The Rise of Philippine Tourism with Satellite Internet

The global tourism industry was halted due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.  However, with loosening travel restrictions and fewer confirmed cases of COVID-19, the sector is actively making a comeback. Travel has been slow this year but that has not stopped Filipinos from seeing the country with great enthusiasm and passion. Social media has coined the term “revenge travel” to describe the new trend of people traveling to compensate for lost time during the pandemic.

In an interview with BusinessWorld, Cid L. Terosa, a senior economist at the University of Asia and the Pacific, said that the country’s improved ranking sends a positive sign to prospective investors.

“Tourism-related activities that were choked by the pandemic in 2020 started to regain their vim and vigor in 2021,” Terosa said.

The number of Filipinos traveling within the country grew in 2021. The 2021 report from the Philippine Tourism Satellite Accounts shows 37,279,282 inbound trips. There was a 38.16% increase in domestic travel from the 26,982,233 recorded in 2020, the year the COVID-19 pandemic hit the country hard. Experts also revealed a bright future for the Philippines, citing a 6.7% annual growth rate for the next decade and a 5.6% average growth rate for the economy.

Vacationers can choose from a wide variety of luxurious hotels to experience the country’s pristine shores and abundant marine life. The good news is that with the help of satellite internet, these businesses can function smoothly, and visitors can maintain their connections regardless of how isolated their accommodations may be.

Qi Palawan Resort, a pristine beachfront property in North-eastern Palawan, is a hidden paradise among dense tropical forests.

To respond to guests’ emails and other concerns, Qi Palawan Resort manager Francis Cacacha had to drive 37 kilometers to the nearest town so he can connect to the internet. Frequently, guests complain about not having internet connection.

Revolutionizing the Tourism Industry with Kacific and Ka-Band Technology

Businesses that embraced “omnichannel” strategies or integration of online and offline touchpoints as consumers move down the sales funnel, were not merely reacting to a particular issue or a superficial trend. This pandemic has accelerated omnichannel acceptance, as taking advantage of multiple customer touchpoints has become critical in connecting with consumers through lockdowns and social distancing measures. The pandemic has not only affected how businesses operate; it has transformed consumers’ behaviours.

In the tourism industry’s recovery, the internet continues to allow enterprises to conduct business operations efficiently—from marketing to constant customer service.

As internet connectivity continues to be a challenge on many islands and the mountainous sides of the country, the high-throughput satellite of Kacific brings hope for these remote and rural communities.

Kacific, a next-generation broadband satellite operator, covers the Philippines with high-throughput beams that cover all the remote areas — from Batanes to Palawan and even all the way to Sulu. These spot beams are high power, resulting in availabilities between 99.5% and 99.9%.

Kacific’s Ka-band technology provides higher throughput in small, easy-to-install 1.2-m antennas or terminal kits. This means higher download and upload speeds (comparable to fiber internet) that can provide better internet performance. Having said that, even businesses with fiber internet connection can use satellite internet as a backup to ensure connectivity 100% of the time.

Additionally, Kacific can mitigate the effects of rain fade through diverse uplink availability, having two local teleports located in Subic Bay and Clark as its backup sites to ensure that connectivity remains available even in inclement weather. Modern technologies such as adaptive coding and modulation (ACM), signal pre-distortion and uplink power control are used to increase the throughput and overall availability, and, ultimately, improve the quality of service and user experience.

Bambunet, a local ISP of Kacific, offers unlimited plans starting at ₱5,940 in the Philippines. Terminals are offered for a one-time terminal fee of ₱34,000 or ₱52,000 depending on the size of the plan. A one-time installation fee of ₱10,000 is charged by distributors to install the terminal kit in a specific area.

Going beyond the service

Bambunet provides after-sale service to guarantee their customers’ satisfaction even after their terminal purchase.

“Since Bambunet powered by Kacific was installed, we do not encounter any problems with our internet anymore. The internet is now uninterrupted. We are able to answer the emails being sent to us quickly,” Cacacha added.

“We are (also) very grateful to the technicians who installed the terminal here. This is because they are kind, helpful, and responsive when we have questions. So, we did the right choice in choosing Bambunet powered by Kacific because it is worth it and they have commendable service,” Cacacha concluded.

Do you have hotels or resorts in remote areas requiring affordable, reliable high-speed internet? Contact Bambunet powered by Pipol Broadband at www.bambunet.com or call (0998) 555 3243.

For more information on Kacific’s satellite technology, visit or contact sales@kacific.com.

Apply to be a Kacific Authorized Distributor today, visit https://kacific.com/distributor-network to know more.