Travel and Tourism Industry - Compiled Threads [Archive] - Page 12

filcan

January 6th, 2008, 08:02 PM

Boracay bomb

Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 00:09:00 01/07/2008

MANILA, Philippines - It does not take frequent visits to the famous white beaches of Boracay to realize that rapid growth is strangling the small island. Even a first-time traveler will notice, if he keeps his eyes open, that the crowded tourist destination has become even more congested. Growth has put a great strain on the island’s support systems, including those that carry potable water to the hundreds of resorts, bars and restaurants operating on the island and those that carry wastewater out.

Ask the regulars who are back in Boracay this week for an annual wind-surfing competition; quite a few will say that the world-famous island they have grown to love is an environmental time bomb.

Consider the numbers: Now a multibillion-peso industry, Boracay tourism probably attracted some 700,000 tourists last year—up by 200,000 from the half-million arrivals recorded only two years previously. To meet the explosion in demand, many investors are seeking to build more resorts and restaurants; pending applications include those for two 400-room hotels.

In an ideal world, these are applications that should be approved with all possible speed. But growth in Boracay has reached a stage where the paramount concern has shifted, from asking whether the island has enough rooms and facilities to service the continuing increase in tourist arrivals, to asking how much time the island has left before unchecked development leads to a collapse in services. To put it in terms appropriate to the modern fairy tale that is Boracay tourism: Is rapid growth killing the goose that lays the golden eggs?

The Department of the Environment and Natural Resources is putting together an “environmental master development plan” that should help provide the honest answer to that essential question, but the process depends in part on the successful implementation of a six-month suspension in new construction projects that Environment Secretary Lito Atienza announced last August.

Unfortunately, five months into the suspension, Atienza remains in a tug of war with the municipal council that governs Boracay. The other day, in a stunning admission of inutility, Atienza said: “We advised them [Malay, Aklan Mayor Cicero Cawaling and the municipal council] months ago to stop all development projects on the island before the studies that are being made by the Department of Tourism and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources are completed. But it seems that construction there continues.”

It “seems” construction continues? Can’t Atienza say for sure? If Boracay is important enough for the country’s tourism prospects and as a regional development template, can’t Atienza take the time to verify ongoing construction projects for himself?

We agree with Atienza’s controversial suspension order; we share his premise that while continuing development is welcome, environmental sustainability is now the key standard of growth. But we must wonder at Atienza’s resolve. His suspension order was greeted with immediate resistance. A month after it was announced, the newspapers reported that construction projects were still ongoing. The town mayor hemmed and hawed and said a municipal council resolution was needed to put the suspension order into effect. Five months later, the resolution remains unpassed, and Atienza is reduced to admonishing the local mayor about the consequences of his inaction.

The local government would have to answer to its people, Atienza said, “if they persist in not implementing what is correct and mandated by law.” And in the meantime, the Boracay environmental time bomb is ticking.

If Atienza and Tourism Secretary Ace Durano are serious about keeping Boracay as a viable tourist destination for the next generation, they have many options to choose from. Atienza can re-impose his suspension order, on the grounds that it had never taken effect. Durano must put his department’s dollar-earning weight behind the order, and convince the municipal council which depends on the tourism dollars generated by Boracay that the suspension is in its best interests. And together, Atienza and Durano can make the case for development, not on Boracay, but on the Aklan mainland. After all, it is only 15 minutes away from the famous but now overcrowded beaches.

cyrusal

January 8th, 2008, 05:04 PM

Korean romance movie to be filmed in Intramuros, Boracay

Philippine Daily Inquirer
01/08/2008

MANILA, Philippines -- Apparently, the feeling is mutual.

As much as Filipinos have fallen in love with everything Korean -- borne out of a habit of watching the Koreanovelas on local free television -- the Koreans have also fallen in love with the Philippines as a tourist destination.

They love it so much that they are using the scenic sites of Intramuros in Manila and the world-renowned Boracay Islands as the backdrop for a romantic Korean movie.

Leading film production houses Story Factory and DRM Entertainment Co., Ltd. will start filming the movie “Feel So Good” on Wednesday until February 23. The executive producers of the film are behind such popular Korean films like Reversal of Fortune, Lost in Love, Arang, Perfect Couple, and Mask.

The story line will revolve around six Koreans who fly to the Philippines to escape their troubles back home and then find love in the “country of smiles.”

In a presentation, Korean director Kang Chul-woo and the producers presented a movie concept that will tackle finding love in trips abroad and never forgetting that love.

Tourism Secretary Joseph Ace Durano told reporters in a press conference on Tuesday that the overall theme of the movie was in line with the Department’s promotion of Manila to Korean tourists.

“The characters here fall in love in the Philippines. That shows them that the Philippines is a place to fall in love with and a country where you could find love and fall in love,” Durano said.

The movie will feature three love stories. The first couple, for example, fall in love in Boracay.

The second couple pairs an unemployed Korean trying to escape his dreadful life in Korea with a famous Korean singer who sneaks away to the Philippines to escape her bustling life. These characters will be played by actors Eugene Kim and Lee Min-ki, who also star in Koreanovela “I really, really like you.”

Kim and Lee are already in Manila to start work on the film.

The third story explores the life of a married couple, where the husband goes to the Philippines to die from his brain tumor.

Durano said in order to further boost the local economy and increase the influx of foreign tourists, the DOT has long been marketing the Philippines as a good location for foreign films as a way of showcasing the country’s scenic sites.

While the country presently enjoys popularity as a tourist destination among Korean nationals, the shooting of the Korean movie here will definitely entice more tourists to visit the country.

Boracay and Intramuros, Durano said, were chosen by the Korean film producers as specific locations here because the two have been favorite spots of touring Koreans in the country for some time now.

Korea is now the country’s leading source of foreign tourists, according to DOT data. In the period January to November 2007, some 586,398 Koreans visited the Philippines, contributing a 21.2% share in the whole tourist traffic for the period.

The Korean film “Feel So Good” is scheduled to be released in Korea in May. There is no word yet if the film will also be shown in Manila.

mambo

January 8th, 2008, 07:59 PM

bkt kaya gusto ng mga koreano ang pinas

pau_p1

January 9th, 2008, 11:32 AM

it's probably because of the weather.. and many want to learn better English..

dinabaw

January 9th, 2008, 11:45 AM

bkt kaya gusto ng mga koreano ang pinas

sa totoo lang mga Koreano dito astang mga mayaman kahit ultimo lang sila sa kanila .

gen1

January 9th, 2008, 12:01 PM

leechtat

January 9th, 2008, 12:18 PM

^^ wow, mag-bell boy na lang kaya ako sa boracay.. hhmm..

chocolato1000

January 9th, 2008, 01:24 PM

mga koreano parang pinoy rin yang mga yan, nag-emigrate narin sila kung saan-saan, minorities na nga sila sa china.saka, if i'm not mistaken seoul is the world's most expensive city on 2006 according to forbes...saan ka pa, punta kana ng pinas sa kunting halaga mamuhay ka parang mayaman at matutong mag-ingles...pero marami ring mga raket yan, may mga naka-missionary visa pero negosyo at casino ang inaasikaso.

dinabaw

January 9th, 2008, 02:45 PM

ang ilang mga koreana kasi, mahihilig sa mga bellboy at mga laborer na pinoy, basta may asteg ang katawang-pinoy.

sus, ang daming kwento ng mga room boy at mga common manggagawang pinoy sa boracay tungkol sa mga malalanding koreana. lalo na kapag nakainom na ang mga hitad. . hapi na ang mga room boy, binibigyan pa ng cash pagkatapos.

asteg talagang mag kwento etong si Gen1 :lol: paano ba style ng mga Koreana :naughty:

ang ayoko lang talaga sa pinoy eh pinapaypayan pa mga koreano pag kumakain :bash:

amigo32

January 9th, 2008, 03:39 PM

^^ wow, mag-bell boy na lang kaya ako sa boracay.. hhmm..

sanayin mo muna sarili mo sa amoy ng kimchi para hindi ka maibago paghalik mo.:lol::lol::lol:

gen1

January 9th, 2008, 04:09 PM

asteg talagang mag kwento etong si Gen1 :lol: paano ba style ng mga Koreana :naughty:

ang ayoko lang talaga sa pinoy eh pinapaypayan pa mga koreano pag kumakain :bash:

tatlo na ang nagkwento sa akin. Ito ang pinaka-epektib na gimik sa mga nagkwento sa akin, grupo ng mga electrician sa construction sa boracay.

kaibigan nila ang bartender. kapag may natipuhan silang mga koreana (grupo-grupo kung lumabas ang mga koreana), dinagdagan ng bar tender ang alcohol content ng cocktails ng mga koreana para madali malasing. oras na nagsayaw na ang mga ito, sinisimplehan nila at sumasayaw sa tabi. pag nakipagsayaw na sa kanila, yun na. ayos na ang buto-buto.

pero kailangan katawang thomasian. kung malaki ang tiyan, hindi makaka-iskor. yung mga electrician lang ang nakakakuha. ang engineer nila, wala, bokya.

Yung mga room boy, nayaya lang sa inuman ng mga koreana. hindi planado, parang chance passenger lang. pero dalawa na nagkwento sa akin (yung isa, sa cebu) kaya tingin ko madalas mangyari.

rage@cebu

January 10th, 2008, 07:18 AM

ang ilang mga koreana kasi, mahihilig sa mga bellboy at mga laborer na pinoy, basta may asteg ang katawang-pinoy.

sus, ang daming kwento ng mga room boy at mga common manggagawang pinoy sa boracay tungkol sa mga malalanding koreana. lalo na kapag nakainom na ang mga hitad. . hapi na ang mga room boy, binibigyan pa ng cash pagkatapos.

eto gnagawa namin sa resort ng kaibigan ko... hehehehe!

koreans are definitely mga astig! puro mga wild. cla na yata ang mga bagong gangsters di2 sa cebu. khit saan kumakain nag.iinuman!

garzland

January 10th, 2008, 12:55 PM

Tourist arrivals, spending up in '07 (http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/storypage.aspx?StoryId=105074)

Tourist arrivals in the Philippines breached the 3 million mark in 2007, while tourism spending grew by almost 41 percent, Tourism Secretary Ace Durano said Thursday.

Durano said tourist arrivals in the country reached 3.09 million in 2007, up from 2.80 million in 2006. Most tourist arrivals came from South Korea (653,310 tourists), the United States (578,983), Japan (395,012), and China (157,601).

He said tourists spent $4.885 billion in 2007, which was 40.99 percent higher than in 2006 and surpassing the agency's target of $3.782 billion.

He said the Department of Tourism (DOT) sees tourist expenditures to grow to $5.8 billion this year.

Durano cited the growth in tourist arrivals and tourist spending to heavy promotions, growth of tourist-related industries such as hotels, and increased load of airlines.

He said DOT will also continue their strategy in encouraging more tourists to stay longer in the country, hence making them spend more during their stay. He said tourists coming from more distant places such as Europe stay in the country for two to three weeks on the average.

The DOT will also push for the creation of higher value tourism products and services in the areas of shopping, wellness, education, and conventions, among others.

kiretoce

January 10th, 2008, 11:27 PM

Painting a new picture in Taiwan (http://www.manilastandardtoday.com/?page=goodLife1_jan10_2008)

Here’s a pop quiz for you: What Southeast Asian country is home to the tallest building in the world, has a winter season, and is just an hour and 20 minutes away from Manila by plane?

(Giveaway: it’s home to boy band F4, or JVKV, as it now known.)

I’m sure Taiwan now rings a bell.

Taiwan, also known as Formosa or the Republic of China, is literally our next-door neighbor. In fact, we have been welcoming the Taiwanese long before Jerry Yan and the rest of his gang performed here back in 2003.

Despite the ease of access, however, you may be surprised (well, at least I was) to learn that it ranks only fifth in Philippine tourist arrivals after Korea, Europe, the United States, and Japan, respectively.

The numbers

Back in 1997, Taiwanese travelers to the Philippines reached a record high of 246,370. But last year, only 85,000 visited the country—a great contribution to our flourishing tourism industry, though significantly less than the hundreds of thousands who come from the aforementioned nations.

The reason? Over-familiarity with our good ol’ tourist spots. Taiwanese who have visited the country more than once in the past want fresher sights and experiences. Although that’s something our 7,107 islands most definitely can’t and won’t lack, it’s a quite a matter of marketing.

According to Tourism Undersecretary for Planning and Promotions Eduardo Jarque, it is essential to let an important market like Taiwan know how much more the Philippines has to offer.

“There are really so many new and wonderful reasons for tourists, the Taiwanese especially, to visit and re-discover the Philippines today,” he says. “It’s only a matter of informing them about our latest products, and not just the usual places. The figures are there, but we really have to overemphasize how near we are to them, and capitalize on that proximity and our good partnership with their country.”

The folks at the department, much like their exuberant Secretary Ace Durano, are wasting no time in putting their plans to action. Last December, I was able to witness how they painted a new picture of the Philippines for Taiwan tourists, through a week-long series of promotional travel and sales presentations around Taiwan’s key cities.

And let me tell you, their agenda goes the whole yards!

Show and tell

While the money only used to be in the capital city of Taipei, the DoT is targeting three major cities in Taiwan. We visited Kaohsiung in the south, Taichung in the central region, and Taipei up north. With a hefty number of travel agents and tour operators gathered at each stop, I’d dare say there was no better way to start than by counting off the top new reasons to visit the Philippines!

Breathtaking dive spots, world-class golf courses, wonderful spas, and great watersports and shopping were just some of the highlights of the presentation, not to mention the Hop-On, Hop Off vans that allow travelers to do some sight-seeing in the city conveniently. The “see the Philippines in a day” concept of the new Nayong Pilipino in Clark, Pampanga is a notable addition to the roster of tourist spots that hope to attract even more curiosity from the locals.

“We can also accommodate more people now thanks to five-star hotels and resorts being built around the country,” adds Jarque. “There are good rates from airlines plus more island connections—you don’t have to fly back to Manila from Boracay to get to Palawan. It’s a lot easier and cheaper to go around the Philippines. In short there’s better accessibility, reduced travel time and expense.”

Representatives from DoT’s private sector partners such as El Nido and Dos Palmas, Patio Pacific, Boracay Regency, Tambuli, and Waterfront Resorts were also around to handle inquiries and conduct sales calls, and they even raffled off free trips to their respective resorts!

Despite their immense excitement at winning tickets to paradise, there was apparently something the Mandarin-speaking Taiwanese are equally interested in: the English as a second language or ESL programs that mostly Koreans come and stay in the country for.

“The ESL industry is a revelation,” notes the undersecretary. “I didn’t think the Taiwanese needed to learn English, but it turns out they really want this as well. This is going to snowball—we are definitely looking into education tourism as a new niche.”

It probably won’t be too long before we find out. A few lucky agents won all-expense trips to an ESL center in Cebu, and they’ll surely have good stories—and English—to bring back home.

A bigger crowd

Similarly, one of Taiwan’s current media darlings named Kelly fell in love with Boracay so much that she wrote a book about her week spent there. The book launch at one of Taipei’s best malls was nothing short of a red carpet photo wall, with the presence of major TV crews and publications furiously clicking away.

“[The effect] is amazing pag celebrity,” remarks Jarque. The DoT plans to bring more Taiwanese celebrities back here and tap them as endorsers of the Philippines, as well as to invite travel shows. “They are always looking for new places; the more exotic, the better,” he adds.

Another stop for the DoT was its charming, Pahiyas/Maskara-inspired, and successful booth in the four-day Taipei International Travel Fair, which was participated in by 62 countries and nearly 900 travel-related companies and organizations. With visitor lines extending out into the street, Taiwan’s biggest travel fair is the easiest and most colorful way for locals to learn about the interesting destinations and vacation spots around the world. I, on the other hand, enjoyed learning about the Philippines all over again!

Fine-tuning

Both the DoT and the private sector seem quite pleased about the turnout of their hard work. What’s more, having seen the different crowds in different cities is an advantage in fine-tuning their promotional strategies. For example, promoting general leisure in the Philippines for the laid back cities of Kaohsiung and Taichung, and more ‘‘out of the ordinary’’ things for the trendier and more sophisticated Taipei. “But we will adapt to different situations and learn from them; what’s successful with one, we’ll also try with others,” notes Jarque.

Aside from familiarization tours and seminars and joint product presentations throughout the year, the DoT through the Manila Economic and Cultural Office in Taipei (headed by the gracious Ireneo “Ren” Reyes) will also dramatically build up its information drive and create new channels that will make Philippine tourism products accessible to Taiwanese consumers.

But what about making Taiwan more accessible to the Filipinos, you ask?

“We’re really going to support it both ways otherwise the planes will only be half full!” Jarque chuckles.

Without a doubt, we can leave it to the Department of Tourism to paint a beautiful canvas.

===========================================================================

Interesting how the author of the above article considered Taiwan a Southeast Asian country. :colgate:

jhunix

January 11th, 2008, 12:45 AM

Just to end this discussion, Filipinos in the Philippines lack the respect for its environment. Now if you got offended because I said so then its not my fault. Just because you segregate thrash and recycle thrash does not necessarily equate to other Filipinos doing the same thing and having repect for their environment. The state of Philippine cities and towns says it all!!

Just because you mentioned here you segregate thrash does not necessarily mean it is the truth and that I should believe you.
Bottom line, Philippine cities and towns are dirty and polluted and foreign visitors have taken noticed. Like it or not, it is the truth.:)

how many cities in P.I. you have visited? have you been to davao recently?

Askal82

January 11th, 2008, 02:20 AM

^^ Probably missed out Marikina City too.

dinabaw

January 11th, 2008, 04:26 AM

^^ baka di rin nag babasa ng dyaryo ...

http://www.gmanews.tv/story/76097/3-RP-cities-make-it-to-the-Top-10-Asian-cities-of-the-future

kiretoce

January 11th, 2008, 05:31 AM

Tourism receipts hit $4.9B (http://www.manilastandardtoday.com/?page=business1_jan11_2008)

The Philippines recorded some 3.092 million international visitor arrivals in 2007, with foreign tourists spending a total of $4.885 billion in the country to easily surpass the contribution of the business process outsourcing sector to the economy.

“2007 was a year of breakthroughs for Philippine tourism, as visitor traffic and tourist spending soared to unprecedented levels,” Tourism Secretary Joseph Durano said in a news briefing at the Coconut Palace in Manila.

Data show that foreign arrivals grew 8.7 percent in 2007 from 2.843 million in 2006 while tourist expenditure soared 41 percent from $3.782 billion.

Visitor receipts moved up with the substantial hike in the average length of stay from 12.06 nights in 2006 to 16.70 nights in 2007. The peso appreciation has made the cost of travel to the Philippines a little more expensive last year, but this was in line with the trend in Asia, Durano said

The international tourism receipts of $4.885 billion, on top of domestic travelers’ expenditures, accounted for 4 percent of the gross domestic product in 2007, surpassing the 3 to 4 percent contribution of the BPO and call center industry.

Tourism boomed despite a tense political period in the fourth quarter, when separate blasts hit a major shopping mall and the House of Representatives and a group of renegade soldiers laid siege on a luxury hotel in Makati.

Durano said the growth in tourist spending translated to the increase in revenues of hotels, restaurants, airlines and other establishments in the tourism sector that employ millions of Filipinos.

The tourism department expects foreign receipts to hit $5.8 billion this year, surpassing the medium-term goal of $5 billion in 2010.

Foreign arrivals are expected to rise 8 to 10 percent year-on-year to about 3.3 million in 2008, said Durano.

“Our ultimate goal is to attract not only more tourists, but also higher value visitors who stay longer and spend more, generating more opportunities for the country,” he said.

Korea emerged as the top tourist market for the Philippines in 2007, with arrivals from the East Asian country rising 14.2 percent to 653,310 accounting for about a fifth of the total arrivals.

Arrivals from the United States grew 2 percent to 578,983 but those from Japan fell 6.4 percent to 395,012.

Other top sources of tourists in the Philippines were China, Australia, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore, Canada and the United Kingdom.

le Reine

January 11th, 2008, 05:52 AM

^^all I can say is congratulations and very good to Mr. Durano! Job well done! :okay:

chocolato1000

January 11th, 2008, 07:32 AM

RP tourist arrivals up 8.7% in 2007

MANILA, Philippines -- Tourist arrivals in the Philippines for 2007 rose 8.7 percent from the previous year to a record 3.09 million, the tourism department said Friday.

Expenditures from tourists reached $4.89 billion, up 41 percent from the same period in 2006, the department said.

South Koreans were the most numerous visitors with 653,310 arrivals, a 14.2 percent increase over 2006.

The United States was the second largest contingent with 578,953, a two percent increase from 2006.

The Japanese were third at 395,012 but this was a 6.4 percent decrease from 2006.

Tourism Secretary Joseph Durano said he hopes the country can post about 3.3 million tourist arrivals and $5.8 billion in expenditures in 2008.

The department said it is encouraging private companies to schedule more events and promotions so that tourists will stay longer and spend more money.

The Philippines saw 2.843 million tourist arrivals in 2006.

3cr

January 11th, 2008, 08:56 AM

DoT to study immigration policies to spur tourism
By Bobbit Mariano
Daily Tribune
http://www.tribune.net.ph/business/20080111bus7.html

Tourism Secretary Joseph Ace Durano yesterday said the Department of Tourism (DoT) will further focus this year on encouraging other nationalities to visit the Philippines aside from convincing more travelers from mainland China.

In a news conference, Durano said DoT will put more initiatives to be more “friendly” with other nations by studying and updating the current immigration policies. “We want to respond globally (in tourism), not only to China,” he pointed out.

Citing examples, Durano explained that Arabs have difficulties in visiting the Philippines since they fall under the category of restricted nationals. “When we invite Arabs, they say ‘How can we visit since it is difficult to get a visa,’” he stressed.

According to existing rules of the Bureau of Immigration and Department of Foreign Affairs, restricted aliens are treated differently as provided for by existing BI and DFA interdepartmental protocols. Restricted aliens, include, but may not be necessarily limited to the following: a) People’s Republic of China; b) Republic of China; and c) India. These aliens must present entry visa granted by the Philippine Consular’s Office in their country.

Currently, the practice is for the Philippine Consular’s Office to indicate the validity of visa while the Immigration officers at the port of entry indicate the authorized stay which may be 14, 21, 59 days. The authorized stay may also be extended to a maximum of one (1) year period with two (2) months’ extension at a time.

Nationalities from the Association of South East Asian Nation countries are generally categorized as non-restricted aliens.

Latest figures on visitor arrivals to the Philippines by country of residence from January to December 2007 showed that visitors from Middle East was totaled to only 35,688, a 1.2 percent growth from 31,503 in 2006. A large number of tourist came from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia with a total of 16,358. Saudi, through its various employers, is presently hosting more than one million overseas Filipino workers.

Figures also indicated that a total of 8,490 visitors came from United Arab Emirates last year followed by Israel with 3,929 tourist, 2,699 from Bahrain, 715 from Egypt and 502 from Jordan.

In a prepared press statement, DoT said the total foreign arrivals for 2007 has reached to 3.09 million, about 8.7 growth rate from 2.8 million in 2006.

nostalgicbabe

January 11th, 2008, 09:59 AM

^^all I can say is congratulations and very good to Mr. Durano! Job well done! :okay:

I agree. The DOT should be commended for a job well done. From all the news I've read about the DOT's projects, it's obvious that it is really working hard at coming up with ingenious ways to spur tourism. The "your home in Asia" theme seems to be working, with the DOT adapting to different crowds and promoting the "features" that they would feel the most affinity with.

amigo32

January 11th, 2008, 10:24 AM

Mga ganyang tao nagtatrabaho gusto kong maging presidente sa 2010.

tigidig14

January 11th, 2008, 09:16 PM

mambo

January 12th, 2008, 09:14 AM

amigo32

January 12th, 2008, 09:35 AM

no, 1 million koreans living in the Phils. lol

chocolato1000

January 12th, 2008, 04:56 PM

Machine-readable passport app’ts allowed via Internet

STARTING MONDAY, APPLICANTS FOR Machine Readable Passports (MRPs) can make an appointment with the Department of Foreign Affairs through the Internet.

DFA spokesperson Claro Cristobal said the DFA launched the Passport Appointment System By Internet to address the influx of applicants who wish to travel abroad.

Initially, the system will be limited to applicants whose passports had already expired or would be expiring within one year, and to senior citizens or those aged 60 and above.

Cristobal said the system would later be expanded to cover all passport applicants.
Qualified applicants may avail of the appointment system by sending their request via Internet to appointment@dfa.gov.ph.

Applicants must provide the following information: Full name (first name, middle name and surname); date of birth; place of birth; and latest passport number and date of issuance.

Cristobal said an application must be made one week before the proposed date of appointment.

Applicants must wait for confirmation of the proposed appointment and take note of the reference number that will be provided by the DFA-Passport Office before proceeding to the DFA for the filing of the application.

Once the appointment has been set, the applicant must be at the DFA Passport Office (Special Area for those with appointments) at the confirmed designated date and time for the filing of the passport application.

Cristobal said that with the appointment system, applicants will skip the first step of the process which is the verification of their documents. They will now proceed to step 2, which is pre-processing, and step 3, which is encoding and payment.

Cristobal said the DFA would set up call centers to handle the increase in daily appointment transactions by Internet.

gen1

January 12th, 2008, 04:59 PM

^^ mabuti naman. I waited for three hours at DFA last month for that stupid "personal appearance" thing for my passport renewal.

dinabaw

January 14th, 2008, 03:09 AM

Headlines
Durano wants mining suspended in tourist spots
By Mayen Jaymalin
Monday, January 14, 2008

The Department of Tourism (DOT) yesterday pressed for the suspension of mining activities in identified tourist destinations in the country.

Tourism Secretary Joseph Ace Durano said suspension of mining operations is essential in preserving tourist destinations and sustaining the country’s multi-billion industry.

“I hope that local government units would be enlightened with the reality that mining and tourism, particularly ecotourism do not mix,” Durano said.

He then called on local government units to come out with clear regulations prohibiting mining in their areas identified as tourism destinations.

“I am not saying that there should be no mining in the country, but in areas where they can have both tourism and mining industry, I think they should choose tourism,” Durano stressed.

He noted that in areas with mining activities, communities have become poor or even poorer after the resources were depleted.

“Mining is a good industry but I have never seen a community enriched by mining operations, most of the time they end up poor or even poorer,” he said.

But areas with tourism destinations, Durano said, can have flourishing tourism industry for years if the local government units could preserve the destinations.

“If the community chooses to protect the tourism assets of their place, they can continue for years to come because their natural resources are not consumed,” he pointed out.

In fact, he said, the DOT has one of the smallest budgets among the government departments. “We have the smallest budget for tourism promotion, but last year alone the industry injected $4.8 billion to the economy.”

To protect various tourism destinations in the country, Durano said, DOT is also promoting a proposed legislation requiring investors to seek clearance from the department prior to construction of new resorts and other tourism establishments.

http://www.philstar.com/index.php?Headlines&p=49&type=2&sec=24&aid=20080113143

lightsaber46

January 14th, 2008, 08:29 AM

http://www.philippine-builder.com/content/view/198/40/

Banyan Tree to build two resorts in Palawan
Sunday, 13 January 2008

Banyan Tree HoldingsSingapore-based Banyan Tree Holdings Ltd. is putting up a pair of luxury hotel-resorts in Palawan at a cost of $70 million.

The hotel and resort developer has decided to build in the islands of Coron and Dumaran, each of which would have Banyan Tree’s signature pool villas and multi-award winning spa services. The project is expected to be completed by 2010.

Dumaran is a 55-hectare island surrounded by stretches of white-sand beach. It is 15 minutes away by speedboat from the thriving town of Coron, which is accessible from Manila through daily scheduled flights.

