Overall hotel occupancy further slides to 56.3% amid Sept. fallout.

Byline: Deanna Margarett B. Cabungcal

Brought about by the terrorist raids in the United States last Sept. 11, tourist activity all over the world suddenly came to a standstill. In fact, the tourism industry in most countries felt a sudden reversal, something which has not been felt in so many years.

Evidently, the Philippines was not spared.

Coincidental with the dwindling visitor arrivals in the Philippines, hotel occupancy was just slightly half-full for the first 10 months of last year.

Specifically, overall occupancy of the 60 accredited hotels figured 56.32% for the 2001 January-to-October period, down from 59.19% the same period the …