etc. It is also an additional revenue stream as we are able to accept bookings via our website, and a way for us to reach our clients through social media
Online booking is not the only technology that Rajah Travel has integrated in its operations which is why we remain relevant, even if we keep in mind that good relationships are the most important part of our existence.

What are your packages for the MICE program?
Our MICE programs are customized for each group that we work with. For 2020, we are encouraging our groups to go to Club Med All-Inclusive resorts or charter Uniworld Cruise Ships. We believe these will provide MICE groups with a different experience while making it easier for the groups primary organizers.

What improvements, challenges, growth, decline have you observed in Philippine tourism?
We recently contributed to the Tourism Policy Brief for the Joint Foreign Chambers of Commerce where we highlighted the need for Sustainable and Inclusive Growth as well as Seamless Travel.

What improvements do you think are needed to increase tourist arrivals in the Philippines?
Please see answer to the previous question. Also, we have been always an advocate of statistics. However, looking at tourism arrivals is not the sole metric of a successful tourism destination and it shouldn’t be taken as the best metric as well. In fact, we would rather ensure that we track the number of jobs generated as well as the tourism receipts more than the number of arrivals. And most importantly, the mitigated effects to the sustainability of our tourism sites

What are the more popular destinations/tours in the Philippines?
Palawan, Boracay, Cebu, Bohol are still the more popular destinations. We are also trying to develop the market into other areas such as Masbate, Albay, Bataan and other areas that are not usually top-of-mind destinations to introduce other Philippine wonders to the traveling public as well as to help decongest the already popular destinations and prevent overtourism. Apart from what has been mentioned, Davao, Iloilo, the Ilocos Region, Samar-Leyte are also coming to fore. We just need to ensure that their tourism roadmap is also comprehensive and can be measured also on their seamlessness and sustainability and inclusive growth.

What are the most popular destinations abroad for Filipinos?
The United States, Europe, Japan and Korea are still the popular destinations abroad. In recent years, we have also seen growth in travel to Taiwan. Japan, Taiwan, Korea and Singapore are the popular destinations for Filipinos as far as Asian destinations are concerned. Because of the visa-free policy of Taiwan, this has seen exponential growth in the recent months

Where do you see Rajah Travel in the medium term, and in the long term?
We have already transitioned from travel agency operations to a travel corporation, existing in the different realms of travel. So we will continue on this path.