The company said the islands would remain pristine and secluded and retain their ambience, characteristics that are attractive to tourists and that would make the islands premier Banyan destinations. Banyan Tree officials led by executive chair Ho Kwon Ping and accompanied by its Philippine partner Salvador Zamora II, Tourism Secretary Joseph Durano and former finance secretary Jose Isidro Camacho made a courtesy call on President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo in Malacañang on Nov. 14.

Ho said to the President, “We are very happy to inform you that we will proceed with our planned investment despite the recent happenings in your country.”

He was referring to the Oct. 22 explosion at Glorietta 2 and the Nov. 13 bomb attack at the House of Representatives.

“Bird flu, SARS and tsunami are far bigger problems than incidental acts of violence,” Ho said. “Our long-term investment plan is to operate an integrated chain of hotels and resorts in the country as what we did in other countries. We believe that this country has the potential to compete not only in the region but also throughout the world.”

When fully completed, the integrated chain would cost from $700 million to $800 million and employ as many as 8,000 Filipinos.

Banyan Tree operates in India, Indonesia, China, Maldives and Seychelles. It runs a chain of hotels and resorts in Vietnam and Thailand. In Thailand it has seven hotels that directly employ 4,000 people.

Banyan Tree, which had invested before in the Philippines, considered returning to the country and looking for investment opportunities here after its officials met with President Arroyo during her state visit to Singapore in November 2006.

Giving an assessment of the country’s tourism industry, Ho said, “The potential is superb. This country has excellent food, natural resources and culture. The country already has infrastructure that is way ahead of its Asian neighbors, but still road, airport and seaport improvements are needed.”

The Department of Tourism assisted the company in choosing Palawan as the best location for its venture.

mambo

January 14th, 2008, 08:55 AM

that nice whts next four seasons perhaps

nostalgicbabe

January 15th, 2008, 08:21 AM

Headlines
Durano wants mining suspended in tourist spots
......

But areas with tourism destinations, Durano said, can have flourishing tourism industry for years if the local government units could preserve the destinations.

“If the community chooses to protect the tourism assets of their place, they can continue for years to come because their natural resources are not consumed,” he pointed out.

In fact, he said, the DOT has one of the smallest budgets among the government departments. “We have the smallest budget for tourism promotion, but last year alone the industry injected $4.8 billion to the economy.”

To protect various tourism destinations in the country, Durano said, DOT is also promoting a proposed legislation requiring investors to seek clearance from the department prior to construction of new resorts and other tourism establishments.

http://www.philstar.com/index.php?Headlines&p=49&type=2&sec=24&aid=20080113143

I agree with Sec. Durano that we should have a law requiring investors to seek clearance from the DOT before the construction of establishments in tourism destinations. Our tourism industry is one of the top contributors to the country's economic growth nowadays. If we want to continue to profit from our tourist spots, then we need to make sure that they are well-preserved. I think the DOT should play a bigger role in this and not just the DENR.

AH-7Raja

January 16th, 2008, 04:10 AM

Philippines should seriously focus in tourism industry and make it as our main dollar earner in the future to boost our economy. Because we can't just rely in mining industry, garments, agriculture, and even manufacturing as they dont really have a long permanent and sustainable economic output. But then to be able to do this, we have to fully develop our infrastructures such as the building of more hotels, an efficient and sustainable int'l airport, seaports, highways/freeways, and implement effective laws and system around the country to clean up our messes such as the inorganized traffic system, squatters, police and other emergency departments.

gen1

January 16th, 2008, 06:30 AM

i don't know. . . look at what happened to reno.

chocolato1000

January 16th, 2008, 08:21 AM

MANILA , Philippines -- The increase in tourist arrivals to the country over the past few years will be held back by the downgrade Philippine aviation recently received from the United States ’ Federal Aviation Authority, the 500-strong Philippine Travel Agencies Association (PTAA) said Wednesday.

“[The PTAA] is alarmed and concerned by the downgrading of the Philippines to a Category 2 country…The restrictions placed by the FAA on Philippine Airlines with regard to its US flights and its planned expansion will pose an adverse effect on traffic between both countries,” PTAA president Jose Clemente III said in a statement.

PTAA has 500 members nationwide, including travel groups, tour operators, hotels, and resorts.

Clemente also said the downgrade puts the Philippines in a bad light, casting “a negative image of the Philippines as an unsafe destination with untrustworthy facilities and infrastructure.”

He noted the downgrade will curtail some of the gains made by the Department of Tourism and the tourism private sector in the North American market at a time the country is experiencing positive growth in tourism arrivals.

He said arrivals from North America constitute the third largest group of visitors to the Philippines in 2007.

Stressing that the downgrade is “of utmost importance,” Clemente called on the government to take immediate steps to correct the situation so that the Philippines will regain its Category 1 classification.

A Category 2 classification stops Philippine Airlines from expanding in the US.

gen1

January 16th, 2008, 08:39 AM

^^kilala sa corruption ang ATO.

puro single source kasi ang procurement ng equipment duon. kahit palit lang ng bumbilya sa runway lighting, sa isang manufacturer lang pwede kumuha.

Askal82

January 16th, 2008, 09:00 AM

red_jasper

January 17th, 2008, 09:14 AM

Tourism contributions to economy cited (http://www.pia.gov.ph/?m=12&fi=p080117.htm&no=28&r=&y=&mo=)

Roxas City (17 January) -- The tourism industry has been making significant contributions to the national economy, helping make stakeholders in the sector alive and creating jobs and other business opportunities.

Speaking during the provincial tourism development strategic planning workshop organized by the Provincial Tourism Office, DOT Regional Director Edwin G. Trompeta said the government has placed a huge premium on tourism as a contributor to development. He said tourism is an invisible export which creates a flow of foreign currency in the economy that in turn creates a number of benefits.

Trompeta said tourist arrivals to the Philippines have grown 9-10 percent from 2001 through 2006 with the highest rate of 20 percent recorded in 2004 (2.29 million). During the period January to November 2007, tourist arrivals hit the 2.77 million mark and were expected to reach 3.02 million by yearend.

The government hopes to reach its target of attracting 5 million tourists by the year 2010, Trompeta said.

Also in 2007 alone, the tourism industry generated foreign exchange receipts estimated at US$ 2.9 billion, P100 billion worth of investments and P3.49 million worth of jobs.

Its income multiplier effect from tourist expenditures directly benefits travel agencies, hotels and restaurants, transportation, handicrafts and services. Its indirect multiplier effect can come in the form of wages of workers, profits and taxes of tourism-related businesses, and demand for equipment, stocks and supplies.

Nonetheless, Trompeta pointed out that while it creates a positive impact on the economy, the tourism industry faces challenges that need to be hurdled in order for the sector to maximize its potentials.

These include limitations of local infrastructure including hotel rooms, lack of flights to and from the country, limited information abroad, limited number of tour packages, and other factors that need not only the attention of the national government but also the support and cooperation of local government units.

Trompeta said the industry "still has a long way to go" not only in terms of achieving its target for tourist arrivals but also of hurdling the challenges facing it.

The workshop was organized by Gov. Victor A. Tanco to formulate a provincial tourism action plan for the next three years with the Provincial Tourism Office spearheading the effort.

Tanco has included tourism among his priority programs considering that Capiz lies along the Strong Republic Nautical Highway which now makes it easy for tourists to hop from one destination to another throughout the archipelago using an alternative Roll-On/Roll-Off (RO-RO) transport mode.

Tanco hopes to make Capiz as an eco-cultural tourism hub in the Central Philippines Super Region, which has been declared by President Arroyo as the country's tourism belt.

Meanwhile, Bacolod City Rep. Monico Puentevella said the approval of the bill by Congress, and its signing into law by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, would win back for the local civil aviation the Category 1 rating that was downgraded recently by the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to Category 2.

Puentevella made the statement amid the apprehensions of travel agencies that the rating downgrade may curb the growth of the Philippine tourism sector especially the gains made by the sector in the North American market.

GearX

January 17th, 2008, 09:27 AM

I think the FAA downgrade would not dampen the tourist arrivals... most of the tourists come here due to the sites and not the airport.

Jimbu

January 17th, 2008, 06:30 PM

Tourism plans, and more plans (http://www.philstar.com/index.php?Business&p=49&type=2&sec=27&aid=2008011724)
BIZLINKS By Rey Gamboa
Philippine Star
Friday, January 18, 2008

As we discussed last Monday the ills that our tourism sector faces, we touched on the need to modernize our airports, as well as increase their numbers in priority tourist destinations.

It seems timely that the US Federal Aviation Administration came out with its decision to downgrade our aviation industry to a lower level, something would likely impact on our tourism efforts. We will, however, reserve a future column to tackle this in more detail.

Instead, I would like to continue where we left off in Monday’s column.

We need an efficient transport system that will bring air passenger arrivals at major airports to the center of the city or the tourist destination in a painless, instant fashion.

A Manila-Clark railway system or even an airport highway, according to foreign observers is essential. In Asia, many modern airports outside the capital are connected within minutes by train systems and road networks leading exclusively to and from the airports.

In the same breath, priority in developing airports in the provinces must be rationalized. While we are all for the development of world class airports for the sake of tourism, priority must be given to provinces that host the most popular destinations.

Easily the most sought after destination in the country is Boracay in Aklan province. Yet the province is serviced by airports in Kalibo and Caticlan with very limited capabilities in handling direct international flights. So why did we build a multi-billion peso airport in nearby Iloilo instead?

Bohol and Palawan are the other two most popular destinations, yet both provinces have airports with the same substandard terminal buildings and limited aircraft handling capabilities. And the government opted to build a new airport at Cagayan de Oro?

This is where we lose out. If Kalibo, Caticlan, Tagbilaran (Bohol) and Puerto Princesa airports had decent terminals and runways that could accommodate new-generation aircraft (including the double-decker A-380), this would boost tourist volumes through direct flights from other parts of Asia, Europe, the Americas and Australia, similar to what is happening in Phuket, Thailand.

Our tourism marketing man in Russia, Eduard Grigoriev, noted that of the more than seven million outbound Russian tourists two years ago, the Philippines managed to corner only 12,000, Thailand got 30,000 and Indonesia 18,000. The reason? Lack of direct flights. Perhaps deft negotiations with airlines – and more quality airports as points of entry other than Manila could have addressed the problem.

Reinventing WOW Philippines

Powdery white sand beaches, azure-blue waters, panoramic mountain views and other natural wonders and formations are the country’s top tourist draws, which, however, is likewise being showcased by neighboring tourism-conscious countries in the region.

Hence, to make Philippine tour packages more interesting – and exciting, there must be new, innovative products offered to tourists to complement the usual ones. ‘More than the usual,’ as the promotional tagline goes.

A British tour organizer recently praised local culinary delights and delicacies, and went on to say that Filipino food, if promoted properly and aggressively, could be another major tourist drawer.

And rightly so. The country is home not only to the finest culinary experts but also exotic, sumptuous, rare and interesting cuisines and delicacies.

While Thai and Indian food are known for being spicy, and Japanese cuisine is synonymous to sushi and sashimi, Filipino food can also make it to international culinary stage with the kilawin, balut, buro, durian, sisig, chicken inasal and other hearty, mouth-watering regional dishes prepared by renowned culinary geniuses from Pampanga, Cebu, Bicol region, Ilocos.

Good food and great sights make better tourist attractions.

Aside from the usual street festivals and dancing, we can be a more adventurous and exciting destination by offering occult/supernatural tours in Siquijor similar to the voodoo tours offered in the Southern part of the US, or the Dracula tours in Romania. Why not an aswang festival in Capiz? It’s about time we make more economic use of our mythical folklore.

If in the medical tourism area, reconstructive surgery is considered the forte of Thailand and India, we could provide stiffer competition by bundling our own reconstructive surgery services with well-promoted wellness therapies utilizing other modalities such as medicinal spas, herbal medicines, yoga, and other similar therapies. Maybe a scheduled visit to herbolarios/albularyos/faith healers would generate more interest, too.

In the fast-paced era of globalization, one cannot afford to be stagnant, especially in the highly lucrative and competitive global industry like tourism. Constant and sustainable improvement and value added services could help the Philippine tourism industry surge ahead, if not keep in step with or give competition a serious run for their money.

Legislative support for tourism

Pro-tourism legislators have been crafting initiatives aimed at maximizing the full potential of the Philippines as a key tourism destination in Asia. Sadly, the ugly head of politics and the notoriety of Congress to act on bills with tremendous economic impact and of national significance are getting in the way once more.

Take Senate Bill 2138 or Tourism Policy Act of 2005 for example. Though laced with some critical provisions, the essence of the bill is to streamline and right-size the Tourism Department and its attached agencies, as well as the creation of a Tourism Enterprise Zone that would encourage more tourism-related investments we direly need through the granting of necessary incentives and perks.

Among the perks that would include exemption from national and local taxes, investors would be required to remit three percent of its gross income as tax. Registered enterprises are also entitled to tax exemption on capital equipment importation.

Sadly, while the Senate passed its version on third and final reading, it got stalled in the Lower Chamber during the 13th Congress.

At the end of the 13th Congress last year, the American Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines reported that due to lack of quorum, the 13th Congress failed to pass in its final week of session in early June measures crucial to strengthening Philippine competitiveness, which were already in advanced stages of the legislative process, including SB 2138.

All pending legislation left behind by the recently concluded Congress will have to be re-filed both at the House and the Senate during the 14th Congress. So much time wasted, so many opportunities passing by. When do we start buckling down to real work?

filcan

January 18th, 2008, 12:29 AM

gen1

January 18th, 2008, 12:36 AM

a couple of friends pitched that "Wow Philippines" campaign to dick gordon when he was still DOT Secretary. Dicky told them walang budget.

Less than a year later later Dicky used the concept without informing my friends or even giving due credit.

Balasubas iyang si Gordon ! ! !

filcan

January 18th, 2008, 02:44 AM

^^the DOT should go back to your friends and ask how to promote their campaign too...:laugh:

gen1

January 18th, 2008, 02:49 AM

ayaw na nila. kapwa atenista rin kasi si Dicky-boy kaya sila nag pitch. laking bagay sa amin ang mapabalitang nang-argabyado ng kapwa atenista ang isa ring atenista. right now there doing much better with activation accounts.

GearX

January 23rd, 2008, 05:23 AM

Tubbataha Reef nominated in new 7 Wonders of the World (http://www.positivenewsmedia.net/am2/publish/Tourism_24/Tubbataha_Reef_nominated_in_new_7_Wonders_of_the_World.shtml)

PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, Jan. 23 (PNA)-- The 96,000- hectare Tubbataha Reef, Asia’s best marine park, has been nominated as one of the seven new Wonders of the World.

Tubbataha, a reef ecosystem in the middle of the Sulu Sea, along with around a hundred other natural attractions across the continents have been selected and officially recognized last July 2007.

Alex Marcaida, an environmental advocate here, urged Filipinos to vote and give chances for Tubbaataha to make it to the top 21 finalist in the prestigious search for new world wonders.

He said Tubbataha’s “underwater world of wonders” is one of best few places on earth and it's worth voting for.

Seven nominees like Chichen Itza of Mexico, Christ Redeemer of Brazil, Colosseum of Italy, Taj Mahal of India, Great Wall of China, Petra of Jordan and Machu Picchue of Peru already garnered one million votes to represent global heritage throughout history.

Tubbataha declared as World Heritage Site by United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in 1993 and it has consistently generated P4 million pesos from dive tourism from January to December this year.

The reef, located some 182 kilometers (113 miles) southeast from this city, is home to 10, 000 coral reefs, 483 species of fish, two nesting species of marine turtles, nine species of marine mammals.

The reef’s islets are among the last breeding strongholds of seabirds in Southeast Asia.

Angelique Songco, park manager, said tourism income will be used for conservation, research and monioring and other park-related management job which pegged at P10 million annually.

Personnel of Philippine Navy, Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) and other uniformed men in Western Command have also contributed to the conservation of Tubbataha through manpower and logistics support.

Tubbataha is reportedly contributed ecological value of P840 million every year in the country’s economy in terms of fisheries and tourism. (PNA)

red_jasper

January 25th, 2008, 06:15 AM

Tourism department targets Fil-Am market via Web

By Lawrence Casiraya
INQUIRER.net (http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/infotech/view/20080125-114728/Tourism-department-targets-Fil-Am-market-via-Web)
First Posted 11:59:00 01/25/2008

MANILA, Philippines -- The Department of Tourism (DOT) is finally realizing the power of the Internet in attracting more tourists to visit the country.

In an interview with Inquirer.net, DOT secretary Robert Ace Durano said it has been actively using the Internet as a marketing medium to reach the North American market.

“I would say 90 percent of our marketing resources there are already devoted to the Internet and the rest for traditional media like TV,” Durano said.

DOT launched its “Travel Mall” portal, which can be found in its Experience Philippines website.

Tourists planning on a trip to the Philippines can “window shop” through travel packages offered by DOT-accredited travel agencies and operators in North America, categorized according to destination, trip duration and price range.

Durano was referring to the US and Canada, both of which have large Filipino-American communities that the DOT would like to tap into as a potential tourism market.

He said: “We are targeting the 25- to 35-year-old demographic. Research shows that in the US, for example, people who belong to this group spend more time on the Internet than TV whether at home or at work.”

DOT has also enlisted Christine Gambito, a popular Internet personality who goes by the name Happy Slip, to be its “ambassador” for North America.

Durano said his department wants to attract people like Gambito, whose parents are Filipino but was born in the United States, to visit the Philippines.

Eriq

January 25th, 2008, 07:05 AM

icarusrising

January 25th, 2008, 11:49 AM

Tourism execs shrug off ‘R’ word

By Dennis D. Estopace
Reporter
The Business Mirror
January 25 and 26, 2008

BANGKOK—Executives from the tourism-focused segment of Asia-Pacific’s sole economic and political bloc are shrugging off fears that a plunge in the world’s largest consumer economy would affect the region.

“It [economic-recession fears in the United States] didn’t even crop up in any of our discussions,” Asean marketing task force chairman Oscar P. Palabyab said Wednesday, the second day of a conference on tourism here by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean).

The Asean groups 10 member-countries: Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Malaysia, Myanmar, Republic of the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

The day that Palabyab, who is also undersecretary of the Philippines’ tourism department, referred to when discussions occurred was the eve of a 75-basis-point emergency rate cut decision by the US Federal Reserve Board aimed at kick-starting the world’s largest economy. Markets in Asia had seen massive selloffs on Tuesday on fears the US was recession-bound; many Asean members, including the Philippines, export to the American market.

The US economy has been saddled by a bad-credit regime from its housing sector while currencies relying on the weakening greenback continue to strengthen. The Philippine peso and Thai baht, for example, kept their rally as muscled bills of trade.

Still, Palabyab conceded that a further slowdown in the US economy paired with the strengthening of currencies with trade partners in Asia would mean fewer traveler numbers.

“But there’s no Asean sense in dealing with the recession,” Palabyab added. He was referring to the Eleventh Meeting of Asean Tourism Ministers held here Tuesday morning.

The meeting, according to press statements, focused more on the bloc’s relationships with China, India and Russia in the sphere of tourism, as well as on the goal of making Asean a single destination like the landlocked European Union.

In his presentation, Palabyab said the US has been replaced by Japan, China and Korea as major source markets for the region.

Tourists from Japan in 2006 hit nearly 4 million, followed by China at 3.25 million and Korea at 3 million. The US was the fourth-largest source of tourists for the Asean that year at 2.35 million; the United Kingdom the fifth at 2 million.

In a statement the Asean Tourism Forum (ATF) said Asean member-countries cumulatively accounted for 20 percent of the global market share in terms of arrivals last year.

“The region reportedly attracted more than 60 million visitors in 2007, an increase of more than 8 percent, about 43 percent of which are intra-Asean arrivals,” the statement added.

These figures, the ATF said, remained rosy “in spite of some challenges in forms of an outbreak of a disease like avian flu or political unrest in some areas.”

The statement claimed, “The region’s ministers are all confident tourism in Asean will grow further.”

Palabyab also played down the impact on tourism of the continuing strengthening of the peso against the greenback, pointing to Philippine-based exporters and overseas Filipino workers as directly affected by the currency exchange relation.

“Despite that [strengthening of the peso], tourists are coming in respectable numbers last year,” Palabyab said citing that these numbers led the Department of Tourism to revise its target tourism receipts to $5.6 billion this year despite expecting the same tourist-arrival figures.

He explained that the Philippines is following the steps of Thailand which, compared with Malaysia, posted a lower tourist-arrival figure of 11.5 million, but still remained the country with the highest tourism receipt in 2006.

“We may have the lesser number, but the length of stay could be longer,” Palabyab said, noting that from a low average of nine nights, a tourist in the Philippines currently stays an average of 16 nights.

“These exclude overseas Filipinos who are technically US citizens returning home and staying for more than two weeks,” he explained.

“Even if they spend an average of $100 dollars a day, that would mean much,” he added.

Palabyab said that what the Philippines needs to focus more is on connectivity, or ensuring that certain destinations like Palawan can offer flights and a good experience to tourists.

“The recession would come whether we like it or not. We need to focus more on what we can do whether it affects us or not,” Palabyab said.

http://www.businessmirror.com.ph/0125&262008/headlines05.html

Dek Thai

January 25th, 2008, 10:17 PM

lovattan

January 25th, 2008, 10:39 PM

icarusrising

January 26th, 2008, 05:41 AM

I like coming to RP threads because you guy always get a good source like this. IMO Chinese tourists will take over americans soon. The number of Chinese tourists going to Thailand is increasing every year.

OT but just to let you know, Filipinos top the number of tourists to Thailand among SE Asian countries...

RP leads East Asian countries
in tourist arrivals in Thailand

By Dennis D. Estopace
Reporter
The Business Mirror
January 25 and 26, 2008

BANGKOK—Low-cost carriers and the strong peso lifted the Philippines to the topmost spot among more than 15 countries in East Asia that posted increased tourist arrivals in this country.

Based on Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) data, inbound arrival from the Philippines at Suvarnabhumi International Airport here, posted nearly 21 percent from 125,691 in 2006 to 151,472 from last year.

The double-digit increase from January to December was also the highest among member-countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean), the single largest economic and political bloc in the region.

Based on TAT documents, arrival at Suvarnabhumi from Myanmar followed at a 17.55-percent increase rate, from Singapore at 17.55 percent, from Laos at 11.4-percent increase rate and Indonesia at 10.21 percent.

The Philippines and these countries, however, failed to lift the total arrival from the whole Asean which slid to a negative 5 percent and the whole East Asia region, which posted a decline from 4.86 million tourists in 2006 to 4.79 million in the same period last year.

The decline, based on the data, was caused by one of Thailand’s largest markets for tourists: China, which posted a decline by more than 7 percent to 0.78 million last year.

The largest decline in outbound tourists to this Asean member-country was posted by Singapore at 0.4 million last year from 0.48 million in 2006.

In a separate statement, TAT described the increase in travel to Thailand from Asean countries as “growing at record levels, thanks to visa-free policies, growing trade and business contacts, strong marketing campaigns, and increased low-cost airline linkages between the various new and emerging destinations.”

Dave de Jesus, TAT marketing director for the Philippine market, linked the increased arrivals from the Philippines to the swelling business of low-cost carriers (LCCs), popularly known as budget airlines.

“Also, the strong peso has amplified Filipinos’ spending power,” de Jesus told the BusinessMirror on January 24, the third day of the five-day Asean Tourism Forum (ATF) being held here.

The increase in the number of pocket-filled Filipinos flying LCCs is expected as, according to Hong Kong Polytechnic University professor Kaye Chon, this new trend in travel continues to grab market share traditionally dominated by full-service carriers (FSCs).

Citing a 2007 study he coauthored, Chon described LCCs as one of the 15 dominant “megatrends” shaping tourism. There is now a blurring of boundaries between LCCs and full-service carriers (FSCs) as the former enter into long haul and intercontinental service, Chon said, citing Air Oasis of Hong Kong that offers flights to London and Vancouver.

LCCs, according to Chon, remain attractive because they offer up to 50 percent lower fares against traditional airlines but with nary or few frills in cabin service.

Ticket sales are mostly done online or through the Internet. JetStar Asia and Tiger Air are the LCCs flying from Manila and Clark in Pampanga to several points in the Asia-Pacific region.

Chon said there are 15 LCCs operating in Southeast Asia, nine each in Northeast and South Asia and four in Oceania.

Still, he said, “There’s a lot of room for growth as LCCs remain underdeveloped in the region, even as we are seeing large-scale fleet expansion in South and Southeast Asia.”

These opportunities include having the open-skies policy for Asean fully realized and tapping the 153 cities in Asia with population each of more than a million by 2015.

Likewise, secondary airport facilities remain “underutilized,” Chon said, adding that another opportunity is forging alliances even with businesses in other industries like credit cards or sources of funding. Chon cited that other trends show LCC businesses would foster as construction of low-cost terminals becomes brisk and strategic alliances across industries are forged.

http://www.businessmirror.com.ph/0125&262008/economy04.html

jbkayaker12

January 27th, 2008, 06:11 AM

b'z2;17947090"]Tourism department targets Fil-Am market via Web

By Lawrence Casiraya
INQUIRER.net (http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/infotech/view/20080125-114728/Tourism-department-targets-Fil-Am-market-via-Web)
First Posted 11:59:00 01/25/2008

MANILA, Philippines -- The Department of Tourism (DOT) is finally realizing the power of the Internet in attracting more tourists to visit the country.

In an interview with Inquirer.net, DOT secretary Robert Ace Durano said it has been actively using the Internet as a marketing medium to reach the North American market.

“I would say 90 percent of our marketing resources there are already devoted to the Internet and the rest for traditional media like TV,” Durano said.

DOT launched its “Travel Mall” portal, which can be found in its Experience Philippines website.

Tourists planning on a trip to the Philippines can “window shop” through travel packages offered by DOT-accredited travel agencies and operators in North America, categorized according to destination, trip duration and price range.

Durano was referring to the US and Canada, both of which have large Filipino-American communities that the DOT would like to tap into as a potential tourism market.

He said: “We are targeting the 25- to 35-year-old demographic. Research shows that in the US, for example, people who belong to this group spend more time on the Internet than TV whether at home or at work.”

DOT has also enlisted Christine Gambito, a popular Internet personality who goes by the name Happy Slip, to be its “ambassador” for North America.

Durano said his department wants to attract people like Gambito, whose parents are Filipino but was born in the United States, to visit the Philippines.

I'd say they should focus more on the European continent. The Philippines already have a market in North America courtesy of the millions of Filipinos residing in the United States and Canada and courtesy of the ties that bind the United States and the Philippines due it to its long history together.

It wont hurt if they pay attention and give more focus on Europe. The reason there is only 1 European based airline flying into the Philippines is because of the lack of passengers. This should be a sign for the Dept of Tourism to wake up and try to sell the Philippines as a destination to the Europeans. Of course it wont hurt to market the Philippines in North America but at the same time equal time and effort should also be given to the European Continent as far as trying to capture market in that area.

skylinefan

January 27th, 2008, 07:33 PM

^^i don't see why we can't compete with other countries in the region when it comes to tourism. We have amazing beaches, natural wonders unlike anything in the world, a rich cultural history, huge shopping malls, very friendly hospitality, we've pratically built ourselves a viable tourist destination. The problem is that it doesn't get promoted properly. The only promotion i see abroad is "WOW Philippines" posters hung up in Filipino run businesses like food stores. This will only target balikbayans. Advertising the Philippines to Filipinos is a waste of time because we are already aware of our own country. The Department of Tourism needs to learn how to promote to non-filipinos if we really want our industry to grow.

I may agree with you that it may be a waste of time to promote the Philippines to Filipinos and that more Filipinos are aware of what our country can offer. However, this awareness is only superficial. They're aware but they don't really appreciate. That's because more Filipinos are actually deeply unaware of the real and incomparable beauty of the country. Yes they know about the Banaue Rice Terraces. But are they aware that it is an excellent example of the Filipino's patented bayanihan? Yes they may be aware that Bohol is a compact destination with chocolate hills, old churches and white sand beaches. But are they aware that the province gave the most headaches to the Spaniards because of local heroes Tamblot and Dagohoy? I mean, Filipinos should know much much more than the usual tourist would ever know. This way, we can help in promoting our country to our foreign friends.

chocolato1000

January 28th, 2008, 07:04 AM

Machine-readable passports reduce tampering -- DFA

MANILA, Philippines -- The introduction of machine-readable passports has reduced cases of tampering, a report of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) shows.

Combined figures submitted by the Philippine National Police, the Department of Justice, and the National Bureau of Investigation to the DFA showed that when the manually prepared passport was still in place, 19,894 cases of passport fraud were recorded in 2005, of which 11,155 were resolved. A year later in 2006, this dropped by some 22.3 percent to 15,456, of which 8,950 were resolved.

But the significant decrease happened last year, when the machine-readable passport was introduced. The latest figures, which include only those for the first half of 2007, shows that the number dropped by 37.3 percent (calculated against half of the 2006 cases) to 4,848, of which 2,247 were resolved.

The DFA ascribes the decrease to the various security features installed in the new Philippine passport, the cover of which has been changed from green to maroon.

The most common cases of tampering include the so-called “baklas [removal],” where the picture of the passport holder is removed to be replaced by another.

Other irregularities noted in passport applications included assumed identity, discrepancy in birth date and other personal data, tampered or spurious documents, and submission of mutilated old passports.

The machine-readable passport was introduced initially to Filipino diplomats and other government officials in March, followed by senior citizens and overseas Filipino workers in June, and finally to the general public in September.

The project aims not only to abide by the requirement of the International Civil Aviation Authority for a machine-readable passport to all United Nations member-countries by April 1, 2010, but also to improve the credibility of the Philippine passport, and thereby making it easier for traveling Filipinos to breeze through immigration abroad.

The Philippines was able to proceed with the project through interim agreements with the French company Hologram and Singaporean NEC firm to provide the technical infrastructure and training support, respectively, under grants.

Prior to the introduction of the machine-readable passport last year, the Philippines and Laos were the only countries in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) that did not have a machine-readable passport system. (Other ASEAN members include Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysian, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.)

Tornado

January 29th, 2008, 04:33 PM

The Philippines has amazing beaches, natural wonders unlike anything in the world, a rich cultural history, very friendly hospitality.The reason why the Philippines could not attract higher tourist volumes compared to Vietnam, Thailand, or Malaysia is because they have more resorts accomodation than the Philippines.
Hotel rooms in Thailand important Tourist cities at the end of 2004.
Phuket Resorts : 32,076 rooms
Bangkok : 60,924 rooms
Pattaya Resorts: more than 35,000 - Year 2005
Krabi Resorts: 10,950 rooms
Pang Nga Resorts: 6,369 rooms
2)Phuket airport has direct flights from other parts of Asia, Europe, the Americas and Australia - more tourist.
3)They are making there towns and cities more attractive for tourist to see by having more parks, better sidewalks, plazas, landscape gardens, better building architecture.
Vietnam companies and foriegn investors are building bigger resorts than can accomodate more tourist just like what Thailand did 10 years ago unlike the Philippines who has bahay kobo resorts that can only accomodate few tourist number
Why cant the Philippines biggest real estate companies like Ayala, Megaworld, FilInvest etc build bigger resorts to popular tourist destinations throuhout the country like Bohol, Palawan, Cebu and other places.
Checkout this site for Vietnams tourist accomodation - click the name on the map http://www.vietnamtravelhotels.com/vietnam_hotels/index.htm
Vietnam are increasing the numbers of bigger resorts accomodation. The Philippines only has the Shangrila resort in Mactan and the upcoming Korean resort. The majority of foreign tourist prefer to stay in bigger luxury resorts rather than small bahay kobo resorts. When a tourist visits Hundred Islands in Alaminos, Pangasinan Philippines, where are the big resorts accomodation to stay in - there is none. There is only a small Maxim hotel in Lucap, Alaminos to stay in. Philippines is left behind by Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia and now Vietnam.

In Thailand , the target to increase the number of tourist to the country is expected to grow at least double digit per year.
Tat ( tourism Authority of Thailand ) also back to use the slogan Amazing Thailand (Tat changed slogan to Thailand the happiness on earth a few years ago and it wasn't work )

The image of shopping paradise and an easy place to travel for all ages making Thailand become more and more popular.

for example , Australian market for thailand grows at almost 20 percent (16-17 percent If i don't remember wrong ) and spending also increase.

For 2006 , the tourism receipt of Thailand was more than 15 billion USD
From the info of TAT , they forscast that the income from tourism industry will surpass 20 billion USD within the next 2-3 years.
This is very possible.
The limitation of thailand at the moment to increase the number of tourist to Thailand is insufficient infrastructure. New Bangkok Airport is reaching its capacity of 45 million/year.
During high season , the ticket price increases 30-50 percent higher than normal season.

For PH , The lack of infrastructure is probably the big issue. I really think that the national carrier needs to play as a key to bring in tourists to the country.
eg, promotional airfare , reasonable price package.
PH airline may do a promotion for BKK-Manila route to attract tourist from Europe and Australia that spend time in Thailand to fly a little further to Ph's paradise.
to be honest , I believe that Ph has better beaches than Thailand.
Ph has even more laid back atmosphere than Thailand and many other asian country.
Thailand has quite similar products to Philippines ( very similar in my personel thinking)
but why Ph is far behind from the tourism game ?

Ph need to really build the brand for other destinations ( not only Boracay) When I think of Ph I think of Boracay and the Manila. can't really think of something else.
Maldives : Ultra Luxury with excellent beaces ... Ph has this ? yes
Malaysia : A melting pot of culture and colour of Asia ( as advertised truly Asia.)

In Sydney, Australia where I live... most of the big players in tourism agency usually advertise the sale package for the destinations like Thailand , Vietnam , Malaysia , HOngkong but hardly see Ph in those ads.

I have been coming in this thread for the last few years .. I really hope , wish , expect to see the improvement of tourism in Ph as I badly wanna see Palawan which is mentioned in Lonely planet.. " we dare to say PaLawan is more beautiful than Krabi of Thailand , Halong Bay of Vietnam...... "

WOW Ph... work hard !! how could you send the clear message to tourist around the world with clear info. Ph is safe , Ph is easy to travel around and Ph is the hidden heaven of South East Asia.
maybe Philippines could be a leader in eco tourism ..... ( just my idea)

skylinefan

January 29th, 2008, 06:27 PM

Hey there thaitornado. Your objective observation should merit an applause :applause:

For decades, the Philippines has been the tailender in ASEAN tourism. Last year (2007) was the first time the country welcomed 3 million tourists. But this is quite insignificant compared to her neighboring countries. How about Thailand, 8 million? Malaysia & Singapore? 6 million?

You're right about our promotional and infrastructure shortcomings.

Sawaddee khrap. Kob khun maak khrap! :)

Manila-X

January 30th, 2008, 11:18 AM

One of the best ways to promote Philippine tourism is to its flag carrier, PAL. Just wondering why they don't do these kinds of commercials.

Here is one done in the mid-80s and was aired in HK. This is the way it should be done!

HSQSOfc_2Bg

icarusrising

January 30th, 2008, 11:59 AM

Newly discovered cave system in Nueva Vizcaya could be RP’s longest
By Charlie Lagasca

Wednesday, January 30, 2008
The Philippine Star online

BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya – Another cave system here –-probably the country’s longest –-was discovered by a group of veteran mountaineers and spelunkers in a remote mountain area, which already hosts a series of spectacular cave formations, including the fifth longest cave system in the country.

Based on estimates, the newly discovered cave in barangay Pao, Kasibu town is at least 20 kilometers long, not including other passages and arteries, said Genaro Basilio, one of the founding members of the Nueva Vizcaya Mountaineering Club.

Basilio said they came across the cave system during one of their recent spelunking adventures in one of the province’s vast mountain areas, particularly in remote barangay Pao.

Basilio’s group also explored the 4.5-km Alayan cave located in the same town, which is the country’ fifth longest cave system.

“The possibility that the cave system in Pao is the longest in the country came about after an hour of exploring the cave and seeing that there seemed to be a long way ahead,” said Basilio, who also heads the provincial government’s public affairs, information and assistance division.

The new, largely unexplored cave system, which begins at Barangay Pao, swerves around underground through centuries-old crystal clear stalactites and stalagmites –-both giant-sized and medium sized -– until it reaches barangay New Gumiad in another town, Dupax del Norte. It is estimated to be a 15.7-km stretch.

Using the spelunkers’ practical method in measuring a cave system, rice bran or ipa was poured into the river at the cave entrance in barangay Pao and ended up in barangay New Gumiad.

“Our group decided to put a lot of rice bran (ipa) in the fast-flowing water inside the cave. Later, we found out that the rice bran reached as far as New Gumiad (formerly barangay Diayan), which was 15.7 km away, presuming the cave went straight there,” Basilio said.

Basilio said their group, with some recognized caving experts, both from the government and private sector, is now in the process of further exploring the cave with the use of appropriate gadgets to validate its total estimated length for it to be officially recognized as the longest cave system in the country.

“We, local outdoor enthusiasts, have plans to explore the whole cave system pending our request for funding of an expedition by sponsors so that this part of the province may become not only a geological find but also an ecotourism potential,” he said.

Present records of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources show that the 15-km Saint Paul Cave in Palawan is the country’s longest cave system; followed by the 8.87-km Odloman Cave in Mabinay, Negros Oriental; the 7.65 km Odessa-Tumbali Cave in Peñablanca, Cagayan; the 5-km Langun-Gomingob Cave in Calbiga, Samar; and the 4-km Sumaging-Latipan-Lomyang Crystal System in Sagada, Mountain Province.

However, in the records of the Philippine Caving Society, the Alayan Cave System in Barangay Capissaan in Kasibu was recorded to be the fifth longest at 4.5-km.

Early explorers, including Basilio’s group who had only been able to enter within one-hour’s distance from the cave entrance in barangay Pao, said that the cave system has centuries-old spectacular rock formations and a swiftly flowing underground river stretching from Pao to New Gumiad.

“There is a big possibility that it has a big cavern underground formed by the flowing river,” Basilio said.

This landlocked province has long been known for its spectacular caving system in Kasibu town. The Alayan cave is touted by the Department of Tourism to be world-class for its magnificent rock formations.

Seeing the province’s tourism potential, the local government led by Gov. Luisa Lloren Cuaresma is keen on transforming Kasibu, also one of the region’s major vegetable and citrus-producing towns, into one of the country’s major ecotourism destinations.

http://www.philstar.com/index.php?Headlines&p=49&type=2&sec=24&aid=20080129146

icarusrising

January 30th, 2008, 12:11 PM

More tourists coming to RP despite FAA ratings downgrade

Wednesday, January 30, 2008 04:41 PM
The Philippine Star Online

Foreign tourists keep on coming to the Philippines despite the critical ratinsg downgrade from the United States Federal Aviation Authority (FAA).

The Philippine Travel Agencies Association (PTAA) reported a continuing boom in the countryâ€™s tourism industry more than two weeks after the FAA downgrade.

"So far the industry is doing pretty well, we are still getting a good number of tourists and we have not felt the effect of the FAA downgrade,â€ PTAA president Jose Clemente III said, adding that international arrivals is expected to grow further for the first quarter of the year.

Tourism Secretary Ace Durano also projected a growing trend in the number of visitors coming from the United States and Europe even the FAA downgrading and the decision of Deuthsche Lufthansa airlines decision to stop its Manila-Europe flights.

â€œThis (pull out) is clearly an additional challenge to our effort to get more tourists. Mayen Jaymalin

http://www.philstar.com/index.php?Local%20News&p=54&type=2&sec=2&aid=2008013030

gen1

January 30th, 2008, 04:33 PM

AH-7Raja

January 30th, 2008, 10:30 PM

Eriq

January 31st, 2008, 02:24 AM

Newly discovered cave system in Nueva Vizcaya could be RP’s longest
By Charlie Lagasca

<snip>

That's pretty cool...

Manila-X

January 31st, 2008, 08:15 AM

I don't remember that particular commericial, but I remember the jingle. loved that jingle !

It was aired in HK. I don't know if it was aired in The Philippines.

chocolato1000

January 31st, 2008, 09:43 AM

SC affirms Barbers as Philippine Tourism Authority chief

MANILA, Philippines -- The Supreme Court has put an end over who should be the legitimate head of the Philippine Tourism Authority (PTA) after it affirmed the Court of Appeals decision that favored current PTA chief Robert Dean Barbers.

In a 19-page decision, the high court's first division through Associate Justice Adolf Azcuna, noted that the appeals court was correct in saying that the position of PTA chairman became vacant on April 6, 2002 and not on Nov. 5, 2006.

The high court also noted that former PTA chairman Nixon Kua simply continued the unfinished term of his predecessor Angelito Banayo pursuant to Presidential Decree No. 564 or the PTA Charter.

Section 23 of PD 564 provides that the PTA General Manager "shall serve for a term of six years unless sooner removed for cause."

“Upon analysis of the provisions of the law, one obvious fact is manifest -- it speaks of "member/s" in a generic sense; no particular allusion whatsoever is made on the DoT [Department of Tourism] Secretary, the General Manager or the three-part time members of the PTA Board,” the high court said.

“The provisions equally apply to them all without distinction or qualification. Necessarily, the logical consequence of this would be to construe the law in light of the company of words…Perforce, the words 'any member' mentioned in (PD 564) should be understood to refer not just to the part-time members of the PTA Board but to its General Manager as well,” the high court said.

In 2003, the Court of Appeals ruled that Barber's appointment on Nov. 12, 2002 "could not but be valid as the position was then very much vacant and the petitioner (Kua) had no more security or guarantee of tenure that could be transgressed, or even merely to speak of."

sugbuanon

January 31st, 2008, 04:47 PM

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d138/martiano/imperial5.jpg

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d138/martiano/imperial1.jpg

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d138/martiano/imperial2.jpg

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d138/martiano/imperial3.jpg

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d138/martiano/imperial4.jpg

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d138/martiano/imperial6.jpg

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d138/martiano/imperial7.jpg

Espma

February 1st, 2008, 02:48 AM

^^the pictures remind me a little of Atlantis Resort in the Bahamas especially with all the water features....so is this resort under construction?? Looks massive too.

red_jasper

February 1st, 2008, 05:47 PM

From the smallest to the biggest

By Diana Uy

At first glance, one gets the impression that the French love things small.

Two-person elevators, space-deprived hotel rooms and apartments, not to mention hole-in-the-wall cafés that serve espresso cups (the French version of regular coffee) on small tables and chairs all scream small albeit quaint.

That is until you explore more of beautiful Paris and discover what the French lack in regular human comforts they make up for in colossal structures running along its streets and avenues. Think Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, Obelisk of Luxor, and the Arc d’ Triomphe sitting opposite the Wheel of Paris. Did we mention the Place de la Concorde with its gigantic mythical figures and of course, the most beautiful and expensive avenue in the world, Champs-Elysees?

All things bright and beautiful, all structures big and small, the City of Blinding Lights, apparently, loves them all.

Now, how does a small, developing Third World country like the Philippines come into the picture?

Simple. Like France, the Philippines boasts of the most colorful and magnificent works of wonder —from the smallest to the biggest (XXS to XXL). The only difference is you have to dive for it.

And the French don’t seem to mind. In fact they revel in it. Diving, after all, is one of the favorite past-times of this elusive market.

From the smallest to the biggest

XXS to XXL or (from the smallest to the biggest marine biodiversity), the brainchild of Venus Tan, tourism attaché for DoT Frankfurt, is the latest campaign of the Department of Tourism under its Team Europe marketing arm. It targets European scuba divers, considered one of the strongest markets in the travel industry.

“XXS to XXL” was the Philippine battlecry at the 10th Salon International de la Plongee Sous-Marine, the biggest dive show in France and where the country made a splash bigger than a tsunami. It was held last Jan. 11 to 14, at the Porte de Versailles, Paris, France.

What makes our presence so much more significant is that this is the first time our country is participating and guess what? The country was named “Destination of Honor.”

Meaning, not only did our charming and very effective Tourism Secretary, Joseph “Ace” Durano together with wife Carmen, Undersecretary Eduardo Jarque Jr., Team Europe head Verna Covar Buensuceso, Tan, and Philippine Ambassador to France Jose Abeto Zaide enjoy a grand entrance, accompanied by Higantes from Angono but the country also enjoys a surfeit of publicity that included posters, logos and other Philippine dive promotional materials plastered in every nook and cranny of the huge exhibition hall of Parc des Expositions.

The beautiful photographs on the brochures, posters and flyers by German photographer David Hettich, who was commissioned by DoT Frankfurt, made our promotional materials visually captivating and attractive to the French market.

The country also had its share of French media time. The spotlight was once again beamed on us when Durano closed the Philippine Dive presentation with Stephanie Griveau of Abyss World, one of the biggest dive operators in France, to a crowd of French nationals.

Mind you, being the Destination of Honor was no easy task. The whole endeavor was two years in the making, according to Tan. Team Europe, with the office of DoT Frankfurt, had to make sure the country participates with a bang so a deal was struck—either we are the partner country at the exhibition or Salon will not see a trace of the Philippine booth. Thanks to the buzz the Philippine dive industry has been creating over the years, it didn’t take long to convince organizers from Salon. Read Full Article (http://www.manilastandardtoday.com/?page=goodLife1_feb2_2008)

brownman

February 1st, 2008, 06:22 PM

^^the pictures remind me a little of Atlantis Resort in the Bahamas especially with all the water features....so is this resort under construction?? Looks massive too.

Yeah, it kind of reminded me of Atlantis as well.

filcan

February 1st, 2008, 06:26 PM

b'z2;18121899"]From the smallest to the biggest

By Diana Uy

At first glance, one gets the impression that the French love things small.

Two-person elevators, space-deprived hotel rooms and apartments, not to mention hole-in-the-wall cafés that serve espresso cups (the French version of regular coffee) on small tables and chairs all scream small albeit quaint.

That is until you explore more of beautiful Paris and discover what the French lack in regular human comforts they make up for in colossal structures running along its streets and avenues. Think Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, Obelisk of Luxor, and the Arc d’ Triomphe sitting opposite the Wheel of Paris. Did we mention the Place de la Concorde with its gigantic mythical figures and of course, the most beautiful and expensive avenue in the world, Champs-Elysees?

All things bright and beautiful, all structures big and small, the City of Blinding Lights, apparently, loves them all.

Now, how does a small, developing Third World country like the Philippines come into the picture?

Simple. Like France, the Philippines boasts of the most colorful and magnificent works of wonder —from the smallest to the biggest (XXS to XXL). The only difference is you have to dive for it.

And the French don’t seem to mind. In fact they revel in it. Diving, after all, is one of the favorite past-times of this elusive market.

From the smallest to the biggest

XXS to XXL or (from the smallest to the biggest marine biodiversity), the brainchild of Venus Tan, tourism attaché for DoT Frankfurt, is the latest campaign of the Department of Tourism under its Team Europe marketing arm. It targets European scuba divers, considered one of the strongest markets in the travel industry.

“XXS to XXL” was the Philippine battlecry at the 10th Salon International de la Plongee Sous-Marine, the biggest dive show in France and where the country made a splash bigger than a tsunami. It was held last Jan. 11 to 14, at the Porte de Versailles, Paris, France.

What makes our presence so much more significant is that this is the first time our country is participating and guess what? The country was named “Destination of Honor.”

Meaning, not only did our charming and very effective Tourism Secretary, Joseph “Ace” Durano together with wife Carmen, Undersecretary Eduardo Jarque Jr., Team Europe head Verna Covar Buensuceso, Tan, and Philippine Ambassador to France Jose Abeto Zaide enjoy a grand entrance, accompanied by Higantes from Angono but the country also enjoys a surfeit of publicity that included posters, logos and other Philippine dive promotional materials plastered in every nook and cranny of the huge exhibition hall of Parc des Expositions.

The beautiful photographs on the brochures, posters and flyers by German photographer David Hettich, who was commissioned by DoT Frankfurt, made our promotional materials visually captivating and attractive to the French market.

The country also had its share of French media time. The spotlight was once again beamed on us when Durano closed the Philippine Dive presentation with Stephanie Griveau of Abyss World, one of the biggest dive operators in France, to a crowd of French nationals.

Mind you, being the Destination of Honor was no easy task. The whole endeavor was two years in the making, according to Tan. Team Europe, with the office of DoT Frankfurt, had to make sure the country participates with a bang so a deal was struck—either we are the partner country at the exhibition or Salon will not see a trace of the Philippine booth. Thanks to the buzz the Philippine dive industry has been creating over the years, it didn’t take long to convince organizers from Salon. Read Full Article (http://www.manilastandardtoday.com/?page=goodLife1_feb2_2008)
^^"Destination of Honor"?...grabe naman...lol

icarusrising

February 2nd, 2008, 09:00 AM

PRA to lure 6,000 foreign retirees
this year, or twice ’07 figure

By Max V. de Leon
Reporter
The Business Mirror

THE Philippine Retirement Authority (PRA) is targeting to attract up to 6,000 foreign retirees this year, with the Taiwanese, Japanese and Europeans seen to come in droves, aside from the Koreans, the industry’s top market.

Edgar B. Aglipay, PRA chairman, said their aim for the year is to at least double the number of retirees who registered with the agency in 2007 at 2,620.

The Koreans make up 60 percent of the foreign retirees in the country, with the Chinese coming in second at 20 percent.

For this year, Aglipay said Taiwanese, Japanese and Europeans will be eating up on the 60-percent share of the Koreans.

In total, Aglipay said, there are now 17,015 foreign retirees registered with the PRA.

Last year Aglipay said the PRA managed to post gross income of P265 million mainly from the registration fee of the retirees.

Since 1984, Aglipay said the PRA has already remitted to the national treasury P519 million, P231 million of which representing income tax and P287 million as dividends.

On Thursday the PRA forged agreements with the city government of Baguio and Belo Medical Group (BMG).

Under the agreement, Baguio City will promote the retirement program by giving briefings to interested foreigners and former Filipinos, providing assistance in the processing of applications for Special Resident Retiree Visa or associate memberships, providing an office for the PRA in the city hall, and actively participating in PRA projects.

The PRA, on the other hand, will provide Baguio City government with PRA marketing collaterals for free, speed up retiree applications endorsed by the city, and pay remunerations to the city government for every successful enrollee.

The BMG, as a merchant partner of the PRA, will grant retirees in the PRA program discounts on selected services, including glycopeel cleaning, pan germinal rejuvenation, carbon dioxide laser, collagen induction therapy and versapulse.

Aglipay also said the PRA will be putting up satellite offices in Baguio City, Tagaytay and Davao within the year.

http://www.businessmirror.com.ph/0201&022008/economy04.html

sugbuanon

February 2nd, 2008, 12:19 PM

^^the pictures remind me a little of Atlantis Resort in the Bahamas especially with all the water features....so is this resort under construction?? Looks massive too.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2215/2169071376_cf779fa618_o.jpg

construction is already in full blast.. this pic was taken just last month..

garzland

February 3rd, 2008, 09:30 AM

Palawan resorts win world's green vote

By Roderick T. dela Cruz
El Nido resorts

A prestigious international magazine has listed two Palawan resorts among the 20 most eco-sensitive hotels in the world.

In its January 2008 issue, Travel + Leisure, published by the American Express Co., included El Nido's hotels in Miniloc and Lagen Islands on its roster of "conservation-minded places on a mission to protect the local environment."

Travel + Leisure's 20 Favorite Green Hotels highlighted El Nido Resort's active participation in protecting Palawan's giant-clam gardens and supporting the re-introduction of endangered Philippine cockatoos.

"Surrounded by 123,000 acres of protected forests, jagged limestone cliffs, and hidden lagoons, travelers to sister resorts El Nido Lagen Island and El Nido Miniloc Island can take their pick of daily activities: bird-watching, kayaking, rock climbing, or simply watching fish swim below one of the guest cottages-on-stilts, which are set above the crystalline ocean," the magazine said.

"Palawan has always been touted 'the final frontier' because of the wealth of natural attractions found in and around this island group. It is encouraging to know that our establishments are taking responsibility to help uphold the integrity of the area," said Tourism Secretary Joseph Ace Durano.

Travel + Leisure is read by over 4.6 million high-end travelers. Other than reaching the US tourist market, the magazine has editions for the travel markets in Mexico, Turkey, China, Australia, South Asia and Southeast Asia.

The publication teamed with Washington-based non-profit organization Conservation International to find out what hotels, resorts and spas are doing to conserve water and energy, reduce waste materials and support their environment and local communities.

El Nido's five-star accommodations joined other destinations such as a Colorado ranch that protects American wildlife, a game reserve in South Africa, a Tanzanian coral and marine sanctuary, an electricity-free skiing and hiking resort in Switzerland, a lodge owned by the indigenous Masai tribe of Kenya, and an Italian inn with a pastoral and agricultural bent.

Durano called on other tourism establishments in the Philippines to take their cue from El Nido and "adopt an eco-friendly mindset."

Palawan was earlier categorized as "doing well" in the fourth Destination Scorecard survey conducted by the National Geographic Center for Sustainable Destinations.

The review observed that while pollution poses a threat to the diverse and unique marine life surrounding the islands, conservation efforts have been improving in recent months.

The province has also received praises from Conde Nast Traveler magazine, which voted its sugary beaches, coves and islets as the tourist destination with the best beaches in Asia.

Likewise, the aquatic views offered by the sunken Japanese warships off Coron Island are listed in Forbes Traveler Magazine's top 10 best scuba sites in the world.

Source: Manila Standard Today

chocolato1000

February 3rd, 2008, 05:36 PM

Boracay residents turned off by Barber sidewalk engraving

BORACAY ISLAND -- Sino po si Barbers? Pulitiko ba siya? (Who is Barbers? Is he a politician?)

This was the reaction of a fruit vendor to the name of Robert Dean Barbers, general manager and chief executive officer of the Philippine Tourism Authority (PTA), which was engraved on sidewalks along the main road of this island-resort.

Barbers has drawn flak from some residents and resort owners after his name appeared on the PTA seal etched in many sections of the cemented walk marking the P140-million PTA drainage system project.

“He has no right (to put his name) because that (project comes from) our money. Why, is he running for office?” said a resort owner and longtime resident. The owner asked not to be identified out of concern for his business because of Barbers’ position and authority.

Another resort owner, a community leader, said including Barbers’ name in the seal showed “lack of professional ethics.”

“People’s money, not his personal money, was spent on that project. It’s giving the wrong impression on how government officials spend our money,” the resort owner said.

“It’s bad taste … In our country, we don’t have people like him,” said a European expatriate.

Barbers downplayed the use of his name in the engraving.

“It was the project’s architect who designed that. I was surprised when I saw it. But I don’t see anything wrong with it,” Barbers told the Philippine Daily Inquirer in a telephone interview on Sunday.

As in the case of many politicians who put their names on waiting sheds, roads and bridges, Barbers’ name was prominently displayed on the PTA engravement.

The seal is about two feet in diameter and spans almost the whole width of the sidewalk that covers the drainage pipes. The seal has three circles, with the PTA logo at the center in red, yellow, white and blue.

Engraved in the second circle are the words “Philippine Tourism Authority 1973.” The last circle bears the slogan “Pilipino sa Turismo ay Aktibo” and the name “Robert Dean S. Barbers” in blue.

The engraved seal can be found at intervals of almost every 50 meters on one side of a four-kilometer stretch of the main road from Barangay Balabag, located at the center of the 1,000-hectare island, to Barangay Manoc-Manoc at the southern end.

The road is the main thoroughfare for the island’s more than 13,000 residents and foreign and local tourists. It runs parallel to Boracay’s world famous white beach.

Hayden Bandiola, a bar owner and civil engineering graduate, said putting Barbers’ name on the PTA logo might have been acceptable had it been placed about a kilometer apart.

Ideally, however, the project should not have carried the name of Barbers since “it’s his obligation to construct infrastructure projects,” said Bandiola.

The PTA, which is tasked with developing, supervising and operating tourism projects and areas, has several projects on the island, including the operation of the Boracay Water and Sewage System (BWSS). The drainage system is among the measures being undertaken to help solve the problem of flooding.

Barbers said the installation of the pipes was about 90-percent complete. But it has been stalled by right of way problems. The PTA has filed expropriation cases before the Kalibo Regional Trial Court for three areas where it plans to build pumping stations to flush out rainwater to the sea.

Asked if he planned to run for public office, Barbers said he had no such plans because of the bad experience of his father, the late former Sen. Robert Barbers.

Robert Barbers ran for reelection in the May 2004 polls but, in a protest-marred vote count, lost to Sen. Rodolfo Biazon in their fight for the last slot in the 12-way senatorial race.

The PTA chief’s brother, Robert Ace, is a former congressman of the second district of Surigao del Norte and now governor of the province. Another brother, Robert Lyndon, also served as governor of Surigao del Norte.

skylinefan

February 3rd, 2008, 05:55 PM

Tsk tsk tsk! Mga pulitiko talaga! :bash:
Kelan kaya mauubos ang ganyang klaseng mga pulitiko sa Pilipinas? :ohno:

le Reine

February 3rd, 2008, 06:23 PM

^^oo nga nakakaasar. Sana hindi na nilalagay ang pangalan kasi hindi naman sila nagbayad nun personally kundi galing sa tax. Tsk tsk. :ohno:

AH-7Raja

February 3rd, 2008, 07:15 PM

%^#@ing barbers! :bash:

AH-7Raja

February 3rd, 2008, 07:15 PM

crappypants

February 3rd, 2008, 11:36 PM

Eriq

February 4th, 2008, 08:02 AM

dapat tabunan uli ng semento pangalan niyan.
bad taste. this practice of kapal muks politikos has to stop. :ohno:

Haha, that's actually a good idea... Tabunan ng semento, pinturahan ang mga waiting sheds and basketball courts...

dinabaw

February 4th, 2008, 08:10 AM

%^#@ing barbers! :bash:

baka naman directional sign ng barber shop :lol:

Askal82

February 4th, 2008, 08:25 AM

chocolato1000

February 4th, 2008, 10:08 AM

it's not even neat. what an eyesore. mediocrity.

http://pic60.picturetrail.com/VOL1698/10588304/18910390/302298522.jpg

Rall

February 4th, 2008, 10:42 AM

yak! yakkk!

skylinefan

February 4th, 2008, 01:20 PM

it's not even neat. what an eyesore. mediocrity.

http://pic60.picturetrail.com/VOL1698/10588304/18910390/302298522.jpg

Ngayon ko lang nakita tong seal na to ni Barbers... eeewwe! Here's a :toilet: for a shit!

Eriq

February 5th, 2008, 05:24 AM

Ngayon ko lang nakita tong seal na to ni Barbers... eeewwe! Here's a :toilet: for a shit!

Haha, it actually looks like a roll of toilet paper

OtAkAw

February 5th, 2008, 05:45 PM

That kid is doing A LOT of mess while being high and mighty in that position. Remember the Intramuros Sports Facility fiasco?

diz

February 6th, 2008, 02:10 AM

^^ WTF? He did that? I saw that mess in person. Terrible thing to do to such a great monument..

Ex!lE

February 6th, 2008, 02:48 AM

2007 tourist spending exceeded $ 4.8 B
(http://www.mb.com.ph/PROV20080206116328.html)

CEBU CITY – Tourists who visited the Philippines last year had spent some .88 billion in high-value services, including wellness and education, surpassing the government’s 2010 target of $ 4.8 billion.

Tourism Secretary Joseph "Ace" Durano revealed the figures yesterday, adding that the Department of Tourism (DoT) has exceeded the government’s quota set for the year 2010 because of the high number of tourists who had availed themselves of high-value services in the country.

"We had surpassed the quota of the DoT, under the medium-term development plan, three years in advance," said Durano, who was guest at the weekly 888 News Forum at the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel.

The overwhelming figure has encouraged the DoT to introduce more high-value services for tourists this year, including improved wellness services, education for foreigners, scuba-diving, among others, said the Cebuano tourism secretary.

For this year, Durano said the DoT is targeting an increase of some $ 1 billion in tourist spending or $ 5.88 billion in total, by enticing more European tourists, who are known to staying for longer periods, and are willing to spend for services offered.

"We never positioned Philippines as a cheap destination. About 90 percent of the tourists who arrived in the country had booked themselves in 5-star hotels," said Durano, adding that tourists spend in the Philippines spent more here compared to tourists visiting other Asian countries.

Durano said they will further study the lifestyle trends of tourists here to increase their spending.

The DoT will determine the volume of tourists, the length of their stay, and the items or services they availed themselves of. As soon as these are clearly identified, Durano said these will be used as basis for introducing new packages and services to tourists.

Durano also expects more visitors, specifically those from countries with colder climates, like Europe, to spend more time in the Philippines and to enjoy the summer months.

Although the value of dollar have been fluctuating, Durano said this did not greatly affect the tourism sector as a lot of hotels, restaurants, and resorts now charge tourists in pesos to cope with the fluctuation.

Durano also called for the construction of additional international airports, especially in Cebu, and in other regions in the Visayas and Mindanao, to cope with the passenger traffic that is growing at 20 percent per year.

"If we will not start the construction now, our airports will be too crowded and this will will turn off foreigners," said Durano.

Durano also said that Cebu will again take center stage at the year’s fourth quarter as it will host the United Nations – World Tourism Organization Forum on Oct. 21-25.

The forum will be participated in by mostly tourism stakeholders, from at least 100 countries around the world.

"We will put our best Cebuano foot forward and show to the world what we can offer," said Durano. (Mars Mosqueda)

filcan

February 6th, 2008, 02:59 AM

3 years ahead of target!...very good news...and yes, build more international airports!

lightsaber46

February 6th, 2008, 05:47 AM

‘Boracay development
becoming unsustainable’
http://businessmirror.com.ph/02062008/headlines05.html

By Willy Rodolfo III
Reporter

CEBU CITY—The tourism department Tuesday warned that development on Boracay Island is close to becoming “unsustainable” because of “undisciplined development” on the island resort.

Tourism Secretary Joseph Ace Durano said the undisciplined development, which has encroached on the island’s shorelines, the watershed area and even the waters of Boracay, as well as the uncontrolled influx of tourists, are close to becoming unsustainable and irreversible for the island paradise.

“Development is destroying the very jewel that people want to enjoy when they go to Boracay,” he said. “We are trying very hard to reverse the situation in Boracay. There is still time.”

Durano lauded the recent order of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources imposing a moratorium on development projects on the 1,000-hectare island.

The moratorium bans construction work on the island until a comprehensive land-use program is completed by the local government, primarily the provincial government of Aklan.

“We still need the help of the local government to stop issuing business permits to new businesses on the island,” he said.

Durano said there is still a vast potential for Boracay Island but only if property owners would cooperate with the government.

He said Boracay validates the shift by the tourism department of its policy from volume tourism to premium tourism—relying not much on bringing to the country as many tourists as possible, but trying to make tourists spend more while they are in the country.

“I am not worried that Malaysia has 10 million tourists in 2007 while we only have 3 million. Our tourists still spend a lot more and that is what is important for the government,” he said.

Durano added that tourism and protection of natural resources should be balanced.

“The more tourists come to visit you, the more the natural resources could be destroyed,” he said. “If you ask any tourist, they would tell you that they come here because they want to be in touch with nature.”

animasola

February 6th, 2008, 06:39 AM

^^Has the DOT transferred their hq to Cebu?

Ex!lE

February 6th, 2008, 11:10 AM

^ not yet.

nostalgicbabe

February 6th, 2008, 11:40 AM

The DENR has imposed a ban on more development in Boracay for six months. I hope a more permanent solution to this problem is implemented. When I think of how Boracay was when I first visited it eighteen years ago compared to what it is today, I feel really sad. There should be stricter oversight of these things. I agree with Sec. Ace Durano that the quantity of tourists coming here is not as important as the quality of tourism. In this regard, our prime capital is our natural resources, and we should do all in our power to preserve them.

chocolato1000

February 6th, 2008, 03:44 PM

Record increase in visa applications from China noted

MANILA, Philippines -- The number of visa applications from the People’s Republic of China has more than doubled from 9,007 in January 2007 to 20,633 in January 2008, indicating that more and more Chinese are considering the Philippines as “their vacation destination of choice,” the Philippine embassy in China said Wednesday.

This is the assessment of the Philippine embassy in Beijing, which added up all the “record” visa applications from the embassy and the consulates general in Guangzhou, Xiamen, and Shanghai.

“This is a wonderful development in Philippines-China relations, especially in our efforts to promote people-to-people exchanges between our two countries,” Philippine Ambassador to China Sonia Brady said.

“It clearly shows that the Chinese find the Philippines as an attractive tourist destination,” she added.

The ambassador said she believes the record visa issuance for January 2008 was attained as the Chinese geared up to celebrate the Lunar New Year on Thursday.

Brady said the Philippine consulate general in Guangzhou issued 8,330 visas in January this year, almost doubling its record of 4,860 in 2007. Shanghai recorded the highest turnaround with 5,552 visas, a 389-percent increase from last year’s visa issuance of 1,134.

The Philippine embassy in Beijing tripled its output with 3,322, compared to 1,073 last year, while the Philippine consulate general in Xiamen almost doubled its visa issuance with 3,429 compared to 1,940 in 2007.

The Philippine embassy in Beijing attributed the increase to the high-level visits of Philippine officials to China, including the visit made by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to President Hu Jintao on October 2.

“High-level visits of our officials also played a key role in promoting the Philippines to the Chinese people,” Brady said. “They were all widely publicized by the Chinese media, especially the visits of President Arroyo last year. They indicate that Philippines-China relations have reached a higher level of partnership. ”

Brady said numerous articles about the best tourist destinations in the Philippines have also appeared in various Chinese language newspapers, magazines, and television as representatives of the Department of Tourism in China continue to intensify their campaign to attract Chinese tourists to visit the Philippines.

To accommodate the growing demand for tourist visas from the Chinese, the ambassador said the embassy and the three Philippine consulates general in China have simplified procedures in applying for a visa.

“Provided the guidelines are followed and the papers submitted to the embassy and the consulates general are complete, business and tourist visas can be issued within two working days,” she said.

le Reine

February 6th, 2008, 05:20 PM

^^now that is astonishing indeed! grabe 300%++ increase. :shocked:

JustHorace

February 7th, 2008, 03:54 PM

I don't get it. Why not abolish the PTA? Isn't the agency a bit of a redundancy in regards to the DOT? And besides, they have a bullcrap for a head.

OtAkAw

February 7th, 2008, 03:57 PM

^^You know naman the politics here!

dancethingy

February 7th, 2008, 05:39 PM

I don't get it. Why not abolish the PTA? Isn't the agency a bit of a redundancy in regards to the DOT? And besides, they have a bullcrap for a head.

That is a very good question!

hurkey

February 8th, 2008, 07:53 AM

Ngayon ko lang nakita tong seal na to ni Barbers... eeewwe! Here's a :toilet: for a shit!

Hahaha :nuts:

benchjade

February 8th, 2008, 02:28 PM

it's not even neat. what an eyesore. mediocrity.

http://pic60.picturetrail.com/VOL1698/10588304/18910390/302298522.jpg

anong kalokohan yan, ang swanget!

leechtat

February 9th, 2008, 05:01 AM

^^ oo nga.. hindi manlang ginawang kanais-nais..

Ex!lE

February 11th, 2008, 02:47 AM

Cebu emerging as a world-class tourist destination (http://www.manilatimes.net/national/2008/feb/11/yehey/prov/20080211pro3.html)

CEBU CITY: The city’s hosting of another high profile international tourism event this October is seen to strengthen the province’s quest to be a world-class destination for global conferences, reported the Philippine News Agency.

Tourism Secretary Joseph Ace Durano said tourism stakeholders are preparing for the United Nations-World Tourism Organization’s (UN-WTO) Sixth International Tourism Forum for Parliamentarians to be held in Cebu on October 22 to 25.

Cebu received international recognition for its hosting of the 12th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) summit in January 2007.

The international forum, which is held every two years, is expected to gather some 400 delegates from 156 countries.

Durano said tourism-related discussions to be tackled during the forum will deal with infrastructure projects, climate change, poverty reduction and the role of women in the industry.

A change in the climatic conditions will also be crucial in the traffic of foreign visitors, thus the tourism sector must be prepared for whatever changes in terms of trends and travel habits of tourists during wet and dry seasons, he added.

UN-WTO International Conferences Department chief Dominique Bernadette visited Cebu and Bohol last week to prepare and assess the proposed venues and logistics of the international forum.

chocolato1000

February 11th, 2008, 06:39 PM

Rules eased for Koreans wanting to live in RP

MANILA, Philippines -- As an act of reciprocity, the government has relaxed the issuance of permanent residence visas to Koreans in the Philippines after the Korean government had granted citizenship to over 4,000 Filipinos in their country.

The move is also in line with the government thrust to make it easier for foreign investors to stay in the country.

Immigration Commissioner Marcelino Libanan, in a memorandum order issued on January 29, said Korean nationals married to Filipino citizens or to permanent resident aliens, or who were the sons or daughters of permanent resident aliens, shall henceforth be granted a permanent resident visa.

Earlier, Korean Ambassador Hong Jong-ki informed the bureau that as of last year, 4,197 Filipinos had been granted Korean citizenship and 64 more were holding permanent resident visas.

Libanan’s memorandum was approved by Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez on February 1.

At the same time, Libanan said a Korean who had investments in the Philippines would be granted a permanent resident visa upon proper application, qualification and payment of immigration fees.

Immigration Associate Commissioner Roy Almoro said his office would prepare the implementing guidelines of the memorandum within 30 days.

“We will make the procedures as simple as possible, without prejudice, of course, to national security,” Almoro said.

The BI had earlier announced that previously restricted Chinese nationals would also be allowed to stay in the Philippines permanently so long as they invest $40,000 (about P1.8 million) in the country or marry a Filipino.

The guidelines for the issuance of permanent resident visas to Chinese citizens were contained in a bureau memorandum dated December 21, 2007.

tigidig14

February 11th, 2008, 07:51 PM

^dadami ang factory ng kimchi sa pnas
lettuce and cabbage be ready

spearhead

February 11th, 2008, 11:13 PM

koreans are good people. my friend's sister is married to a korean businessman.

lightsaber46

February 12th, 2008, 03:19 AM

http://businessmirror.com.ph/02122008/headlines012.html

Indians, Russians new tourist markets

By Wilfredo Rodolfo III
Reporter

CEBU CITY—After the Koreans, Japanese and Chinese, the tourism department is eyeing a new market to sell Cebu and its high-end resort destinations: Indians and Russians.

Tourism Secretary Joseph Ace Durano said talks are ongoing for the possible regularization of Vladivostok-Cebu direct flights.

The tourism department is also looking at flights to Mumbai and New Delhi. “We need to assemble more direct flights from these tourism markets.”

He pointed out that the huge “shopping” culture of Indians could make the Philippines a viable destinations for Indian tourists.

He also pointed to the growing number of wealthy Russians and Indians with money to spend on trips abroad.

The new destinations will augment efforts of the tourism department to beef up the frequency of flights to mainland China, particularly Shenzen and Nanjing, and more flights to Europe.

Durano is pinning his hopes on the country’s better relations with Middle Eastern airlines, which are providing the supply line of visitors from Europe.

He said national carriers Philippine Airlines and Cebu Pacific are prioritizing regional and flights to the US. “Our national carriers have no plans of going to Europe.”

He said Middle Eastern airlines carry the passengers from Europe, make a stopover in the Middle East before going to the Philippines. “Stopover cities like Doha, Qatar, will not compete with the Philippines.”

At present Europeans only make up some 9 percent of the total tourist arrivals in the Philippines. Emerging markets like Russia, however, posted a 160-percent increase in 2007.

By constantly targetting the high-end market, the Philippines is able to lure high-spending tourists, which is more valuable to the local economy, said Durano.

The national government gave the tourism department a $4.8-billion target in terms of tourism receipts for 2010. The target had only been reached and breached by the department in 2007, added Durano.

“We plan to hit P5.8 billion in 2008,” said Durano. “The Philippines will continue to target high-value tourists like those looking for wellness destinations, shopping, education and ecotourism.”

lightsaber46

February 12th, 2008, 03:28 AM

Hotel occupancy rate rises to 73%
By Roderick T. dela Cruz
http://www.manilastandardtoday.com/?page=business3_feb11_2008

The Department of Tourism said the average occupancy rate at 80 Metro Manila hotels with a total of 14,149 rooms under its monitor improved to 73.06percent last year from 71.95 percent in 2006.

By category, first class hotels recorded the highest occupancy rate of 75.89 percent while deluxe hotels recorded a 73.84 percent level. Standard hotels had a 71.81 percent occupancy rate and economy hotels, 61.76 percent.

The tourism department monitored 18 deluxe hotels with 7,839 rooms in 2007; eight first-class hotels with 1,770 rooms; 43 standard hotels with 3,996 rooms; and 11 economy hotels with 544 rooms.

According to the National Statistical Coordination Board, gross revenues of the hotel and restaurant business grew 10.8 percent to P120.717 billion in 2007.

Nearly 3.1 million foreigners visited the Philippines last year, contributing $4.9 billion to the economy, the tourism department said.

This year, the country hopes to attract more than 3.4 million foreign tourists on 8 to 10 percent growth from 2007 and generate $5.8 billion in international tourism receipts.

The amount is on top of the contribution to the economy of domestic tourism, which normally approximates the share of international tourism.

Tourism Secretary Joseph Ace Durano said in order to accommodate more tourists, several investments in accommodation were under way.

These include the 240-room Calicoan Island Resorts in Eastern Samar, the 400-room Sofitel Cebu by SM and Accor, the 217-room Shangri-La’s Boracay Resort & Spa, the 616-room Imperial Palace Waterpark Resort and Spa in Cebu and the 300-room Bohol Regency Hotel in Panglao.

In Metro Manila, proposed developments include the third tower of Bellevue Manila Hotel with an additional 198 deluxe rooms, a 300-room Fairmont Hotel, a 30-suite Raffles Hotel, and a 350-room Mariott Hotel.

SM Investments Corp., the investment holding firm of the Sy family, announced that it has tapped Singapore-based Carlson Hotels Worldwide-Asia-Pacific for the construction of Radisson Hotel and Regent Hotels & Resorts brands this year.

GearX

February 12th, 2008, 06:00 AM

Cagayan de Oro's Whitewater Rafting

Hali na! Join na!

http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c355/ninasandejas//rafting/31.jpg

http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c355/ninasandejas//rafting/1.jpg

http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c355/ninasandejas//rafting/33.jpg

http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c355/ninasandejas//rafting/27.jpg

http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c355/ninasandejas//rafting/5.jpg

http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c355/ninasandejas//rafting/22.jpg

http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c355/ninasandejas//rafting/13.jpg

http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c355/ninasandejas//rafting/3.jpg

chocolato1000

February 12th, 2008, 09:04 AM

hindi naman whitewater! :colgate:

wheel of steel

February 12th, 2008, 09:09 AM

^^ Wow, theres too much beauty in this water including those bunch of beauties from the raft... Hooy!!! mahulog kayo...hmmmm and puputi..... ng water!!! :):):)

So Tourists!!! You know where you're going to.... CDO Whitewater Ride!!:banana:

GearX

February 12th, 2008, 10:27 AM

hindi naman whitewater! :colgate:

yeah...umuulan that's why medyo brownish yung river (from silt runoffs) ....but thing is rain or shine, whole-year-round ang whitewater rafting in CDO ^^

amigo32

February 12th, 2008, 10:33 AM

hindi naman whitewater! :colgate:

chocolate-water rafting tawag dyan:lol:

shyaman

February 12th, 2008, 10:36 AM

^^ Mocha-water is more like it amigo :D

amigo32

February 12th, 2008, 10:38 AM

lol.

:laugh:

kiretoce

February 12th, 2008, 10:24 PM

PTAA doubts 10% tourist traffic rise (http://www.mb.com.ph/BSNS20080213116848.html)

Travel agencies yesterday said the projected 10 percent increase in tourism arrivals this year may not be a realistic target anymore given several factors affecting the local tourism industry particularly the downgrading of the Philippines by the Federal Aviation Authority, the weakening of the US dollar against the peso and, the pullout of foreign carriers.

Jose Clemente III, president of the Philippine Tours and Travel Association of the Philippines (PTAA), told reporters during a conference for its Travel Mart he has urged the Department of Tourism to recast its target for the year of 10 percent increase in tourist arrivals to 3.3 million-3.4 million from last year’s 3.08 million.

"We have become an expensive destination. A five percent increase would be more realistic. There will be no decrease in the number of tourist arrivals but the increase that was supposed to happen will be hard to attain," Clemente added.

According to Clemente, the strong peso has made it harder for wholesale travel tour operators to sell the Philippines as tourist destination.

With the depreciation of the US dollars, package tours for the Philippines have also increased by 30 to 40 percent over last year’s rates and hotels have adjusted their rates for the loss they incurred on the dollar rates. Hotel rates for five star hotels are now hitting $ 200 a night from only $ 130 to $ 120 a night last year.

Because of the weak dollars, travel operators have to compensate by increasing local prices of hotels. Hotels are also hedging and are now quoting prices in pesos. Travel operators also want to be protected but it is difficult if there are movements for 6 to 8 months down the line because hotels are also hedging for stronger peso.

Travel operators are losing 20 to 25 percent off their income because of the strong peso.

PTAA immediate past president Marciano Ragaza also noted that while the strong peso has enabled Filipinos to travel abroad the peso gains eventually evens out because they still use dollars and most countries still peg their rates to the U.S. currency.

Tour operators pegged the peso at P47 to the dollar last year but the peso is now at P40 level to a U.S. greenback.

In addition, the downgrading of the Philippine airport by the FAA has a strong impact on the Philippine Airlines flights to the U.S. The downgrading has prevented PAL from increasing its direct flights to the U.S. cities and has put on hold the carrier’s expansion plans for more routes in other U.S. cities.

PAL normally mounts additional flights to the U.S. during the summer months as these are peak season for travelers for both Americans and balikbayans.

"Ideally, the FAA issue must be resolved before the entry of the summer months but summer is already two weeks away so we just hope the problem to be resolved at least before the end of the year," Clemente said.

German carrier Lufthansa will also stop flying to Manila effective March 15 for economic reasons leaving KLM as the country’s only direct access to Europe. Lufthansa flies five times a week to Manila with a capacity of 250 passengers per flight.

Lufthansa’s FrankfurtGuangzhou-Manila route is not profitable route and the German carrier would rather concentrate on high traffic routes.

Clemente has explained that while Lufthansa’s Frankfurt-Guangzhou route is 80 percent occupied by Chinese and only 20 percent for passengers going to Manila. This means that it is losing on its Guangzou-Manila route as the airline is also prohibited from picking up passengers from Guangzhou.

"The pullout of Lufthansa has a negative impact on us it gives a feeling that the Philippines is not a viable destination," Ragaza said. As a result, Europeans will have to go through circuitous route via the Middle East carriers or transfer through Singapore, Hongkong or Bangkok. .

"We used to have many European carriers such as Alitalia, Air France and Swiss Air," Ragaza said.

The PTAA said the pullout of European carriers is a huge set back to the booming tourist arrivals from new markets in Europe particularly the Scandinavian countries and Russia, which is 90 percent flown in through chartered flights.

"The impetus now is to attract new carriers to come or allow existing carriers to increase frequencies," Clemente said.

Clemente said that KLM would like to increase capacity if it could be done the easier way but the problem is it has go through the long bilateral air negotiations.

"The Philippines is becoming popular in Europe as a destination and we are expecting high traffic this year," he said.

Europe is the country’s fifth biggest source of tourists. Last year, tourist arrivals from Europe increased by 20 percent.

"We are expecting higher tourist traffic from Europe this year," Clemente said.

tigidig14

February 13th, 2008, 02:56 AM

koreans are good people. my friend's sister is married to a korean businessman.

i have a korean nephew. sis in law is koreana33

@chocolato: nde na acute yung bata ha, cute na

lightsaber46

February 13th, 2008, 03:32 AM

Lufthansa pullout worries travel firms
http://www.bworldonline.com/BW021308/content.php?id=055

PHILIPPINE TRAVEL Agencies yesterday expressed concern over the pullout of German airline Deutsche Lufthansa AG from the Philippines, saying this development would put a dent on the country’s chances of getting a larger share of the European tourism market.

Jose C. Clemente III, president of the Philippine Travel Agencies Association, said the move had sent a wrong message to the traveling public, particularly Europeans, that the Philippines is not a viable tourism destination.

"The people that the carrier represents appeared to have no confidence in the Philippines as a high-traffic destination. This should have been addressed by the government. This pullout has affected tourism, as well as the transport of businessmen going to European countries," he told reporters.

Lufthansa is formally cutting its Manila-Frankfurt connection by March 30 because of lower traffic. In a statement issued last week, it said the pullout was commercial-driven.

The company said it will instead introduce alternative flight options through other Asian gateways. Government data showed Lufthansa serves 30% of the Manila-Europe market.

Europe, in turn, is the tourism industry’s fourth or fifth largest market, Mr. Clemente said.

"The Philippines is becoming popular again to Europeans. This pullout sets aback our expected arrivals from European countries. The government should find other carriers from Europe to come here again," he said.

He said the industry is also encouraging flag carrier Philippine Airlines to start flying back to Europe.

Mr. Clemente said the Department of Tourism had earlier identified Europe as one of its priorities in terms of attracting tourists.

"In 2007, we saw an increase in the number of tourists from Russia and Scandinavia. Even from Germany and the United Kingdom. Our market was just starting to firm up," he said.

Christopher Zimmer, Lufthansa general manager for the Philippines, Guam and Micronesia was earlier quoted as saying that Manila is one of its longest flights out of Europe.

"And with lesser margins, an imbalance in passenger mix and, not to mention, the effects of a volatile US currency, it is only prudent for Lufthansa to cease the Manila service route for the moment and reallocate the capacity to new gateways."

Mr. Zimmer said the cancellation of the Manila-Frankfurt operations would allow the airline "to reallocate its existing resources enabling it to tap into the profit potential of emerging markets" like China and India, which are considered two of the world’s fastest growing regions.

Recently, the firm announced that it would open new service routes between Europe and Chinese cities Nanjing and Shenyang starting summer 2008.

"These plans are meant to enhance Lufthansa’s industry leadership by providing the best travel options worldwide while ensuring route economy on all legs," added Mr. Zimmer.

Despite the cancellation of its local operations, Lufthansa will maintain an office in Manila because the country remains a crucial market, said Mr. Zimmer.

"The prospects of being able to create and offer new and exciting travel options for our local customers through other Lufthansa Asian gateways like Singapore, Bangkok and Hong Kong are boundless," the company said. "Together with the Star Alliance and our local counterparts, we now enjoy a flexibility that allows us to provide customers more travel perks while they continue to enjoy the Lufthansa experience," Mr. Zimmer added.

A statement from the Singapore office of Lufthansa also said that alternative convenient connections would be available to passengers from the Philippines to Hong Kong onwards to Europe.

Lufthansa has made arrangements to accommodate the re-booking or cancellation of flights for customers that have existing bookings to and from Manila with flight dates starting April 2008 free of charge.

The Tourism department said European arrivals increased by 13.8% in 2007 compared with 2006 results. Last year, United Kingdom and Germany brought in the most tourists, while Russia was the fastest growing sector hiking its arrivals by 129% in the same period. — Bernardette S. Sto. Domingo

Sleepwalker

February 13th, 2008, 04:56 AM

chocolate-water rafting tawag dyan:lol:

chocolate-flavored water...the good thing is, white legs yong mga babes...hehehehe

@GearX, how much is the cost for chocolate-flavored water rafting?

chocolato1000

February 13th, 2008, 10:57 AM

i have a korean nephew. sis in law is koreana33

@chocolato: nde na acute yung bata ha, cute na

bakit naging afro kana ngaun?

chocolate-flavored water...the good thing is, white legs yong mga babes...hehehehe

@GearX, how much is the cost for chocolate-flavored water rafting?

yeah i'm wondering how much is the rent for those gear, they look new. is it for whole day? for a single trip?

amigo32

February 13th, 2008, 11:48 AM

magkano ang gagastusin sa choco-water rafting?
bungee jumping meron din?

skylinefan

February 13th, 2008, 03:45 PM

im also interested sa mocha-water rafting.. magkano lahat-lahat magagastos?

red_jasper

February 15th, 2008, 04:08 PM

Tourism chief wants travel tax scrapped (http://www.asianjournal.com/?c=186&a=26113)

MANILA, Philippines -- The travel tax imposed on Filipinos traveling abroad should be abolished as it "dampens" their mobility, Tourism Secretary Joseph Ace Durano said Friday.

At the opening of the 15th Travel Tour Expo, which had 170 exhibitors from 23 countries at the SMX Convention Center in Pasay City, Durano said: "I support the abolition of [the] travel tax and let us find a sustainable source to fund the tourism sector."

The travel tax ranges from P300 to P2,700, depending on one's job and airline seat classification. Overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and their dependents are among those who get special rates.

Durano described the collection of the travel tax as a "martial law dictum" that must be stopped because it unnecessary burdens Filipinos who travel, particularly the millions of OFWs.

"There are still regulations that discourage the ability of the Filipinos to travel abroad," he said.

chocolato1000

February 17th, 2008, 10:09 AM

Philippines among the world’s most desired destinations

MANILA, Philippines - World’s best beaches, traditional hilot, Western-oriented hospitality services, crafts and arts, nature and food at reasonable prices are among the reasons Philippines is now one of the most-desired destinations worldwide.

Department of Tourism figures showed that tourism arrivals to the Philippines grew by 8.7 percent last year, placing the country in the number 6 spot in Asean.

The improved ranking was achieved despite the numerous crises last year, such as the Glorietta mall explosion, the Congress bomb blast, and the siege at the Manila Peninsula.

Oscar Palabyab, undersecretary for tourism services and regional offices, said the incidents were isolated and didn’t hurt tourism at all. In fact, the DOT’s participation in the recently-held 26th Asean Tourism Forum (ATF) in Bangkok was quite a success, an indication that the country’s tourism industry is doing well.

Eduardo Jarque, undersecretary for tourism planning and promotions, said global events such as the ATF have opened more opportunities for Philippine tourism.

The ATF, with the theme this year of “Synergy of Asean towards Dynamic Unity in Diversity,” is a regional cooperation group that promotes Southeast Asia as a tourist destination to the global travel market. The forum is an effort among the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian consisting of Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, the Philippines, Myanmar, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Indonesia and Brunei.

Its main feature was the Travel Exchange (Travex), where buyers of wholesale tourism packages from all over the world got the chance to meet major tourism players in the region, set up new business contacts and learn about tourism trends.

The nine-day event involved a series of talks, ministerial conferences and business forums among participating countries, with discussions on new market plans and common tourism-industry concerns.

The event was also an opportunity for each member country to showcase each country’s culture and traditions, sights and natural attractions.

The Philippine delegation consisted of key officials from the DOT. Officers from top travel associations and representatives from major hotels and resorts came in full force.

Top destinations

As part of its attempt to secure a larger influx of tourists, the DOT is refurbishing the country’s major destinations and tourism services.

For instance, Metro Manila is being repackaged as an entertainment, leisure and shopping destination. Jarque said Manila is now considered as an end destination with many attractions and no longer as a mere stopover to the islands.

“The malls in Metro Manila have become more than places for shopping,” said Jarque. “Shopping malls have evolved into lifestyle centers—places to celebrate special gatherings, to hang out with friends and to spend quality time with the family.”

Palawan, on the other hand, is gaining international prominence in high-end adventure travel programs. Several investors, including Singapore’s Banyan Tree, are eyeing Palawan for integrated resorts.

Cebu is being developed as an ideal destination for meetings, incentive travels, conventions and exhibitions (MICE).

Bohol, aside from its pristine beaches and natural attractions, now boasts of boutique properties like Eskaya Beach Resort and Amorita Resort.

Boracay has implemented a one-entry, one-exit policy.

DOT is also exploring volcano and surfing tourism. “We are pushing Mt. Pinatubo more than ever,” said Jarque. “There is now kayaking on the volcano lake.”

Festivals showcasing the country’s rich cultural heritage are also major draws. “First-time visitors are looking for something new—culture and places of history, the reason why they love to see festivals,” said Jarque. Some of the most sought after festivals are the Sinulog of Cebu, Mindoro’s Bakya Festival, Iloilo’s Dinagyang and Bacolod’s Masskara festival.

Tailor-made campaign

The department has engaged in market-specific campaigns carrying the same umbrella tagline, “Beyond the Usual,” promoting the countries 7,107 islands.

Jarque said the DOT is designing specific programs to cater to the different needs of the market. It is also building on existing strategies that worked.

Research in Korea, for instance, showed that Koreans were attracted to the diversity of the islands, that one island offers something unique than another.

“Koreans love adventure,” Jarque said. He added Koreans usually come to the country Friday night, play golf the following day; then enjoy a relaxing massage and eat Korean food; and play 18-hole golf before flying back.

In Japan, the DOT built the campaign around the beach destinations, such as Boracay and Bohol. This is based on a survey that said the beaches were what the Japanese loved about the Philippines.

The Chinese, according to DOT, are happy and contented with the package tours and shopping. So DOT offers budget-shopping tours designed specifically for the China market.

And what are the new markets the department is eyeing to penetrate?

“We are now focusing on Russia and India,” said Jarque. “For Russia, we have just implemented the 21-day visa-free entry to the Philippines.” Waiving the visa requirement would encourage more contacts and tourist relations between the two countries.

“Russia is a valuable market for us. They stay an average of three weeks in the Philippines and they hop through the islands of Palawan and Boracay. By spending a long time here, they tend to spend more,” explained Palabyab during the ATF conference.

The Russian tourists today, according to dealers, are very rich and prefer tailor-made holidays over off-the-shelf packages. They usually stay between three to four days in the city before moving on to beach resorts for at least a week. Singapore Tourism Board (STB) reports show Russian arrivals have been growing steadily in the last few years, making it an important market for Asia.

In 2007, the average length of stay for visitors across all markets was 16.7 nights compared to 12.6 nights in 2006.

Infrastructure

The continued growth of foreign arrivals however put more pressure on the country’s infrastructure. Currently, hotel occupancy rates in Metro Manila are close to 80 percent. The good news is, according to DOT, there are significant investments being made on infrastructure.

DOT said it would continue to develop new facilities to cope not only with the increasing tourism arrivals but also with the changing needs and demands of the growing market.

“More and more hotels are opening while some are being upgraded,” said Jarque.

This year, Boracay welcomes its first international branded hotel, the 217-room Shangri-La Boracay Resort and Spa. The 150-room Microtel Inn & Suites Mall of Asia and the 100-room Manila Ocean Park Hotel will also be inaugurated.

Several domestic and foreign visitors—Banyan Tree and the Kingdom Holdings from Saudi Arabia—announced new projects in key destinations such as Cebu, Boracay, Negros Oriental, Bicol and Palawan.

Provincial airports in Iloilo, Kalibo, Puerto Princesa and Bacolod are being upgraded to accommodate international flights. As a result, several global airlines have opened new regular and charter flights not only to Manila but also direct flights to key tourist destinations. China Eastern Airlines has mounted direct flights to Cebu.

“Low-cost carriers have contributed a lot in terms of tourism arrivals to the country,” said Jarque. “In fact, there are tie-ups made with airlines to lower ticket prices.”

For 2008, the DOT is targeting US$5.8 billion in tourism income, surpassing the medium-term goal set two years ago of US$ 5 billion in 2010.

The department pledged further investment in promotions, including education travel and medical tourism. Participation in trade and consumer events primarily to attract holiday-seekers, honeymooners, families and students will be DOT’s top priority this year.

Jarque said 2007 was indeed a fruitful year for Philippine tourism and he hopes that new investors will flock to the country this year.

By Belle V. Bondoc
Philippine Daily Inquirer

spearhead

February 17th, 2008, 02:18 PM

We're only 6 spot! That means, mga panghuli pala tayo dati out of 10 asean nations.... Well its better than nothing at all.... :)

skylinefan

February 17th, 2008, 05:27 PM

chocolato1000

February 17th, 2008, 05:37 PM

that fact is something we can not change, but we have to start from somewhere. :cheers2:

skylinefan

February 17th, 2008, 05:41 PM

^^yes of course. it just pisses me off when i read news with deceiving messages...

spearhead

February 17th, 2008, 08:25 PM

Not unless if that report is a misprint.... We used to be the number one, and then down to 8 or 9, and now back to 6.

tigidig14

February 17th, 2008, 09:10 PM

data can be wrong too because most of the tourist are pnoy themselves, w/c mean we could also be #10

le Reine

February 17th, 2008, 09:15 PM

^^nyahahaha... puwede. :lol: :jk:

Kidding aside, I think majority of tourists who came here are foreigners and not balikbayans.

The news article wasn't even surprising for we really are a tailender in terms of tourist arrivals in the ASEAN-5 (INA, MAS, THA, SING & PHI) for the past several years or perhaps decades. What surprises me is that Vietnam is also ahead of us now. :ohno: Hay naku.

tigidig14

February 17th, 2008, 09:22 PM

thats what you think, remember, weell, im assuming, they count it through foreign passports. maybe just maybe large percentage of them are u.s, canadian, australian, etc.that acquired citizenshipthrough foreign land

o ye, im contemplating about brunei and laos. its a common sense they wont beat us for tourist, just compare their land mass and what they can offer

skylinefan

February 17th, 2008, 09:23 PM

We used to be the number one...

True. Many decades ago.

... and then down to 8 or 9, and now back to 6.

:ohno: It NEVER happened. I may not have the data right now, but i assure you, RP never dropped to 8th or 9th in tourist arrivals among the 10 ASEAN (nations).

le Reine

February 17th, 2008, 09:27 PM

thats what you think, remember, weell, im assuming, they count it through foreign passports. maybe just maybe large percentage of them are u.s, canadian, australian, etc.that acquired citizenshipthrough foreign landwell, true or not, it doesn't really matter at all. Both foreign and balikbayan tourists bring dollars to the country via tourism and this also creates much needed jobs.

True. Many decades ago.

:ohno: It NEVER happened. I may not have the data right now, but i assure you, RP never dropped to 8th or 9th in tourist arrivals among the ASEAN.I agree. It is impossible to land on 8th and 9th place. If that happens, it would only mean that either Myanmar, Laos or Cambodia would have surpassed the Philippines. Timor Leste is not included since they still face internal problems.

Sinjin P.

February 17th, 2008, 09:35 PM

If we're at number 6 that means even Vietnam is ahead of us in tourist arrivals. That sucks! Nothing to be proud of. :bash:

True. I would have wanted to see a more aggressive tourism campaign but it's still fine. Cebu, for instance, is getting more and more foreign tourists year by year. Just yesterday, I noticed that out of each 10 people I encounter, at least one of them is Korean. Hay naku sana hindi dumating ang panahon na pati ang budget sa turismo ay maapektuhan dahi sasabihin na naman ng mga galamay ng mga oportunista sa oposisyon na walang nagawang mabuti ang turismo kahit na milyun-milyon ang ginagastos dito at dapat ay igastos nalang ito sa pabahay at pagkain ng mahihirap. :ohno:

dancethingy

February 17th, 2008, 09:51 PM

nayki

February 18th, 2008, 04:22 AM

^^Very true... we are the only asean country that do not share a border.

chocolato1000

February 18th, 2008, 09:25 AM

^^ pwede ba yun? we share borders with our neigbors pero nautical nga lang. :D

icarusrising

February 18th, 2008, 10:30 AM

nostalgicbabe

February 18th, 2008, 11:49 AM

True. I would have wanted to see a more aggressive tourism campaign but it's still fine. Cebu, for instance, is getting more and more foreign tourists year by year. Just yesterday, I noticed that out of each 10 people I encounter, at least one of them is Korean. Hay naku sana hindi dumating ang panahon na pati ang budget sa turismo ay maapektuhan dahi sasabihin na naman ng mga galamay ng mga oportunista sa oposisyon na walang nagawang mabuti ang turismo kahit na milyun-milyon ang ginagastos dito at dapat ay igastos nalang ito sa pabahay at pagkain ng mahihirap. :ohno:

The budget for tourism is actually small when we consider the fact that tourism has become one of the major contributors to our economic growth. The opposition cannot really complain about that since tourist arrivals continue to increase despite the political crises they are always cooking up.

I think we have to accept a slower growth than other ASEAN countries because of our geographical isolation, as dancethingy says. Our standing has to do with access and not with our country's attractions.

skylinefan

February 18th, 2008, 01:26 PM

You guys have to keep in mind that we are geographically isolated from the rest of asia/southeast asia. Tourists in singapore and thailand can easily overflow into the other countries surrounding it via plane, car, bus, boat, train, etc...... We only got planes and boats to get people to our shores. Tourists in the mainland can easily set side trips on several other countries. We aren't ever going be a side trip, WE ARE A DESTINATION BABY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Very well-informed statements there; no one's arguing about that. However, inspite of Laos, Myanmar and Cambodia sharing borders with Thailand di pa rin nila kayang mag-attract ng maraming tourists dahil sa political and social turmoil sa kanilang bansa. Even peaceful Brunei will not overtake RP in tourist arrivals. My golly! Kaya nga natata***han ako when I read comments na we were down 8th or 9th place before (authoritative pa pagkakasabe) hehehe.. :)

le Reine

February 18th, 2008, 01:51 PM

DOT targets visitors from Europe, India

By Estrella Torres
Reporter
The Business Mirror

TOURISM Secretary Joseph Ace Durano said the government should sign air agreements with emerging economies in Europe as well as India to facilitate the arrival of tourists coming from these countries.

At the same time, Durano said that although the lower fare offerings of various airlines are supposed to encourage domestic travel among Filipinos, the travel tax remains the single-biggest stumbling block to promoting local tourism.

“We need to establish connectivity to the emerging markets in Europe that include Russia, Poland and Ukraine. The problem is, we don’t have direct flights to these countries as well as India,” said Durano in an interview at the launch of the 15th Travel Tour Expo at the SMX Convention Center in Pasay City over the weekend.

He said nationals of these European countries have a lot of money to spend, “and the first thing they want to do is to travel.” However, he noted, only airlines from the Middle East fly to these destinations while KLM is the lone airline with direct flights to Western Europe.

He thinks the government should also establish direct flights to India, whose nationals regularly travel to nearby Southeast Asian destinations where there are direct flights.

Meanwhile, Durano urged the House of Representatives to pass a tourism bill that seeks to improve the existing structure of the tourism industry through sustainable source of funds.

“But the travel tax is not sustainable because we are taxing Filipinos, especially the migrant workers, while foreigners coming in do not pay for travel taxes [in their home countries],” said Durano.

Jose Clemente III, president of the Philippine Travel Agencies Association (PTAA), said despite serious setbacks in the past, the Philippine tourism industry has emerged as a “sunshine industry” with $5 billion worth of revenues contributed last year.

He said the current political noise, downgrading by the US aviation and the imminent pullout of Lufthansa from its direct Manila-Europe route have all significantly hit the tourism industry.

“The Philippines has proved itself as a resilient destination des-pite setbacks,” Clemente told the travel expo forum where at least 170 exhibitors from 23 countries participated in the event.

“We have not encountered cancellations. The demand has been constant, so I think the people see the Philippines as a solid destination. We still find a lot of tourism-related companies investing in the Philippines,” Clemente said.

Durano, meanwhile, said tourist arrivals last year reached a record 3.09 million, with total spending of $4.8 billion.

The department hopes to increase tourist arrivals by 10 percent to reach the target of $5.8 billion this year.

He cited three factors for the increase in revenues from the tourism sector: rising tourist arrivals; longer average stay for tourists, as a result of the development of various destinations and activities; and the promotion of higher-value services like health spa and education.

http://www.businessmirror.com.ph/02182008/headlines06.htmlFinally! I've been waiting for this news for so long. Ngayon ko lang narealize na one step at a time ang ginawa ng DOT.. Una muna sa East Asia/ASEAN and North America (balikbayans) tsaka pumunta outwards to Russia, India and Europe.

The budget for tourism is actually small when we consider the fact that tourism has become one of the major contributors to our economic growth. The opposition cannot really complain about that since tourist arrivals continue to increase despite the political crises they are always cooking up.

I think we have to accept a slower growth than other ASEAN countries because of our geographical isolation, as dancethingy says. Our standing has to do with access and not with our country's attractions.Oh yeah, I forgot about our budget for tourism. It is really small compared to our neighbors. Makikita naman natin sa ads pa lang, talo na tayo. In addition to that yung mga coups, terrorists and political instability na gawa ng opposition. But in spite all of that, tourist arrivals, tourist spending and length of stay are all pointing up.

Very well-informed statements there; no one's arguing about that. However, inspite of Laos, Myanmar and Cambodia sharing borders with Thailand di pa rin nila kayang mag-attract ng maraming tourists dahil sa political and social turmoil sa kanilang bansa. Even peaceful Brunei will not overtake RP in tourist arrivals. My golly! Kaya nga natata***han ako when I read comments na we were down 8th or 9th place before (authoritative pa pagkakasabe) hehehe.. :):lol: :rofl::hilarious niyahahaha.,..

spearhead

February 18th, 2008, 10:01 PM

DOT targets visitors from Europe, India

By Estrella Torres
Reporter
The Business Mirror

TOURISM Secretary Joseph Ace Durano said the government should sign air agreements with emerging economies in Europe as well as India to facilitate the arrival of tourists coming from these countries.

At the same time, Durano said that although the lower fare offerings of various airlines are supposed to encourage domestic travel among Filipinos, the travel tax remains the single-biggest stumbling block to promoting local tourism.

“We need to establish connectivity to the emerging markets in Europe that include Russia, Poland and Ukraine. The problem is, we don’t have direct flights to these countries as well as India,” said Durano in an interview at the launch of the 15th Travel Tour Expo at the SMX Convention Center in Pasay City over the weekend.

He said nationals of these European countries have a lot of money to spend, “and the first thing they want to do is to travel.” However, he noted, only airlines from the Middle East fly to these destinations while KLM is the lone airline with direct flights to Western Europe.

He thinks the government should also establish direct flights to India, whose nationals regularly travel to nearby Southeast Asian destinations where there are direct flights.

Meanwhile, Durano urged the House of Representatives to pass a tourism bill that seeks to improve the existing structure of the tourism industry through sustainable source of funds.

“But the travel tax is not sustainable because we are taxing Filipinos, especially the migrant workers, while foreigners coming in do not pay for travel taxes [in their home countries],” said Durano.

Jose Clemente III, president of the Philippine Travel Agencies Association (PTAA), said despite serious setbacks in the past, the Philippine tourism industry has emerged as a “sunshine industry” with $5 billion worth of revenues contributed last year.

He said the current political noise, downgrading by the US aviation and the imminent pullout of Lufthansa from its direct Manila-Europe route have all significantly hit the tourism industry.

“The Philippines has proved itself as a resilient destination des-pite setbacks,” Clemente told the travel expo forum where at least 170 exhibitors from 23 countries participated in the event.

“We have not encountered cancellations. The demand has been constant, so I think the people see the Philippines as a solid destination. We still find a lot of tourism-related companies investing in the Philippines,” Clemente said.

Durano, meanwhile, said tourist arrivals last year reached a record 3.09 million, with total spending of $4.8 billion.

The department hopes to increase tourist arrivals by 10 percent to reach the target of $5.8 billion this year.

He cited three factors for the increase in revenues from the tourism sector: rising tourist arrivals; longer average stay for tourists, as a result of the development of various destinations and activities; and the promotion of higher-value services like health spa and education.

http://www.businessmirror.com.ph/02182008/headlines06.html

Indians? What are they gonna do in our beaches, swim with their native dress on? Well then our resorts should be ready and lift the restrictions of swim suits.... :)

tigidig14

February 18th, 2008, 10:47 PM

madami rin nangangailangan satin ng 5-6

nayki

February 19th, 2008, 05:24 AM

^^ pwede ba yun? we share borders with our neigbors pero nautical nga lang. :D

oh cge na nga land border!:lol:

Manila-X

February 19th, 2008, 05:45 AM

One way of improving tourism is getting negative images, say Manila

http://travel.yahoo.com/p-travelguide-191501661-manila_vacations-i

It wouldn't look good if you're seeing this on the front pic

chocolato1000

February 19th, 2008, 07:58 AM

Here's how Yahoo travel describes Manila (with photo):

http://pic60.picturetrail.com/VOL1698/10588304/18969014/304774360.jpg

The capital of the Philippines, a grouping of twelve cities and five municipalities, is technically known as Metro Manila but usually referred to simply as MANILA, home to 9.5 million people. Manila will never be a serious tourist destination until the authorities deal with the twin evils of traffic and pollution; most tourists are in the capital because they have a day or two to kill either at the beginning or the end of a trip to the rest of the country. In its favour, Manila has friendly people, some excellent nightlife, a few historical sights that are worth the effort, plus some of the most cavernous shopping malls in Asia. At first sight, the city may seem clamorous, unkempt and rough around the edges, but what it lacks in architectural sophistication it makes up for with an accessible chaotic charm. The way to enjoy it is to step into the fray and go with the flow, which is exactly what Manileños have learned to do.

Manila started life as a tiny settlement around the banks of the Pasig River. The name comes from the words may ("there is") and nilad (a type of plant that grew near the Pasig). With Spanish colonization, it grew into an important port. King Philip II of Spain called Manila Insigne y Siempre Leal Ciudad (Distinguished and Ever Loyal City). Images of the city in the eighteenth century show grand merchants' houses and schooners moored in the Pasig. The area around Binondo, later to become Chinatown, was alive with mercantile activity. Nineteenth-century travellers arriving in Manila were enchanted. Manila's population was 150,000 and there had been one murder in five years.

But it was a doomed city. At 7pm on June 3, 1863, an earthquake struck and Manila crumbled, burying hundreds in its ruins. The new Manila that grew in its stead was thoroughly modern, with streetcars, steam trains and American-style public architecture. This was one of the most elegant and cosmopolitan cities in the Orient, but when the smoke cleared at the end of Japanese occupation in March 1945, it was once again in ruins, having undergone relentless shelling from American howitzers and been set alight by retreating Japanese troops. The Battle of Manila lasted 29 days and claimed 100,000 civilian lives. Rebuilding was slow and plagued by corruption and government inertia. As a consequence, the city that greets visitors today is one of emotional counterpoints, with areas of extreme poverty encroaching on frothy mansions, glass skyscrapers and designer boutiques.

chocolato1000

February 19th, 2008, 09:49 AM

Tourist arrivals to Philippines rise 7.8% in Jan

Foreign tourists arrivals to the Philippines grew 7.8 percent to 293,803 in January, the Department of Tourism said Tuesday.

The DOT said these foreign tourists spent some $394.04 million in the country, which is 24.23 percent more than the $317.19 million that was spent in the same month in 2007.

In 2007, the country was able to attract 3.1 million foreign visitors.

The Tourism Department said that in January, Koreans, Americans and Japanese were the three largest tourist groups that visited the country. However, the number of Korean tourists dropped 1.7 percent to 69,522.

The number of Japanese tourists to the Philippines also declined 1.5 percent to 34,432.

However, there were 5.1 percent more American tourists during the month at 58,486. The number of Chinese tourists also surged 38.1 percent to 13,691.

The Tourism Department said other major foreign visitors to the country were Australians, Canadians, Taiwanese, Singaporeans, British, Hong Kong nationals, Germans, Malaysians, Thais, Indians, and Guam nationals.

Meanwhile, overseas Filipinos holding Philippine passports but are permanently residing abroad (excluding overseas Filipino workers) who visited the Philippines increased 16.3 percent to 14,465.

- Cheryl Arcibal, GMANews.TV

Maxxclip

February 19th, 2008, 09:56 AM

hindi kase masyado natin pinauukulan ng pansin ang mga nadidiscover nating mga tourist spots. if we can only maintain these places and continue our promotions and advertisements...lalakas pa lalo ang ekonomiya natin sa turista- most especially our local tourism.

Manila-X

February 19th, 2008, 10:29 AM

There are alot of better images of Manila. Showing an image of a slum doesn't do justice. I suggest e-mailing Yahoo Travel and change the images.

As for American tourist arrivals, it is questionable cause when I see it, The American list are Filipinos with US passports. Filipinos with foreign passports shouldn't be counted.

kyle@1008

February 19th, 2008, 05:04 PM

^^ it's not that easy to differentiate wanch, I remember lining up for immigration, I was the second to the last in the filipino line, and this guy in front in the desk kept saying to the girl behind me that the line was only for filipinos, after he stamped my passport, I moved forward, and he repeated his statement to the girl, on which she promptly placed her filipino passport in front of the guy... I actually laughed with the airport staff,..and the guy handling the foreigner line jokingly said "koreana yan, pare"..

filcan

February 19th, 2008, 05:44 PM

There are alot of better images of Manila. Showing an image of a slum doesn't do justice. I suggest e-mailing Yahoo Travel and change the images.

Yes we gotta change that picture. Yahoo Travel should be promoting the Philippines not feeling sympathy towards it. Is that picture suggesting that tourists should visit a shantytown?...Its not like all of Manila looks like that. They mentioned Manila's malls and Intramuros in the article too...they should at least put a picture of one of those places. Shame on Yahoo!

chocolato1000

February 19th, 2008, 05:51 PM

maybe yahoo travel is speaking in general terms, emphasising the obvious.

OtAkAw

February 19th, 2008, 05:52 PM

Yahoo Travel is supposed to be a "TRAVEL" guide, I don't know what they want to prove putting that Manila picture that implies travel-unfriendly conditions.

metrosuburban

February 19th, 2008, 07:57 PM

Not unless if that report is a misprint.... We used to be the number one, and then down to 8 or 9, and now back to 6.

so when was the time we're number one? 60s? 70s?

kevinb

February 19th, 2008, 08:10 PM

skylinefan

February 19th, 2008, 11:50 PM

Yahoo! Travel has been using this photo for years! I wonder how they can be considered a travel guide at all when they're not trying to properly guide the tourists ofthe spots to visit in Manila? Paano kaya sila kikita kung ginagawa nila yan sa lahat? :ohno:

Di nyo ba napapansin, di lang Yahoo Tavel ang di patas (unfair :ohno:) sa Pinas, marami pang iba (e.g. Frommers). Tinatabla talaga tayo ng mga hinayupak na mga yan. Di nila ginagawa yan sa Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Indonesia, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia (ka-level o kaya mas mahirap pa sa Pinas), etc.. Tingin ko lang may tinatago silang galit o ingget sa tin at sa bad or no promotion at all sila gumaganti sa tin.... kainis, actually.... :bash:

benchjade

February 20th, 2008, 12:34 AM

Animo

February 20th, 2008, 12:37 AM

Active volcanoes and tales of political corruption have put many tourists off the Philippine archipelago. Michelle Jana Chan finds out what they're missing.

There are more than 7,000 tropical islands in the archipelago of the Philippines, with idyllic palm-fringed beaches and coral reefs teeming with fascinating wildlife - as well as classically beautiful rice-terraces, crumbling colonial towns and lively fiestas throughout the year.

Yet almost all have managed to slip off the tourism radar over the past few years. Why?

Active volcanoes, tales of political corruption and isolated terrorist activity have all helped darken the image of the country as a safe holiday destination. Yet the Foreign & Commonwealth Office travel advisory for the Philippines is no more cautious than that for many other more popular destinations - and that is as it should be.

When I visited, the military called an informal ceasefire with Marxist and Muslim rebels because of - wait for it - a boxing match. During the fight, shown live on television from Las Vegas and starring the Filipino golden boy Manny Pacquiao, not a shot was fired. That gave me a sense of the country's priorities.

Remnants of past Filipino battles are plentiful. I landed in the capital, Manila, which is littered with the megalomaniacal mistakes of the former dictator Ferdinand Marcos - gigantic, dysfunctional buildings that stand empty and are little more than talking pieces for tourists, of which there are admittedly few.

The city also has 400-year-old churches, courtesy of the Spanish occupation; a baroque Spanish fort with cannons pointing towards the sea; and a Chinese cemetery, whose mausoleums are as big as houses - air-conditioned and with full-time maids.

I was advised that, if I wanted to behave less like a tourist and more like a local, I should go "malling" in one of the dozens of shopping complexes. Sitting at a noodle bar in the Glorietta Mall, I watched women meeting to have manicures at cheap nail bars, then drinking mango smoothies together before window-shopping until the doors shut.

On Saturday nights, Catholic masses are held in the malls so that shoppers need not interrupt their purchasing to attend church.

Shopping malls are just one legacy of the Americans, who governed the Philippines for nearly half of the 20th century. Another is the fleet of old American army Jeeps, now brightly painted and operating as sturdy public buses.

And what better illustration of the indomitable Filipino spirit: take a relic of war, paint it a rainbow of colours, add some shiny chrome fixtures, hang a crucifix to the rear-view mirror - and away you go.

Banaue

I drove north out of Manila, away from the malls and burger joints, towards the mountainous Cordillera. Fields of papaya, sweet potato and sugarcane filled the landscape, growing twice as high as any I had seen elsewhere.

My guide told me that since the massive eruption of Mount Pinatubo in June 1991 farmers have benefited from fertile ash in the soil, giving rise to record-breaking harvests.

We climbed slowly into the lush, terraced hills. Grains of rice had been arranged to dry on the tarmac road after a vicious typhoon had swept through the area the week before, drenching the crops.

Local people were clearing rockfalls with shovels and pickaxes, and a shrine of flowers had been laid to a family of 10 whose roadside home had been swept away in a landslide just a few days earlier. It was a rather sombre start to my trip.

Animo

February 20th, 2008, 12:38 AM

The next day, with the sun shining brightly, the lime-green mountains rose out of the mist. The dramatic rice terraces at Banaue are 2,000 years old and the crowning achievement of the indigenous Ifugao people, known for their beguiling chanting (called hudhud) of ancient epic tales, and the engineering feat of hand-cutting tiers into the steep mountains.

Both their oral tradition and the iconic landscape are on the Unesco World Heritage List.

But the strongest reason to journey here is the unaffected warmth of the people; this is South-East Asia as you rarely see it. I set off on foot for the village of Banga-an, walking along the ridges of the rice terraces, banked by dry-stone walls.

Along the trails I met children of all ages: young girls carrying baby brothers; others with baskets of pumpkins and peppers to sell at the market; some in school uniform, shyly casting their eyes down. Maricelle, a teacher who walked six miles a day to work, accompanied me for a while. When I passed her school later that afternoon, she had her class recite the 12-times tables in English to me.

At Banga-an, women were winnowing bundles of rice, flipping up flat baskets to dispose of the chaff, while others milled the grain in giant, stone pestles. Tiny children played tiddlywinks with flattened 7 Up bottle tops, stopping to wave and practise their English - another legacy of the Americans. I spent an hour chatting to the young mothers as they went about their chores, before they spontaneously invited me to lunch.

We shared black and white glutinous rice, flavoured with ginger and calamansi (a small lime), followed by the fruit of a rattan tree, which looks like a pine cone and tastes like a bitter lychee. When I thanked them, they shook their heads in embarrassment. One of them, called Marites, told me: "This meal is a gift from God."

Afterwards, she showed me inside her home, a thatched hut on stilts. Her family of 11 lived together in this tiny space, with a cubby hole above to store the stooks of rice. I peered inside, waiting for my eyes to adjust to the windowless darkness before I could make out the shine of the polished wood, the tidy arrangement of chicken eggs and the row of five carved bul-ol statues, or rice-gods, which guard their harvest. Marites smiled at me. "Next time, you must stay," she said.

Palawan

As we flew south from Manila I was mesmerised by the view of Palawan, known for its karstic island outcrops and rich marine life. It was as though someone had plucked the florets from a giant broccoli and thrust them stem-first into the Sulu Sea. As we came into land, I made out craggy limestone cliffs, clad in spindly trees, with flying buttress-like rock formations.

I was staying at El Nido on the northern tip of the island, with resorts so exclusive they have their own airstrip. The Lagen Resort has villas in the forest, on the beach or on stilts over water, but it is all rather manicured and I preferred the simple wood-and-thatch rooms at the lesser, four-star Miniloc.

It is the perfect place to choose your Desert Island Discs - or to sit at the bar watching swiftlets swooping over sunbeds, catching flies on the wing while emitting their soft pipsqueak call. It is for these tiny creatures that this area is named. Their nests (nidos in Spanish) are the key ingredient in bird's nest soup, and can fetch £1,500 per kg (2.2lb).

Jacques Cousteau said that Palawan was the most beautiful place he had ever explored, so it is hardly surprising that tourists spend most of their time underwater. For divers, there are spectacular drop-offs, limestone caves and whole fleets of wrecks to seek out.

Even snorkellers are spoilt. In the shallow, coral gardens of the house reef can be found large schools of jacks, each as big as a placemat, with ballooning shoals of ox-eyed scad and startlingly oversized Napoleon wrasse.

In the lagoons, reached by swimming underwater through tiny channels, I came across baby reef sharks patrolling in the dark shadows and almost bumped into needlefish hovering at the surface.

Boracay

Probably the Philippines' best-known destination - worshipped by backpackers, diving students and, more recently, South Korean honeymooners - Boracay's White Beach regularly features among the world's top 10. Two and a half miles of fine white sand, which looks more like icing sugar and feels more like cotton wool, is fringed by a mere ripple of turquoise.

Mind you, Boracay is no desert island.

Animo

February 20th, 2008, 12:39 AM

It has five-star establishments such as the luxurious Discovery Shores, and a Shangri-La due to open in the early autumn.

Set back from the waterfront are dozens of low-rise restaurants, bars and cafés serving every cuisine, from Greek to Mexican, Italian to Chinese. Favourites along this stretch include Calypso - a dive centre by day, buzzing sports bar by night; Summer Place, which draws the bright young things for sundowners; and Fridays hotel at the northern end of the beach, with the softest sand and the best views of the Panay hills.

Strong winds on the other side of the island have made Boracay a hub for kitesurfing, with excellent conditions for sailing, parasailing and windsurfing too. There is an 18-hole golf course as well as well-regarded dive centres offering boat trips to nearby reefs and advanced-level certification.

Throughout the day, massage therapists wander along the beach, offering hilot treatments, the ancient Filipino massage. For all its unchecked development, Boracay still reminds me of Thailand before The Beach was even conceived.

Bohol

I flew into Cebu, smack in the middle of the Philippines, to travel by boat to Bohol, a sleepy, tropical island across the Camotes Sea. It was almost midnight when I boarded the ferry, which looked more like a motorised banana boat than a hydrofoil.

As we chugged out into the inky darkness, The Lord's Prayer flashed on to the television screens, followed immediately by brief emergency instructions. I instinctively looked for the nearest lifejacket and then joined in as the entire cabin sang along to two hours of karaoke. The journey captured perfectly the Filipino joie de vivre - and fatalism.

My taxi-driver enthusiastically explained his island to me. "We are the religious heartbeat of the Philippines," he said, smiling in his rear-view mirror. "My wife goes to church six times a week, so we are definitely going to Heaven." "How about you?" I asked.

"She goes for me," he said, laughing.

He went on to tell me that all taxi-drivers must have religious texts painted upon their vehicles. As we overtook on a bend, I read the message in his: "Prepare to meet thy God." I went to church the next day to discover that my taxi-driver was right about wives going for their husbands.

The congregation was mostly women, wearing white veils over their heads and muttering quietly as they ran their fingers over rosary beads. It was standing room only and nobody seemed restless as they sang their way fluently through the liturgy without a hymn book in sight.

As well as Catholicism, the Spanish left behind some inspired religious architecture: the churches are built with pitted bricks, made of coral, and plastered with a mixture of lime, sand and egg white. Shells are pressed into the walls for decoration.

Yet for all its godliness, Bohol moves to a typically relaxed island beat: fishermen seemed to spend more time fixing their nets than out at sea; the museums were all closed during advertised opening hours; and at every restaurant, someone invariably pulled out a guitar.

I took in the island's highlights, driving to the oddly shaped Chocolate Hills, so named because they resemble Hershey's Kisses candy. I visited a butterfly conservation centre and saw cages of sad, slothful tarsier monkeys, the world's tiniest primate.

But as with most of the islands in the Philippines, what tourists really come here for is the underwater treasures. The reefs are charged with some of nature's most humbling creatures, from fearsome hammerheads to giant, but gentle, whale sharks.

The secret to the Philippines is far beyond the headlines - it's in what lies beneath.

* Audley (01993 838155, www.audleytravel.com) will tailor a 14-day itinerary to the Philippines to include any combination of Manila, Banaue, Boracay, Bohol and Palawan, from £3,045 per person, based on two sharing. This includes return international flight from London Heathrow, domestic flights, airport transfers and taxes, b & b (full board at El Nido Resorts) and the services of an English-speaking guide throughout.
* Background information: Rough Guide to The Philippines (£15.99).

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/asia/philippines/748878/Philippines-The-islands-less-travelled.html?pageNum=3

gen1

February 20th, 2008, 12:45 AM

manila's not tourist friendly, that's for sure.

not enough signages in the roads, with seemingly whimsical traffic schemes (traffic schemes which change whenever there is a new mmda chairman).

just last friday when i had to drive myself to robinsons galleria, like a good citzen i followed the signages and promptly missed my turn to galleria. I had to make a U-turn in the camp crame area and endure the associated edsa traffic with the missed turn.

ang gulo ng road signs ! rat-bu ! kung ako nalito eh di lalo na ang turista na first timer sa maynila.

tigidig14

February 20th, 2008, 01:00 AM

^define ratbu?

kaya kung ako, i-ban nyo na yang yahoo, wag nyong gamitin yung server or email nila
pero ako syempre gagamitin ko pa rin hehehe

gen1

February 20th, 2008, 01:18 AM

rat-bu > colloquial for "irritated". etymology - modified "street" tagalog word for male genitalia. often used as an ejaculative term. synonym > dot-hin ! :lol:

double meaning words unintended :lol:

Rolls-Royce

February 20th, 2008, 01:26 AM

Here are a few interesting comments from the foreigners who travelled in Manila very recently. Please don't shoot the messenger. I lifted them up from www.travelblog.org and www.travelpod.com. If you want to see more of them, just visit the the two sites.

Thriller in Manila
Manila, Philippines

Sunday, Feb 17, 2008 06:10

Entry 40 of 40 | show all | print this entry

Flew into Clark airport and took a two hour bus journey into the city. First impressions of Manila were that it was a far cry from some of the other capital cities we have been to. It needs a nice lick of paint you could say. Also you cannot help but notice that all security guards have huge guns on them. So there was to be no play acting around the streets for sure. We arrived on Valentine's day so I thought there would be a good night to be had. Actually the price of the Phillipines is by no means cheap. in fact Id rate it the most expensive place so far obviously behind Singapore. I expected it to be dirt cheap. Accomadation cost us 15 euro which is not backpackers prices. We stayed in Malate a suberb of the city.
Firstly we tried to book a boat to the Boracay Islands and try and get out of Manila. I have heard no good reports about Manila and just being there a couple of hours I realised how seedy it was. We found out though that there was no boats anymore to where we wanted to go and the airline down to the Islands were vlocked on the internet meaning that the travel agaents I think booked tickets for days ahead. We decided to resolve problems the following day. That night we headed accross from our hotel. The first place we went to was a couples night. Next door we went into a place where they promised a comedy night. They didnt tell us it was done by LADYBOY's and the comedy was at our expense. Not trying to be rude (we also just bought a beer) we stayed for ten mins before diving out. Next we went to a place reccomended by the lonely planet. It was called LA Cafe. It was basically a brothel. Left there after a drink and went home.
Next day we spent sorting out the flights in the travel agents. We then went to the biggest shopping centre in Asia. Very spacial and was humoungous!!! While here I recaputered the title of being KING of Bowling. It meant a lot ahha. After we went for a bite to eat and then a few games of pool. We headed out for a couple of beers at Hobbit House (a place with loads of dwarfs) that also had live music.
Next morning our flight was at 9.20. I set my alarm for 6.50 as airport (domestic) was only half an hour away. Disaster. Alarm never went off and I woke at 8.05. We decided to gamble and thank our lucky stars we made it due to the plane being delayed. I seem to have usurped my luck for the day though as later that night I had to suffer the biggest crumble I have ever seen from an Arsenal side. Destroyed 4 - 0 by Man Utd. I didnt even remeber us testing their keeper once. It was an embarresment. Eboue should be shot. He is a disgrace. He was the worst player Arsenal had - closely followed by Gilberto, hoyte, Toure - sliding in my estimation as of late specially after seeing his shambolic display for Ivory Coast in the semi finals of the African nations cup. I can actually see him doing the same idiotic things when Arsenal are chasing games later this season. Troare was poor too but got better in the second half and he is very young. Fab4 has not being pulling his weight at all since November and it looked like him and Hleb decided to just salter around for the night and conserve energy. I felt sorry for Bendtner who was given NO service. Eduardo pitched in as much as he could and Gallas was well beaten for the first fletcher goal. Basically Anderson ran riot in midfield. Golberto cannot pass or especially retain possesion under pressure and we lacked everything. I guarentee the league encounter will be different but its not good to see. Wenger should have played hungary youngsters instead of giving his team the excuse to rest.

From www.Travelblog.org
Hoping for Better 18-19 February, Manila

Latest Comments (0)

We can tell you now that Manila is not the place to be. There are no rich parts of Manila, just a mix of poor and even very poor parts. Though there are some better buildings, but they are few and mostly hidden away among the poor areas. You also have to keep a close eye on your wallet, anyone is guaranteed to try to rip you off. We did, however, meet an Australian who planned to see the Philippines from his newly bought motorcycle and he said "...not even the other Filipinos like Manila." so we're putting our hopes in the rest of the country.

After spending 5 hours on the Pu Dong airport, and experiencing the best cakes we've eaten in China, we boarded the plane to Manila. Immediately on the plane we were given some of the most disturbing information so far; the customs declaration form. It said really scary things like "under penalty of law" and "no pirated DVD:s". Our sweating and averting of eyes when we tried to get out of the airport were unnecessary though. We were treated with casual 'mañana mañana' all the way through.

We caught a cab and went to the hostel. The driver took us for fools and tried to pull the ususal "I don't have any change' trick". We perservered though and got our 40 pesos (roughly 6 SEK, and the whole ride cost us 60 pesos). We got the last two beds in the unair-conditioned, extremely humid dormatory. As soon as we had sneaked into our beds an evil bastard turned the radio on to a program that really reminded both of us of the movie "Good morning Vietnam". We were both coldly surprised by the shower when we finally got up just before noon. We were completely starved when we got up and staggered into the hostel dining room and had lunch for 60 pesos each.

Daring the MRT (Metro Rail Train) we headed out for T-shirts and shorts. On the way we went to the Swedish embassy to get some up-to-date information about staying alive in the Philippines. Hannes thought it really disturbing that the embassy lady, at the mention of the NPA-guerilla (the communist guerilla), didn't even recognize the name. Also a little worrying was the demonstrations in Manila against the president that took place last friday. She said that we shouldn't have any problem avoiding it though.

After a lot of looking and a bit of shopping, we got a pair of shorts each and Erik got a belt. It was surprisingly hard as they mostly had really big sizes, which is strange since the Filipinos are even shorter than the Chinese. On the way we got an amazing mango smoothie and a very good "1800 silver Margarita".

Today we packed up and moved to a better guesthouse, this time also getting the last two beds (though with air-condition and in a private room). After yet again showering cold we trotted off for some sightseeing. We went to Intramuros, the only thing we thought seemed interesting in the whole of Manila. We got a look on the first church yet in the very Christian Manila. We then went to Fort Santiago, though since the Japanese and the Allies bombed it to smithereens there weren't much to look at other than the beautiful park and the quite still standing wall.

After we got our cultural fill, we tried to walk to the harbour. We realized it was too far and there were no restaurants along the road so we took a very lethal motorcycle taxi. We actually arrived safely at the, as we soon noticed, wrong pier. So we took a bicycle taxi that didn't seem as lethal, until we got out on the main road. It took us to a jeeney, a rebuilt American WWII jeep, which finally took us to the right pier where we bought tickets to Cebu. Also worth mentioning is that we had a maybe-all-too-soon-to-be memorable lunch. Let's hope not though. Crazy Erik actually finished his plate while Hannes picked at it.

Since coming to the Philippines we have had the best mango we've ever tasted. In comparison to Swedish mangos, the mangos here are completely yellow. We've also tried a entirely new melon, Honeydew, and maybe some other stuff during lunch (we couldn't possibly tell...).

At 1.45 pm tomorrow we'll be leaving for Cebu (pronounced ceboo) on a superferry and the next time we write we'll hopefully be on Bantayan, just arriving from the beach.

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4 Comments - Add Public Comment or Send Private Message

4 message(s) await review.

filcan

February 20th, 2008, 04:15 AM

chocolato1000

February 20th, 2008, 05:07 AM

^^kahit srilanka, may travel book din ano namang makikita mo dun...i encountered some travel books about SEA countries pero wala talaga Philippines. ewan ko kung bakit. pero timor leste, meron!? ano kaya yun!

Thanks to Pocholo for the Phillippine thread at General Photography. isampal ko sa mukha ng Frommers yung thread na yun eh.

colombo is exotic. magaganda ang resorts nila. foods are superb too. para ring pinas, may mga place na wa ka sabi at may mga place na infested ng mga tamils - pinaka NPa nila.

Manila-X

February 20th, 2008, 05:25 AM

--guys...u think its too late for Manila?...of course there are some nice places here and there in the metro but they're scattered and surrounded by scenes of extreme poverty, places that reminds us of the sorry state that our country is in...have we past the point where we can still save this city??...maybe even the country has given up on this place...maybe they're moving their hopes and dreams for a better society in places like Cebu and Davao...

Unfortunately, most tourists visiting Manila are stuck within the areas of Ermita and Malate. These enclaves aren't that bad of all though there are alot of gritty features in these areas. I believe most of them do visit Makati which offers a different perspective of the city. Makati has alot of writings in travel books and its still Manila's CBD. At least Makati shows progress and gives a positive view.

But its rare that foreign tourists will venture out into midtown Metro Manila primarily Ortigas, Greenhills or even Quezon City. Its rare that you would see them in Eastwood City or Timog. These areas aren't depressed.

The problem is, to reach these places require driving. Traffic can be a problem and tourists won't spend P on travelling to these places. MRT have limited stops as well.

I actually enjoyed Manila though its not my favourite city in The Philippines. I still prefre Baguio :D

BTW, they have gotten rid of the the slum image in Yahoo travel

diz

February 20th, 2008, 05:56 AM

^^ I don't think it looks any better. :lol:

gen1

February 20th, 2008, 07:13 AM

the dork stays at malate and then complains ? what did he expect ?

Manila-X

February 20th, 2008, 07:54 AM

the dork stays at malate and then complains ? what did he expect ?

His reaction would be different if he stayed in Makati. Makati does have some nice budget hotel especially in the Burgos area near Rockwell

kevinb

February 20th, 2008, 12:13 PM

Di nyo ba napapansin, di lang Yahoo Tavel ang di patas (unfair :ohno:) sa Pinas, marami pang iba (e.g. Frommers). Tinatabla talaga tayo ng mga hinayupak na mga yan. Di nila ginagawa yan sa Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Indonesia, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia (ka-level o kaya mas mahirap pa sa Pinas), etc.. Tingin ko lang may tinatago silang galit o ingget sa tin at sa bad or no promotion at all sila gumaganti sa tin.... kainis, actually.... :bash:

And to think Manila isn't the only place in the world where one could experience uncomfy situations, right? Are these groups ganging up on the Philippines?

filcan

February 20th, 2008, 03:34 PM

the slum picture is still there...:ohno:

gen1

February 20th, 2008, 03:41 PM

His reaction would be different if he stayed in Makati. Makati does have some nice budget hotel especially in the Burgos area near Rockwell

Burgos ? isn't that the red light district of makati ? :)

Ejames

February 20th, 2008, 03:50 PM

what rank would the philippines be if there's no place like cebu?? haayss

kiretoce

February 20th, 2008, 04:36 PM

Travelers spending more (http://www.manilastandardtoday.com/?page=news6_feb20_2008)

More foreign tourists visited the Philippines and spent more money here last month despite the political turmoil created by accusations of corruption in a cancelled government deal, figures showed.

International tourism receipts surged 24.2 percent to $394 million in January on the back of a 7.8-percent rise in visitor arrivals and increased tourists spending, according to the tourism department’s Tourism Research and Statistics Division.

That proved the claim of the Philippine Travel Agencies Association that the travel sector has so far been insulated from the controversy caused by the $329-million deal to connect all government agencies in a computer network won by ZTE Corp. of China.

The deal was eventually scrapped after a whistle-blower claimed it was overpriced as a result of kickbacks.

The tourism department said foreign arrivals hit 293,803 in January against 272,525 in the same month last year.

“The considerable turnout of visitors in January set a new record for the month in review with a 7.8-percent growth,” the department said.

It said the $394.04 million in tourism receipts that month was 24.23 percent higher than last year’s $317.19 million.

Tourism Secretary Joseph Ace Durano earlier said the Philippines would earn $5.8 billion from the 3.4 million to 3.5 million visitors arriving this year.

Some 3.1 million foreign visitors visited the country last year and spent $4.9 billion.

The travel sector expects more arrivals particularly from North America as Hawaiian Airlines starts its Manila-Honolulu service in April.

Tourists have also started coming via cruise ships. Three of those arrived in January carrying 2,502 visitors.

The tourism department said the foreign tourists spent an average of $1,181 in January and stayed for 15.97 nights.

South Korea provided the biggest number of visitors followed by the United States, Japan, China and Australia, it said.

chocolato1000

February 20th, 2008, 05:43 PM

2 Chinese visitors blacklisted for hitting immigration exec

MANILA, Philippines -- A Chinese national and his teenage son have been barred from entering the country again for allegedly slapping and insulting a female immigration officer at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.

Immigration Commissioner Marcelino Libanan said on Wednesday he has issued an order placing 42-year-old Dong Jin and his son on the immigration blacklist.

Libanan said that foreigners like the Dongs do not deserve to stay in the country.

“Dong and his son insulted not only a woman but a Philippine immigration officer to whom foreigners must show respect and courtesy befitting of her job as a gatekeeper of the country,” Libanan said in a statement.

“Although the Philippines must always keep its doors open to tourists, foreigners should not abuse the country’s hospitality by hurting the sensibilities and attacking the dignity of their Filipino hosts,” he added.

The blacklist order stemmed from an incident that took place at the airport last February 14 when Dong and his son were queuing for clearance at the departure counter manned by Leni Maminta.

Maminta reported in a written complaint that the elder Dong, without any reason or provocation, suddenly walked toward her and slapped her upper right arm.

Maminta said Dong hit her so hard that she sustained a black mark on her arm.

The foreigner also shouted in Chinese and pointed his fingers at the immigration officer.

Maminta then told the departing passenger to go back to his line but his son, who could speak English, angrily told her that she was only a woman and she was being impolite to his father.

This prompted Maminta to call the attention of her duty supervisor, who then sought the help of airport policemen in pacifying the two foreigners who were allowed to leave albeit blacklisted eventually.

By Margaux Ortiz
Philippine Daily Inquirer

tigidig14

February 20th, 2008, 06:42 PM

what rank would the philippines be if there's no place like cebu?? haayss

#3 after France

kevinb

February 20th, 2008, 08:42 PM

^^ :lol:

diz

February 21st, 2008, 04:01 AM

dinabaw

February 21st, 2008, 04:25 AM

Manila-X

February 21st, 2008, 05:47 AM

the slum picture is still there...:ohno:

When I checked it a pic of the Quiapo church showed up.

No I don't think travel books are biased against The Philippines. There should be more contributions especially by Filipinos.

As for Manila, it may have its nice and bad parts but it made The Cities Book. Jakarta didn't make the cut and only had a special recognition.

http://www.resebokhandeln.com/images/1741047315.jpg

Plus its given World City status at par with Atlanta, Shanghai, Miami, Copenhagen, etc and beating cities like Lisbon, Dubai, Athens, Vancouver, Seattle, etc.

----

Yes Burgos is the redlight district of Makati but its also where most of the budget hotels are

diz

February 21st, 2008, 06:38 AM

:lol: they do but the informals is fast to rebuild it.

Which is annoying. Then I guess we need a really tough government to scare the citizens despite the looming people power movement that will follow it...

Or just send the police to monitor the area...

chocolato1000

February 21st, 2008, 09:41 AM

bahain nalang natin ng mga scenic photos ng pinas yun inbox ng yahoo travel admin. :rock:

filcan

February 21st, 2008, 04:09 PM

It's actually never too late. Do you know how Rome and a huge chunk of London got rebuilt??? I hope you do. ;)

But if a fire isn't necessary, then I guess they just need to demolish a few buildings and repaint some. Then get rid of the wires, slums, and crimes and that's that.

'Cause I've been to Manila dozens of times and the reviews of the city don't surprise me.

Pasensya na, alam ko sobrang OT na ito but i do think that sometimes (even though i know i shouldn't), what if there was a "great Manila fire"?...the city would have to rebuild right?...it would give Manila a chance to start new again...they would HAVE to build new buildings and infrastructure...i know this is a HIGHLY UNWANTED scenario but it just makes me wonder what kind of Manila we really are capable of building if we got the chance. I agree, take away the overhead mess of wires, architecturally crappy shanties, and improve social programs and Manila can be "fixed". But its easier said than done.

As for Manila, it may have its nice and bad parts but it made The Cities Book. Jakarta didn't make the cut and only had a special recognition.

http://www.resebokhandeln.com/images/1741047315.jpg

Plus its given World City status at par with Atlanta, Shanghai, Miami, Copenhagen, etc and beating cities like Lisbon, Dubai, Athens, Vancouver, Seattle, etc.

Its true, Manila is considered a "Gamma" global city" - a third class world city (not third world class city;)).

kevinb

February 21st, 2008, 04:35 PM

When I checked it a pic of the Quiapo church showed up.

No I don't think travel books are biased against The Philippines. There should be more contributions especially by Filipinos.

As for Manila, it may have its nice and bad parts but it made The Cities Book. Jakarta didn't make the cut and only had a special recognition.

http://www.resebokhandeln.com/images/1741047315.jpg

Plus its given World City status at par with Atlanta, Shanghai, Miami, Copenhagen, etc and beating cities like Lisbon, Dubai, Athens, Vancouver, Seattle, etc.

----

Yes Burgos is the redlight district of Makati but its also where most of the budget hotels are

Do they have it in the Internet? I mean, can we browse through that book in using the Internet?

Manila-X

February 22nd, 2008, 05:39 AM

Do they have it in the Internet? I mean, can we browse through that book in using the Internet?

I don't know about that but you can order it online via amazon :) Manila I think is no. 69 on the list.

As for "gamma" global city, it would be referring to the whole of Metro Manila and not just the city of Manila

icarusrising

February 22nd, 2008, 10:26 AM

Immigration allows certain
aliens longer stay sans visa

By Paul Atienza
Correspondent

THE Bureau of Immigration (BI) has further eased rules on foreign tourists by allowing them to immediately avail themselves of an extended length of stay upon arrival, it was learned Thursday.

Immigration Commissioner Marcelino Libanan said from now on any national categorized as a “no-visa required” temporary visitor may be granted an initial allowable stay of 59 days, instead of the previous 21 days, which privilege may be applied for at the airport of entry. There is, however, still the required visa fee of $50, a P500 express-lane fee and P10 legal research fee.

Libanan added only so-called no-visa required nationals can avail themselves of the privilege. These refer to Americans, Britons, Japanese and Canadians.

National of these countries have been admitted for an initial period of 21 days upon their arrival previous to the new order and had to apply for an extension at the main immigration office if they wish to stay longer.

Libanan expects the new rules to “definitely encourage more tourists to prolong their stay as they no longer have to go to the BI office to secure a visa waiver if they wish to stay here for more than 21 days.”

In a related immigration affair, a Chinese man and his son who hurt and insulted an immigration officer at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport were ordered banned from the country.

Floro Balato Jr., immigration spokesman, said Libanan ordered the blacklisting of 42-year-old Jin Dong and his 15-year-old son, Zhiyu Dong, who both shouted invectives and insulting remarks at Leni Maminta at the immigration departure counter.

The incident happened on February 14 as Dong and his son were queuing for clearance at the departure counter manned by Maminta.

Maminta reported the elder Chinese, without any reason or provocation, suddenly slapped her upper right arm so hard that she sustained an ugly bruise. He then pointed his finger at her and shouted words in Chinese that she could not understand but surmised from his tone as angry words.

Maminta then told the passenger to go back to his line but his son, who could speak English, scolded her and said: “You are only a woman. Don’t fight with my father. You are impolite.”

This prompted Maminta to call the attention of her duty supervisor, who sought the help of airport policemen in pacifying the foreigners.

http://www.businessmirror.com.ph/0222&232008/nation07.html

ashton

February 22nd, 2008, 12:57 PM

^ that's great news....

kevinb

February 22nd, 2008, 04:12 PM

I don't know about that but you can order it online via amazon :) Manila I think is no. 69 on the list.

I searched for it yesterday night, but all the results are about buying it online. I think I'll look for it in National Bookstore. :)

malvinjordan

February 24th, 2008, 05:36 AM

Air travel within the Philippines is the third fastest growing market in the world, after India and Mexico, with Cebu Pacific setting the pace in the domestic market with a growth rate of 47% in terms of passengers carried in 2007.

India’s domestic market grew by 33%, followed by Mexico at 27%, Philippines at 23%, and China at 16%.

The Philippines domestic air travel market grew with almost 10.4 million travelers in 2007 versus almost 8.5million passengers in 2006.

Candice Iyog, CEB spokesperson, said domestic travel started booming when CEB introduced year-round low fares in 2005, forcing other local airlines to follow suit to be able to compete.

“Our rapid domestic network expansion, aggressive pricing, year-round low fares, and new and growing fleet stimulated the market and introduced air travel to many first-time flyers,” she said.

Iyog said CEB expects the growth trend to continue this year and beyond as the airline takes delivery of more new aircraft, which will be used to serve new domestic and international destinations.

“The arrival of brand new Airbus and ATR aircraft will open up the Philippines and hopefully generate economic growth largely through tourism and trade in the process,” she said.

Now in its 12th year, CEB has the youngest fleet in the Philippines. It flies to 12 and soon to be 15 international destinations with the addition of Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh, and Kaohsiung in the coming months. CEB also flies to 21 domestic destinations with Boracay (Caticlan) starting February 29, 2008.

chocolato1000

February 24th, 2008, 04:10 PM

deleted.

Rall

February 24th, 2008, 04:50 PM

share lang...

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?p=18634543#post18634543

here goys, some of the pictures from our camp sabros adventure. summarize lang muna to, we have tons of pics courtesy of Ibex and Fedexx pero ni reresize ko pa at saka sobrang pagod pa kami from the adventure. please bear with us nyehehehe. sarap ng adventure namin sobra, @kulaskusgan, you lose 8 of your 9 lives for not coming with us hahaha.

initial offering of pics, from my point of view muna :)

Rall's Cabin (Superb accomodation) many thanks to sir ricky aka rall. pang world class talaga

welcome indeed.
http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i292/naxju/Sab10.jpg

we owned this for 1 night. thanx to rall, our gracious host.
http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i292/naxju/Sab13.jpg

the SSC davao cabin.
http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i292/naxju/Sab12.jpg

the viewing deck.
http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i292/naxju/Sab11.jpg

what's the view? well, the great mt. apo of course.
http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i292/naxju/Sab14.jpg

exclusively davao!
http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i292/naxju/Sab15.jpg

cozy isn't it? are we katkat? (junax, rall and dinabaw inside the fridge cool cabin)
http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i292/naxju/Sab09.jpg

fast forward, camp sabros.
http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i292/naxju/Sab16.jpg

loise and clark getting ready.
http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i292/naxju/Sab01.jpg

whooo, sure ba ako dito?
http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i292/naxju/Sab02.jpg

ready.
http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i292/naxju/Sab03.jpg

go.
http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i292/naxju/Sab04.jpg

fly.
http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i292/naxju/Sab05.jpg

aaminin ko, lumiit ng 10 times it**g ko dito hahaha. unforgettable moment.
http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i292/naxju/Sab06.jpg

after the superman event, sight seeing naman...
http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i292/naxju/Sab07.jpg

the man at the back (ginawa namin conductor), is no other than the man himself, sir edwin, owner of camp sabros. parang nakasakay lang sa jeep no? no harness whatsoever. hindi harness yung suot nya fyi.
http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i292/naxju/Sab08.jpg

hope you like the pics, patikim pa lang yan, marami pa from ibex, dinabaw, rall, fedexx. got to sleep muna.

scoop: the 380 meter zip line (longest in the philippines) at camp sabros is the longest no more. yup, the record is now 405 meter zip line. where? still at camp sabros. yes, there are now 2 zip lines and the newest line is the longest, craziest zip line the entire philippines can offer. wait nyo ang video sa test ride ni sir edwin and you'll be amazed. yung na try namin na line is 48 seconds of 380 meter screams. but the new line is just 25 seconds of 405 meter hell screams.

amigo32

February 25th, 2008, 05:40 AM

aaminin ko, lumiit ng 10 times it**g ko dito hahaha. unforgettable moment.

Buti hindi tuluyang nawala. lol

wow ang ganda! Sa Pinas ba yan?

ang kulet! hehehe

diz

February 25th, 2008, 07:14 AM

^^ OMFG ! haha nice.

icarusrising

February 25th, 2008, 09:58 AM

Hotel occupancy increase expected

The Business World

THE HOTEL and Restaurant Association of the Philippines expects hotel occupancy rates in the country to rise to as much as 95% this year as more tourists consider the Philippines a viable destination.

Association Chairman and President Humphrey O’Leary III said the government’s target of about 3.5 million foreign visitors is likely to boost occupancy rates to 85%-95% from 77% in 2007. He said he expects more tourists from Russia, Middle East, China and South Korea.

Mr. O’Leary said rising investments in the local hotel industry are expected to fill in a shortage in hotel rooms, serviced apartments, villatels and condotels particularly in major tourist destinations such as Cebu, Boracay and Palawan.

For instance, he said big-ticket European hotel operator Accor Group is developing a multi-million peso bed and breakfast in Cebu City. Mr. O’Leary declined to give further details.

He said investors are now concentrating on developing hotels outside Metro Manila, citing Surigao, Davao and Bohol as emerging investment destinations. "We are very optimistic about Bohol. We think it may even overtake Boracay," Mr. O’Leary said in an interview.

He also said high investor interest in the Philippine hotel industry proves the tourism industry is not affected by the current political noise involving the corruption issue raised by former Philippine Forest Corp. President Rodolfo Noel I. Lozada, Jr. Mr. Lozada, a witness in the botched National Broadband Network state contract with Chinese firm Zhong Xing Telecommunications Equipment Co. Ltd., has linked Cabinet officials and President Gloria M. Arroyo’s husband, Jose Miguel T. Arroyo, to the allegedly irregular deal.

Mr. O’Leary said that in Metro Manila, there are over 13,000 rooms accredited by the Department of Tourism, while in Cebu and Boracay, there are close to 5,000 and 4,631, respectively.

The average room rates for an overnight stay in Makati and Cebu are less than P10,000 a night, compared to P10,343/night in Boracay, the average room rate is P10,343.

Shangri-La Makati posted the highest occupancy rate among all the Makati-based hotels at over 90%, while the rest averaged at the upper 80%.

The Hotel and Restaurant Association of the Philippines, a non-stock, non-profit organization, is an umbrella organization of owners of such businesses.

Government data showed an 8.7% increase in tourist arrivals last year to more than three million from 2006.

It also showed that tourists last year spent a total of $4.885 billion, or 40% more than the $2.622-billion tourist spending recorded in 2006.

The top 10 tourist sources last year were: South Korea, US, Japan, China, Australia, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore, Canada, and the United Kingdom. — Bernardette S. Sto. Domingo

--------------------

Story Location: http://www.bworldonline.com/BW022508/content.php?id=053

tigidig14

February 25th, 2008, 10:30 AM

good news indeed

drayq2002

February 25th, 2008, 02:15 PM

manila ocean park on mel and joey:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c8uKdhilQUE

drayq2002

February 25th, 2008, 02:55 PM

part 2 of manila ocean park on mel and joey:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EZUDosi_dFg

drayq2002

February 25th, 2008, 02:58 PM

http://<object width="425" height="355"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/c8uKdhilQUE&rel=1"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/c8uKdhilQUE&rel=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="355"></embed></object>

tigidig14

February 25th, 2008, 06:25 PM

^parang pareho nga sa singapore

amigo32

February 26th, 2008, 04:36 AM

oo nga,

hehehe, ano ba hitsura ng sa singapore tigs?

Manila-X

February 26th, 2008, 05:53 AM

I searched for it yesterday night, but all the results are about buying it online. I think I'll look for it in National Bookstore. :)

Powerbooks or Fully Booked would be a better option. I saw the book in these bookstores

lightsaber46

February 27th, 2008, 05:52 AM

Waterfront spending P5B to buy hotels
http://businessmirror.com.ph/02272008/companies01.html

GATCHALIAN-OWNED Waterfront Philippines, Inc. is allotting some P5 billion for the acquisition of up to four hotels within the next two years, a top company official said.

"We’re always in that process of expanding our hotel business. We’re in talks with various parties and exploring ways to develop our brand in the first-class business hotel and casino [segment]," Waterfront President Kenneth T. Gatchalian in an interview.

"We’re looking at three or four [hotels to acquire] but nothing is final yet. We’re considering some in Iloilo, Ortigas, the Bay area [on Roxas Boulevard] and Cagayan de Oro," he said.

Mr. Gatchalian said the company wants to purchase properties that will only need refurbishments. Funding will be sourced internally.

The hotel acquisitions will be executed through Waterfront’s affiliates as the company wants to insulate its books from any transaction.

"Waterfront would not be the lead party in those transactions. We want to improve our revenue base without adding more debt to the company," Mr. Gatchalian said.

The company hopes to be free of debt by early 2009 after repaying its remaining obligations, which stood at P900 million last year.

Waterfront is finishing the facilities upgrade of the Manila Pavilion Hotel and Casino beside Rizal Park.

Manila Pavilion is the trade name of publicly listed Acesite (Philippines) Hotel Corp. in which Waterfront bought 74.89 million shares or 75% through a cross-sale in the local stock exchange in 2003.

"We’re renovating our facilities and conducting management services. We target to finish the renovations within the next two years, after which we can [change the name] into a Waterfront brand," Mr. Gatchalian said.

Waterfront has close to 1,550 rooms in all of its hotels, employs 1,560 employees, and has over 41,000 square meters of convention and casino space. It houses the country’s biggest gaming facilities.

Aside from Manila Pavilion, the hotel chain includes Waterfront Cebu City Hotel and Casino, Waterfont Airport Hotel and Casino Mactan, and Waterfront Insular Hotel Davao.

These hotels enjoyed an occupancy rate of between 65% and 75% last year with rates ranging from P2,800 to P3,000, Mr. Gatchalian said.

This year, he said, the company aims to increase hotel occupancy rates to between 70% to 75% along with a rate increase to between P3,000 and P3,500.

Waterfront is 60% controlled by The Wellex Group, Inc., which is owned by plastics king William Gatchalian.

Waterfront’s subsidiaries include Waterfront Promotions Ltd., Waterfront Entertainment Corp., Mayo Bonanza, Inc., Grand Ilocandia Resort Development, Inc., Waterfront Food Concepts, Inc., Waterfront Management Corp., and W Citigyms and Wellness, Inc.

At yesterday’s trade, Waterfront shares closed by 4.17% higher at three centavos to 75 centavos apiece. — Lovely Nica P. Lee

g0Rs

February 27th, 2008, 06:28 AM

Top Korean travel mag features RP cities (http://www.goodnewspilipinas.com/docs/beauty_of_the_phils/current/ab_road.html)

Sites and scenes of Manila, Cebu, and Bohol took center stage in AB Road, a leading Korean travel magazine in South Korea.

The 20-page special feature are the highlights of the January issue.

A photograph of San Agustin Church in Manila graces the magazine's front cover, prelude to a special "Insider's Guide to the Philippines" featuring full-color photographs of the various cultural, entertainment, shopping, nature, adventure, and beach destinations in the three key Philippine cities.

It also includes a list of must-try Filipino food, interesting shopping finds, maps, and even the Tagbilaran port schedule for inter-island sea connections. Sidebars focus on the editor's top choices of Manila restaurants, Makati watering holes, and Cebu beach resorts.

The feature resulted from a partnership between the Philippine Department of Tourism (DOT) and AB Road to capture the young and adventurous tourist market in Korea. AB Road is the only Korean publication dedicated to travel and tourism. Its key subscribers include young professionals in their 20s and 30s, and this group tends to be more adventurous when it comes to deciding where to spend their next vacation.

Visitor arrivals from Korea reached 653,310 in 2007, representing a 14.2 percent growth rate from 2006. "Korea is currently our top source of foreign arrivals. We plan to maintain our presence in this particular market by diversifying our reach to the more independent travelers," says the Department of Tourism.

These independent travelers prefer to plan their own itineraries, as opposed to joining tour groups, based on information they gather from the media and from other travelers. Independent travelers also tend to patronize a wider range of services and establishments

"The key to reaching independent travelers is by providing them with the best possible guidance on our destinations, tourist-friendly places, events they shouldn't miss, and how to get around," says Pam Samaniego, DOT marketing head for Team Korea.

filcan

February 27th, 2008, 04:29 PM

^^Koreans are starting to really love the Philippines...hehe

amigo32

February 27th, 2008, 04:49 PM

matagal na, hehehe

benchjade

February 27th, 2008, 11:25 PM

^^Koreans are starting to really love the Philippines...hehe

kapalit ng pagmamahal natin sa mga korean dramas :lol:

filcan

February 28th, 2008, 02:13 AM

^^My Girl:okay:, Coffee Prince:okay:, Full House:nocrook:...:lol:

animasola

February 28th, 2008, 02:57 AM

^^Koreans are starting to really love the Philippines...hehe

And we should start lovin' the Koreans. :naughty:

bariQ

February 28th, 2008, 03:25 AM

abrub ako dyan :okay:

Manila-X

February 28th, 2008, 07:05 AM

And we should start lovin' the Koreans. :naughty:

Its what you call good diplomacy. Filipinos in Korea are treated very well so why shouldn't The Philippines be good to Koreans?

jhunix

February 28th, 2008, 08:47 AM

http://davaotourism.com/images/u_header1.jpg
http://davaotourism.com/images/u_header2.jpg

http://davaotourism.com/images/pic_aboutdavao.jpg

http://davaotourism.com/images/pic_gettingtodavao.jpg

http://davaotourism.com/images/pic_wheretostay.jpg

http://davaotourism.com/images/pic_wheretoeat1.jpg

http://davaotourism.com/images/pic_whattodo1.jpg

http://davaotourism.com/images/pic_festivals.jpg

http://davaotourism.com/images/pic_gettingaround.jpg

http://davaotourism.com/news/wp-content/themes/davaocity/images/pic_news.jpg

source: http://davaotourism.com/?page=home

kiretoce

February 28th, 2008, 06:00 PM

Just a click away (http://www.manilastandardtoday.com/?page=goodLife1_feb28_2008)

Of all the heroes in the X-Men roster, I’ve always had a certain fascination (and no small amount of envy) for Nightcrawler, the teleporting Bavarian hero who had the ability to jump from one place to another at the blink of an eye and without so much as a ‘bamf’ to herald his presence.

I felt the same thing watching Hayden Christensen teleport from one cosmopolitan city to another in his recent blockbuster, Jumper.

There’s something about teleportation that appeals to the penny-pincher in me. After all, if you can’t travel in style, at least travel at cost, and teleporting is the most cost-efficient way to travel—if people ever had the ability to do so. Unfortunately, scientists are still hunting down that particular mutant gene.

But recently, armchair travellers—specially those in the United States and Canada—who are interested in coming to the Philippines have found a way to “teleport” to the country’s numerous destinations without leaving their living rooms.

Thanks to videoblogs, or “vlogs” posted by popular Internet habitué Christine Gambito, visitors can now “experience” the country’s myriad attractions with the simple click of a mouse button.

Gambito is the creator of Happyslip.com, which features more than 40 self-produced, widely-viewed vlogs, including one, “Mixed Nuts” which was voted 1st runner-up in the 2006 YouTube video awards for best comedy. Her short form vlogs depict situations with typical Pinoy humor. “Happyslip,”which refers to both her cyberspace nickname and her wildly popular Web site, was taken from a play about the “half slip.” Her mother, in a typical Filipino-English accent, always reminded her to wear a “half slip” with skirts as a young girl.

Gambito, who visited the Philippines last month at the invitation of the Department of Tourism, went on a 20-day safari to see the country’s top destinations like Boracay, Bohol, Palawan, Cebu, Tagaytay, etc. The first time visitor to the country will be releasing footages (vlogs) of her journey on youtube.com and her wildly popular Web site.

Gambito and her hilarious vlogs, which have drawn as many as 27 million viewers worldwide, are the DoT’s latest marketing gambit to entice North American visitors to the country—a campaign that is both cost-efficient and ingenuous.

“[Inviting Christine to the Philippines to visit our world-class tourist attractions] is our way of continuously pushing new media in promoting the Philippines and reaching out to the [North American] market segment,” said Tourism Secretary Joseph Ace Durano at the meet and greet session with the Internet celebrity.

“We invited Christine so she can experience firsthand what the Philippines and its destinations have to offer so she can create blogs about the Philippines on youtube,” said Corazon Jorda-Apo, head of DoT’s Team North America. “This is her first visit to the country since she and her family left, when she was a year old, so she has no idea what the Philippines looks like.”

“This is exciting as it will give my fans a chance to follow my journey and experience a little of the Philippines through my videos. If I can entertain and bring attention to all the wonderful things the Philippines has to offer, I will feel as though it was all worth it,” Gambito said.

Gambito, whose latest vlog entry shows her gambolling on the beaches of Palawan, will be releasing footages of her trip in the next few months.

Online campaign

“Our North America campaign is principally an online campaign. Our research has shown that the [North American] market is a very sophisticated market. We don’t have as many fairs there. It’s not a travel fair type of market. We don’t have ads in magazines or on TV. These people spend more hours in front of the computer than in front of the TV or reading,” Durano said, explaining the thrust of the North American campaign. “We started this three years ago, and it is just evolving. We are already posting videomercials, on yahoo.com to target the millions of yahoo subscribers in North America. Next up are the videoblogs of Christine.”

According to Apo, conventional marketing techniques would eat up a chunk of their budget, which isn’t that big to begin with because “from a portfolio point of view, the department would rather invest in short-haul markets like Korea and China.”

“We don’t have the kind of budget to put ads in CNN, for example. Can you imagine how expensive that would be? Conducting the marketing campaign online is more cost-efficient and besides, that is really the way things are done in North America. People get their information from the Internet.”

In line with this, the department also recently opened a virtual “travel mall” for millions of Internet users, especially those in the United States and Canada. The Travel Mall, a subsite within the www.experiencephilippines.ph Web portal, is like a typical shopping center, showcasing travel packages, separated by destination, trip duration, travel theme or price range. Travelers can simply click on the site and make all their travel arrangements (including transportation and hotel accommodations) from there. Arrangements are made through accredited tour operators.

“All travel services that a possible visitor to the Philippines needs will be available there. It’s a guide for travellers to plan their trips, make arrangements, and even compare costs.”

Going online also gives the department the leverage to reach non-balikbayans like the second- and third-generation Filipino Americans who are already more American in their lifestyle choices than Filipinos.

“It’s no longer automatic for them to go home to the Philippines whenever they go on vacation. [More often than not, they would usually go to other destinations.] So basically, when you target second- and third-generation Filipino Americans, you are really targeting the entire American market of the same profile. They’re usually between 25 to 45 years old. The yuppies. Christine is the epitome of what that demographic is,” Durano explained, adding that of all the marketing campaigns for this market segment, “none has given the same return on investment as our online campaign.”

Guaranteed number

This year, DoT intends to step up efforts to attract visitors from the North American market, which accounts for 18 percent of overall arrivals in the country.

“The numbers may seem to be decreasing when compared to the faster growth of Korea, which is currently our number one market, and China, which is fast overtaking Japan for third place, not to mention the resurgent European market. But North America is still significant because it guarantees at least 500,000 arrivals every year, and that’s something you can’t sneeze at,” commented Durano.

This year, he said, the focus is on tourism spending.

“We will go heavy on shopping, on wellness and on scuba diving in North America. We are pushing this because these are higher-value services. This is our strategy to increase the [market’s] daily spending in the country.”

Durano said about three million more tourists are expected to visit the country this year. This volume, in turn, is expected to generate additional revenue of $1 billion for the government this year.

“At the end of the day, what is important is what they spend in our country that will directly benefit our economy.”

Animo

February 29th, 2008, 08:56 PM

Roderick T. dela Cruz (http://www.manilastandardtoday.com/?page=news4_mar1_2008)

BUTUAN CITY—The Philippines’ oldest tree has become an official tourist destination after the tourism department and local officials opened a tourist center near it in Magallanes, Agusan del Norte.

Officials inaugurated the center last week near the 500-year-old Bitaog tree, and it is expected to accommodate 200 visitors daily in the village of Caloc-an.

The tree was declared the Philippine Centennial Tree in June 1998 after a local historian, Florante More, nominated it as the country’s oldest tree.

“This 500-year-old tree has witnessed more stories than Jun Lozada,” Agusan del Norte Gov. Erlpe John Amante joked. He referred to the Senate witness in the probe into the scandal-tainted, $329-million national broadband network deal that was later scrapped.

The Bitaog’s trunk measures 290 centimeters, but although old, it is a sapling compared to the world’s oldest tree in California. The Great Basin bristlecone pine in California’s White Mountains, more popularly known as The Methuselah Tree, is believed to be more than 4,700 years old.

The Bitaog tree aside, Magallanes town, named after the Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan, also takes pride in its rich history.

More said the first Catholic Mass was celebrated in Magallanes on April 8, 1521, and not in Limasawa. He cited as proof a marker erected during the time of Spanish District Governor Jose Maria Carvallo in 1873, which supposedly commemorates the first mass in Magallanes.

diz

March 3rd, 2008, 10:38 AM

In a Business-to-business exchange, the Department of Tourism (DoT) in the Philippines is set to present the country’s culture, natural attractions, tropical beach and diving destinations during a selling mission to Norway, Sweden and Denmark this March.

Island beach getaways, diving and eco-tourism spots, spa and wellness attractions, as well as cultural destinations will be the main offerings to the European travel trade players.

“Our selling mission to Sweden last year proved successful. We plan to expand our reach to include the greater Scandinavian market, which we expect to pick-up and grow as much as what was experienced with the Russian market last year,” said Tourism Secretary Ace Durano.

The business-to-business exchanges will occur successively at the Konserthus in Oslo, Norway, the Konferens Spårvagnshallarna in Stockholm, Sweden, and at the Bella Centre in Copenhagen, Denmark from March 9 to 16.

DOT Undersecretary for Tourism Services and Regional Offices Oscar Palabyab will lead the Philippine delegation.

“The selling mission closely follows the ITB Berlin, which is the biggest international tourism fair. We will be building from the excitement brought on by this event, bearing in mind whatever insights we have learned about the Scandinavian market during the ITB,” Durano says.

Last year visitor arrivals from Norway, Sweden and Denmark grew by 18.7 percent, 21.2 percent and 23.6 percent in 2007 respectively.

The DOT is confident that the travel exchanges with these countries will increase foreign tourist traffic to the Philippines further.

http://www.scandasia.com/viewNews.php?coun_code=no&news_id=4094

icarusrising

March 3rd, 2008, 11:17 AM

National treasures in the land of extremes and superlatives

Monday, March 3, 2008
The Manila Bulletin

Caraga pushes local tourism

The deepest waters in the country, one of the deepest in the world lies just off its shores.

The country’s largest freshwater wetland and largest mangrove swamp nestles within its boundaries. It is regarded as the surfing capital of the Philippines. Its borders encompass Agusan del Sur, where the Philippines’ largest gold deposit is found, welcome to Caraga.

Caraga has started to showcase its beauty with the beautiful waves and beaches of Siargao in Surigao del Norte, making it one of the top surfing destinations in the country and among the best in the world. Composed of four provinces--Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Suriago del Norte, and Surigao del Sur--and three cities--Butuan, Surigao, and Bislig--Caraga is the land of extremes and superlatives. The 13th region of the country is preparing to surprise the world with its cultural and historical riches as they gear up to play a major role in the country’s tourism. As Caraga celebrated its 13th founding anniversary in Wow Araw ng Caraga last February 20 at the Almont Inland Resort in beautiful Butuan city, DoT secretary Joseph "Ace" Durano and Caraga’s tourism region officials announced upcoming developments in Caraga’s tourism program.

"Our development and progress are pieces of a complicated landscape with varied tourism potentials and highly educated human resource waiting to be discovered. As we look back on our past and see how far we have come, we must also look out beyond the horizon at the challenges and prospects ahead," regional tourism council chairperson of Caraga Hon. Leonides Theresa B. Plaza said.

Pushing the tourism envelope further is one of the Philippines’ most important archaeological finds in Caraga’s Butuan city. A spectacular display of historical artifacts and cultural heritage in Butuan’s National Museum and in the Balangay Museum Shrine is a must see for history enthusiasts. Unknown to many, the oldest watercraft in the Philippines, the balangay, is found in Butuan City. Carbon dated by a Japanese archaeologist back to 320 AD, the balangay relic is even more ancient than the Vikings of Norway. This national treasure is kept preserved and enshrined on the spot where it was found. Also, wooden burials of our ancestors have been unearthed in this city.

Reliving the glory of the balangay

Archaeological findings and historians’ accounts on the balangay only prove that Filipinos were able to travel in large numbers and were also able to set sail towards other countries. A balangay (where the word barangay came from), is a royal boat which used to house the families of datus and rajas during the early civilization in the history of the Philippines. These boats could house up to 30 people and were constructed in a way that it could pass through narrow waterways such as rivers and streams.

After almost two thousand years, Butuan City, through the combined efforts of the local tourism council and the DoT, will bring back the glory of these national treasures with the launch of the balangay river cruise. Six months from now, tourists will have the opportunity to experience history by riding any of the two 30-seater balangays which will sail through 800m of the Agusan river and will pass through 21 river barangays. These barangays will showcase Caraga’s different historical sites and artifacts, and will also be the site for different activities. The first stop will be the ruins of Bansa, the first Catholic church in Mindanao and where the first Catholic mass was held, according to. Greg Hontiveros, a Butuan historian and author of the book "Butuan of a Thousand Years" states that "The efforts of the DoT (are) good. I’m quite active as (part of the) private sector in their different activities. So much has to be done but there are serious efforts from the DoT," Hontiveros says.

The rebirth of the balangay

"We saw it as a great start; a river cruise is a great motivation for the people to take care of the river… what will attract foreigners and tourists is the experience of being in a balangay, one of the oldest forms of water navigation," says Sec. Durano.

Plaza adds, "We are also tourists and with our history, it has more reality than the rest…We have abundance of creativity and commitment here in our region. Let Caraga be a bulwark of change, a model of successful development for all our people,"

These efforts of Caraga will be supported by the Department of Tourism with a funding of 2.5M to jumpstart the balangay project. "Only when we link community and livelihood can we promote, protect, preserve our culture and environment, [it is a] great motivation for people to maintain their community. In a river cruise the most important component is a river, and there it was. All Butuan needed was to put in the system and necessary tourist services," DOT Sec. Joseph "Ace" Durano said during the Wow Araw ng Caraga. "We are pushing products outside of beaches- in fact, in the upcoming International Travel Bourse in Berlin next month, we are going to promote a new platform for Philippine tourism and calling it "Adventure Philippines", and the Caraga region will be one of the major highlights".

Source: http://www.mb.com.ph/TOUR20080303118353.html#

icarusrising

March 3rd, 2008, 11:19 AM

Adventure Vacation Hotspot: Cagayan de Oro

Monday, March 3, 2008
The Manila Bulletin

One of Mindanao’s best-kept secrets, this "City of Golden Friendship" offers the thrill-seekers and nature-lovers their pick of exhilarating activities without the inconvenience of crowds, traffic, and sky-high prices.

Go anywhere from the mall, to the beach, to the mountains in 15 minutes or less from the city’s central district. If you’re craving a road trip, Cagayan de Oro is also the perfect gateway to places such as idyllic Camiguin Island or the cool mountain province of Bukidnon.

How to get there: Cagayan de Oro is only a 75-minute plane ride away from Manila via any of the local airlines which offer daily trips to the city. If you prefer a voyage by sea, allot around 30 hours of travel coming from Manila or 10 hours coming from Cebu.

Must-do’s:

• Visit the Macahambus Adventure Park in Lumbia and walk the 120-foot Sky Bridge amid gigantic, centuries-old trees. For an added adrenaline rush, rappel down to Macahambus Gorge or try the 120-meter Zip Line (also known as the ‘Slide for Life’).

• Experience white-water rafting the Western way or the Filipino way (also known as water tubing) in the rapids of the Cagayan de Oro River. If your tour offers it, take a 20-30 feet ‘graduation’ jump off a rock/bridge to cap the experience.

• Drop by the Gardens of the Malasag Eco-Tourism Village with its replicas of the region’s tribal homes, endemic plants and trees, and a panoramic view of Macajalar Bay.

• Spend a day at the Mapawa Nature Park (just minutes away from the Malasag Eco-Tourism Village) which offers a range of activities such as horseback riding, rock climbing, rappelling, camping, ziplining, trampoline jumping, and waterfall trekking.

• Go for the famous Noslek Canopy Walk in Claveria and stop by the Silkworm Center along the way.

• Go river trekking and swim in the cool waters of the Magbais River. If you’re lucky, you might even get to climb up a waterfall.

• Try spelunking in Kweba de Oro (Cave of Gold) and rappel 110 feet down to the cave entrance.

• Go skimboarding or surfing in the beaches of Opol, 20-30 minutes away from the city.

• Dine along the streets of Divisoria Plaza at the Night Café which sets up every Friday and Saturday evening from 6 pm ‘til the wee hours of the morning. Check out the live bands playing and the great bargains available at the nearby Night Market.

• Hike up to the hill-perched High Ridge and enjoy a view of the city over a packed picnic lunch.

• Drive up to Bukidnon to see the Del Monte pineapple plantation, have some steaks at the Golf and Country Club, or visit the Monastery of the Transfiguration, famous for its Monk’s Blend coffee.

• Take a trip to enchanting Camiguin Island for its hot and cold springs, white-sand beaches, and many more.

• Explore the caves of Monigue, Macahambus, Huluga, or Initao.

•Buy pasalubong such as cashew nuts, Cheding’s peanuts, and Pinakurat vinegar (from Iligan), VJANDEP pastel (from Camiguin) and ham, and longganisa or chicharon from Slers or Oro Ham.

• Book overnight stays at Duka Bay (in Medina) and Mantangale (in Balingoan) and go scuba diving or dolphin and whale shark watching.

•Visit the Philippine Crocodile and Ostrich farms in Opol and feast on an ostrich egg omelet.

• Enjoy the cold spring waters of Kagay-an Resort (formerly the Lawndale Spring Resort) in Taguanao.

• Go golfing at the 18-hole Pueblo de Oro Golf Course in Upper Carmen

• Get cultural at the Xavier University Museum which showcases Muslim-Bukidnon pieces, paintings from the local artists and many more historical artifacts.

How-To’s:

• For Makahambus Adventure Park tours, contact Sinkhole, Inc. E-mail: riverguide@cdorafting-map.com, Website: http://www.cdorafting-map.com/macahambus/

• Adventure tour packages are available from:

• DOME (De Oro Mountain Explorers Club) offers the DOME Expedition Tours (DETOUR). E-mail: a_detour97@yahoo.com.

• Kagay offers white water rafting and cave exploration tours. Contact: Dan Kaamiño. Address: #21 Pres. Aguinaldo St., Cagayan de Oro City, E-mail: dankaamino@cdorafting-map.com, http://www.cdorafting-map.com/

• For a Malasag Eco-Tourism Village tour, visit Cagayan de Oro’s official website: http://cagayandeoro.gov.ph/index.php

• To make a reservation at the Mapawa Nature Park in Malasag, Cugman, visit Cagayan de Oro’s official website: http://cagayandeoro.gov.ph/index.php

• To reserve a room at Duka Bay Resort in Medina, Misamis Oriental, E-mail: dukabayresort@yahoo.com, Website: http://www.dukabay.com/

• To book a reservation at the Matangale Alibuag Dive Resort, Balingoan, Misamis. E-mail: mantadive@col.com.ph, Website: http://www.col.com.ph/mantadive/main.html

Source: http://www.mb.com.ph/TOUR20080303118247.html

icarusrising

March 3rd, 2008, 11:21 AM

Adventure Philippines Blazes Ecotourism, Are you ready?

March 3, 2008
The Manila Bulletin

Vincent Lopez

You will never learn to love what you have not experienced," says DOT Sec. Joseph "Ace" Durano during a private press conference last Tuesday (Feb 26) ay his office, where Durano was excited to announce the soft launch of Adventure Philippines.

It is a tie up project of the Department of Tourism (DOT) and Recreational Outdoor Exchange (R.O.X.), both hoping to boost ecotourism and to maximize the potential of the beauty of our natural resources.

The Adventure Philippines program will be different from its sister project WOW Philippines; the similarities between the two are very minimal. The main difference is that the Adventure Philippines will have more edge; it appeals to the adventurous soul that is within us. It has a fresh vibe that offers something new to all adventurers, foreign and domestic. Adventure Philippines not only aims to showcase the beautiful sites and the majestic scenery of the Philippines, but also how we can really enjoy and be part of it.

The Philippines is already famous for its white beaches, the scenic natural landscapes, and the stunning marine life, but there are still a lot of untapped ecological treasures our country can offer. Adventure Philippines will introduce these untapped resources, explore their wonder, and break away from traditional travel packages. The program will promote new activities that are hard to resist.

Tourists and local adventurers will discover new waves for surfing enthusiasts and new finds of diving sites. With over 7,107 islands of diverse experiences to entice the traveler, the Philippines is set to be South East Asia’s adventure capital. New features for Philippine tourism will also include trekking, sea kayaking, and the tranquility of bird watching. Our ecological treasures and the warmth of the Filipino people are truly world class.

Dawn of Ecotourism’s Amplification

The idea was born just a few months ago as the DoT was planning to boost ecotourism, and stumbled upon ROX, who was at that time have already specific untapped ecological spots and new adventures lined up. Jimmy Thai, CEO of R.O.X believes that the Philippines’ charms are impossible to resist and that the Philippines’ natural beauty is incomparable.

Adventure Philippines will definitely be a big boost in the economy, especially for the settlers of the new tourist spots. The farmers and fishermen from that region can be tourist guides, earning more than they used to. Another perfect example is from bird watching; it is a fact that all over the world there are passionate bird watchers who travel around the globe to get a glimpse of a specific species of a bird. Adventure Philippines capitalizes on the fact that we are host to 180 species of birds that can only be found in the Philippine skies. At present, a sad reality is that all bird watching guides in the Philippines are foreigners.

Berlin Adventure launch pad

The Adventure Philippines will be initially launched internationally this March in the coming Internationale Tourismus-Börse (ITB Berlin). ITB Berlin is the largest international travel fair that showcases the world’s premiere destinations and will be held on March 5 to 9 at the Center ICC in Berlin, Germany. It is an event for those in the travel industry and for people who want to catch up on the most beautiful travel destinations. The Philippines is set to reach over 180,000 people at the ITB.

"What makes this year exciting is that the international travel industry will fix its eye on holiday destinations in Asia. The United Nations World Tourism Organization has identified the region to be one of the more dynamic markets for 2008. This is definitely a great opportunity for the Philippines to build on the momentum gained from last year," Durano stresses.

Secretary Durano will lead the Philippine delegation, assisted by DOT Undersecretary for Tourism Planning and Promotions Eduardo Jarque, Jr. and DoT Marketing Head for Team Europe Verna Buensuceso.The DoT believes that the country’s participation will increase visitor arrivals and encourage travelers from the European market to stay longer in the country.

Adventure Philippines will be launched locally in May. Sec Durano noted that "With how things are going in politically, it’s re-assuring to know that there’s still a bright side in our country, something to proud of and be excited about."

Source: http://www.mb.com.ph/TOUR20080303118354.html

icarusrising

March 3rd, 2008, 12:20 PM

Eco-friendly lake resort to rise in Zambales

Mar T. Supnad
March 3, 2008

The Manila Bulletin

CASTILLEJOS, Zambales – A 113-hectare natural lagoon will be developed into a lake resort in this town, just 30 minutes away from the popular tourist center of Subic Bay.

Last Sunday, Castillejos town officials led by Mayor Wilma Billman, as well as private project supporters, broke ground for the Looc Lake Development Project that envisions to develop the 113-hectare natural lagoon here.

The project is expected to push Castillejos into another dimension and at the same time promote a greener environment and the growing tourism industry here, Billman told Castillejos residents and guests.

"We shall have a full array of recreation facilities, spas and wellness centers here, and with this project we can hope to be part of the global economy soon," Billman said.

Engineer Eduardo Soliven, the town’s planning officer, said his office has designed a master plan for the Looc Lake Development Project, which also targets investors to put up facilities and services.

The lake resort is located some 26 kilometers north of the Subic Bay Freeport Zone, and just two and a half hours drive away from Manila.

Soliven said the plan includes facilities for water sports enthusiasts, with canoes, kayaks, and aqua cycles, as well as family oriented fun activities like fishing and picnics.

He added that there will also be a floating grill cum bar and restaurant for anglers who would like to cook their catch while being serenaded by village bands using native instruments.

To capitalize on the serene vista of green fields, woodlands and mountains that surround the property, walkways and trails for trekkers, bikers and horseriders will also be built through agoho pine forests, Soliven said.

He pointed out that to attract the adventurous type of visitors and tourists, the resort will also have tracks for off-road motorbikes and all-terrain vehicles.

This is the right place to refresh and revitalize our mind and body, and renew our soul, Mayor Billman told guests as they toured the lakefront on Sunday.

Billman said the Castillejos government had initially released a P2-million fund for the upgrading of roads leading to the proposed resort.

Another P1 million has been secured from the Zambales provincial government by provincial board members Baby dela Llana and Billman’s son JJ, who represents the youth sector in the provincial board.

But Billman said she hopes that most of the funding would come from Castillejos residents, especially those abroad, who have money to invest in the lake resort development project.

She added that the fund-raising drive for the project was successfully kicked off, with participants in the recent homecoming program chipping in donations and pledging more funds for the lake resort project.

Source: http://www.mb.com.ph/ENVI20080303118256.html

icarusrising

March 3rd, 2008, 12:23 PM

Groups to promote RP as world-class ecotourism destination

The Manila Bulletin

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Department of Tourism (DoT), ABS-CBN Foundation, Inc.’s Bantay Kalikasan, and Conservation International Philippines will work together to promote "Magandang Pilipinas" which aims to promote the Philippines as a world-class ecotourism destination.

In a memorandum of agreement signed Feb. 18, the parties agreed to manage existing and pre-identified ecotourism sites in the Philippines and promote specific ecotourism sites.

Among the signatories were DENR Secretary Jose L. Atienza Jr., DoT Secretary Joseph Ace H. Durano, ABS-CBN Foundation Inc. and Bantay Kalikasan Managing Director Regina Paz L. Lopez, and Conservation International Director for Spatial Analysis and Information Systems Unit Dr. Oliver Coroza.

"The ecotourism appeal of the Philippines is varied and unlimited. This is where we can excel, and naturally the influx of tourists both foreign and local to these spots will generate economic gains not only for people and their community but the whole country," said Atienza.

Pilot ecotourism project sites, which are mostly protected areas endowed with rich biodiversity, scenic attractions and high ecotourism potential have been identified under the agreement.

These sites include the Verde Island Marine Passage Corridor in Batangas (center of the center of marine shorefish biodiversity’); Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park (underground river); Donsol, Sorsogon (whale shark watching); El Nido, Palawan (marine protected area and limestone karst); Tubbataha National Marine Park (coral reef); Banawe Rice Terraces, Ifugao; Mayon Volcano, Albay; Pamilacan, Bohol; Hundred Islands, Alaminos, Pangasinan; Sapang Bato, Angeles City, Pampanga; Lake Sebu, South Cotabato.

Source: http://www.mb.com.ph/ENVI20080303118251.html

icarusrising

March 3rd, 2008, 01:57 PM

RP emerging as top tourist,
investment spot in Asia-Pacific

By William B. Depasupil, Reporter

Monday, March 03, 2008
The Manila Times

THE Philippines is fast emerging as one of the top tourist and investment destinations in the Asia-Pacific region, according to the Bureau of Immigration (BI).

Statistics showed that a total of 274,603 foreigners arrived in the country in January, up by more than 21 percent compared to the 227,345 arrivals for the same period last year.

Immigration Commissioner Marcelino C. Libanan said Sunday that the figure represented only the volume of foreign passengers who arrived at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) and do not include those who entered through other ports like Mactan, Subic, Davao, Clark, and Laoag.

The BI chief described the figures as “very encouraging,” saying that it augurs well for the country’s efforts to bolster its reputation as one of the most favored tourist destina*tions in the Asia-Pacific.

He added that a sizeable percentage of the foreign visitors who arrived were prospective investors and expatriates who could contribute greatly to the country’s economic development.

Libanan recalled that last year, more than 5.3 million foreigners arrived at the NAIA, up by 8 percent over those who came in 2006.

“There is no doubt that the Philippines is well on its way to emerging as one of the most favored tourist and investment destinations in the Asia-Pacific,” he declared.

Libanan claimed that the policy reforms that he initiated in the BI encouraged more foreign tourists to come here.

Among these reforms, he said, was his decision to extend from one to two years the maximum allowable stay of foreign tourists.

Koreans topped the list of those who arrived in January, followed by Americans, Japanese, and Chinese.

Of the 274,603 arrivals, more than 200,000 were tourists, including more than 58,000 Balikbayans. The rest were permanent residents, expatriates and holders of investor and retiree visas.

Source: http://www.manilatimes.net/national/2008/mar/03/yehey/metro/20080303met5.html

icarusrising

March 4th, 2008, 10:06 AM

Tourist arrivals rise 8% in Jan.

The Business World

FOREIGNERS VISITING the Philippines brought in close to $400 million last January, with Koreans, Americans and Japanese topping the list of tourists.

Tourism department (DoT) data showed foreign visitors in January reached 293,803, up 7.8% from 272,525 recorded in the same period last year.

Tourist receipts reached some $394.04 million, 24.23% more than $317.19 million in January last year.

Average per capita expenditure of visitors was estimated at $1,181, with an average daily expenditure of $73.96 and average length of stay of 16 nights.

East Asia accounted for 46% of the total traffic, with 134,347 arrivals from 130,725 the previous year.

Visitors from North America totalled 69,636, making it the second biggest source of visitor traffic to the country.

"Heavy influx of arrivals was noted from the US and Canada. The ASEAN region shared [sic] 6.5% to total visitor volume with 19,083 arrivals. On the other hand, Australasia/Pacific region contributed 5.1% to total traffic base with a production of 14,854 arrivals to become the fourth biggest source of arrivals for the country," DoT said.

South Korean visitors comprised 23.7% of total tourist traffic with 69,522 arrivals, followed by the Americans with 58,486, and Japanese with 34,432.

Arrivals from China saw a 38.1% increase to 13,691, while Australian visitors came in next with 11,218 visitors.

Canada recorded 11,017 arrivals, followed by Taiwan with 9,618, Singapore with 7,429, the United Kingdom with 7,200 and Hongkong with 7,084 arrivals.

But Jose C. Clemente III, president of the Philippine Travel Agencies Association, said the pullout of Deutsche Lufthansa AG from the Philippines due to poor traffic had sent a wrong message to Europeans that the Philippines is not a viable destination.

DoT data showed European arrivals increased 13.8% in 2007 . — B. S. Sto. Domingo

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Story Location: http://www.bworldonline.com/BW030408/content.php?id=052

icarusrising

March 4th, 2008, 01:54 PM

Foreign investors eye P120-M cable car project in Aurora

By Manny Galvez
Tuesday, March 4, 2008
The Philippine Star

DINGALAN, Aurora – A group of Japanese, Korean and Filipino investors are eyeing a P120-million cable car project in this coastal town, which could help promote the province as an investments and tourism haven and perk up the local economy.

Businessman Romeo Callanta, chairman of the RC Electric Corp. (RCEC), told The STAR that the cable car project will be the first of its kind in the country and will be similar to the cable car line in the Hong Kong Ocean Park.

Callanta, a consultant of Aurora Gov. Bellaflor Angara-Castillo and local partner of the foreign investors, said they are eyeing to install the cable car along a nine-kilometer area in this town, through an aerial cruise with a panoramic view of the Pacific Ocean as backdrop.

“This will officially be the first commercial cable car project in the Philippines and this will be located in Aurora,” he said. He said there is an existing cable car project at the Tagaytay Highlands but this is used exclusively by golfers.

Callanta said the Japanese and Korean investors are eyeing to install up to 50 units of cable cars with a loading capacity of six passengers each or 300 passengers per round trip.

Each ride is expected to cost P100. Callanta also said the provincial government is expected to generate income from the operations of the cable car line of P83 million or more. In addition, local residents will be employed in the project.

“Essentially, it will have a domino effect in Dingalan and the entire Aurora,” he said.

Ben Mina, provincial environment and natural resources officer of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, said the cable car project will also enhance the province’s image as a potential eco-tourism site in Central Luzon. Along the route of the cable car line, also being eyed is a booking office for passengers and a one-hectare commercial area which will house souvenir shops, coffee shop, theme park, playground, eight waves swimming pool similar to the 8-Waves Park in Baliuag, Bulacan and fastfood outlets of such food chains as Jollibee and McDonald’s.

Callanta said that aside from Hong Kong, other countries which operate a cable car line are the United States, Japan, Switzerland, Germany and other European nations. He cited that in Switzerland, there is a popular place known as Iceglaze where cable cars are the mode of transport.

Angara-Castillo said the provincial government will provide tax incentives to the foreign investors who would invest in the cable car project. She said that the provincial government will not spend a single centavo for the project.

She hinted that several prospective investors have signified interest to put up businesses in the province, noting that at least P1.5 billion in outside investments is being worked out by the provincial government.

Source: http://www.philstar.com/index.php?Nation&p=49&type=2&sec=28&aid=2008030382

kiretoce

March 4th, 2008, 06:03 PM

Diving into the Russian market (http://showbizandstyle.inquirer.net/you/2bu/view/20080304-122704/Diving-into-the-Russian-market)

MANILA, Philippines — Scuba diving is now one of the world’s fastest-growing and most accessible adventure sports activities. This was evident during the Moscow International Diving Festival Golden Dolphin, recently held at Gostiny Dvor in Moscow, Russia.

Participants from 33 countries included manufacturers and distributors of diving and spear fishing equipment, underwater photo and video shops, scuba training schools, dive tourism companies, travel representatives, filmmakers and photographers and writers from global diving publications.

Photo and video competitions featuring old wrecks and underwater scenery were also held during the festival. Last year's five winning entries from Russia showcased Philippine marine life.

"The Philippine islands have the widest variety of marine life in the world. The smallest and the biggest fish can be found in our waters. Besides, diving in the Philippines gives you so many options that every dive will be different and mind-blowing, even if it is at the same dive site," says Cynthia Carrion, Department of Tourism Assistant Secretary for Sports and Wellness Tourism.

The best Philippine dive sites, Carrion says, are in Donsol, Sorsogon; Anilao, Batangas; Puerto Galera, Oriental Mindoro; Busuanga and Coron Bay in Palawan; Boracay Island, Aklan; Apo Reef, Mindoro; Moalboal, Mactan Island, Malapascua Island, Balicasag in Cebu; and Tubbataha Reefs, Sulu Sea.

The Philippines has had its fair share of dynamite fishing and cyanide poisoning. But, Carrion says, this is now a thing of the past.

"Such practices are being addressed by Philippine authorities, who are training local fisherman in the use of ecological net catching of small fish. They are also teaching good husbandry techniques for the sustainability of this industry. More Filipinos recognize a better future in tourism."

Campaign in Russia

The Philippine participation in the Golden Dolphin Festival since last year, and in the Spa and Health Moscow and Leisure Fair Moscow in 2005, has certainly generated a lot of interest in the country.

"We would like to make sure this interest is sustained by coming up with new marketing strategies that will keep the country in equal footing, if not better, with its Southeast Asian neighbors, especially now that Southeast Asian countries are making quite an impression among the Russians," Carrion says.

Russia's opening up to the world, its booming economy, political stability, as well as its people's fascination with Asia as an exotic destination, are the key factors that have made the DOT add Russia to its expanding list of relatively new target markets. Russian travelers have also been ranked by the World Tourism Organization as the 10th biggest spenders in the world.

With a population of 278 million, the Russian Federation and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) are among the most promising markets in Europe. Tourism is its fastest growing sector, mainly due to the 70 years of travel restrictions under the old USSR that have now been removed.

Based on a recent WTO survey, the significant increase in the number of Russians traveling abroad is expected to place the country in the 10th rank with respect to tourism-producing countries in the year 2020.

This is why Edward Grigoriev, DOT market representative of Russia and the CIS, has been urging the country's tourism officials to aggressively market the Philippines in Russia and get more Russian tourists to visit the country.

Grigoriev says outbound tourists from Russia reached 6.4 million in 2006. The number of Russian tourists is projected to grow more as the Russian economy continues to register growth, boosted by high oil prices and the relatively cheap ruble (Russian currency), he adds.

"Russia faces its next straight year of growth, averaging 6.5 percent. Since 2000, investment and consumer-driven demand have played a noticeably increasing role. Real fixed capital investments have averaged gains greater than 10 percent over the last four years, and real personal incomes have averaged increases of 12 percent," he says.

Grigoriev says Russian tourists in the Philippines in 2006 numbered 12,000, a 30-percent increase over the 2005 figure. He estimated that the earnings from these tourists could reach $9.45 million.

Aggressive marketing

However, Grigoriev says little is known about the Philippines in Russia and the CIS.

In Southeast Asia, Thailand remains the most popular destination for Russian and CIS tourists, he points out. In 2006, over 130,000 tourists from Russia and CIS visited Thailand, with Pattaya getting the budget travelers. Two other destinations in Thailand-Phuket and Samui-also enjoyed brisk business from Russians, Grigoriev adds.

Indonesia came in a far second as a Southeast Asia destination for the Russian market with 23,000 arrivals in 2006, while Malaysia had 9,000 arrivals.

Aside from these three countries, the Philippines also competes with Goa in India, the Caribbean islands, Maldives and Vietnam, Grigoriev says.

He urges the Philippines to capitalize on its dry season up to the middle of June, since tourists from Russia and CIS prefer traveling during the winter season.

"The Russian tourists spend about $2,000 on airfare and would be willing to spend the same amount during their stay in the Philippines," Grigoriev says.

The DOT has reported that from January to August 2007, tourist arrivals from Russia and the CIS grew by 7.2 percent compared to the same period in 2006. They are currently the Philippines' seventh biggest source of tourists from the European region.

"The Philippines has all the necessary things for Russian divers. It has a lot of dive sites which are different from one another. They have marvelous underwater world and resorts. The country is an oasis of good Filipino dive shops. There are qualified instructors and delicious food. That's why when we're in the Philippines, we try to maximize our fun there. The country is a perfect blend of nature and people," Grigoriev says.

flymordecai

March 4th, 2008, 10:25 PM

spearhead

March 5th, 2008, 04:34 AM

This sounds very cool. What kind of place would it be in I wonder?

They said by the shoreline viewing the pacific ocean.

I say we should also include some similar cable-car project around benguet, and at sierra madre which also have some awesome views of mountains, hills, and those rice terraces in banaue.

Anyway, RP is still lagging behind in tourism among all asian nations because they lack of reliable mass transportation and other infrastruture developments. RP government should also do more and totally take care of the streetchildren and squatters as soon as possible because it really gives bad impressions to the foreigners if we really wanted to become a main tourist destination in asia.

RP lags behind in tourism investment appeal survey
03/05/2008 | 09:32 AM

MANILA, Philippines- The Philippines remains an unattractive destination for tourism investments, ranking 81st out of 130 countries in the 2008 Travel & Tourism Competitiveness Report by the World Economic Forum.

The rankings measured the factors that make it attractive to develop the travel and tourism industry of individual countries.

In the 2007 Travel and Tourism report, the Philippines ranked 86th out of 124 countries polled.

"Our study is not a 'beauty contest' on the attractiveness of a country... The top-ranked countries demonstrate the importance of supportive business and regulatory frameworks, coupled with world-class transport and tourism infrastructure and a focus on nurturing human and natural resources," said Jennifer Blanke, senior economist of the WEF"s Global Competitiveness Network

Topping the 2008 list were Switzerland, Austria and Germany. Also included in the Top 10 were Australia, Spain, the United Kingdom, the United States, Sweden, Canada and France.

The Travel & Tourism Competitiveness Index is composed of 14 pillars of travel and tourism competitiveness, under three major categories.

These pillars were: policy rules and regulations, environmental sustainability, safety and security, health and hygiene, prioritization of travel and tourism, air transport infrastructure, ground transport infrastructure, tourism infrastructure, informations and communication technology infrastructure, price competitiveness, human capital, affinity for travel and tourism, natural resources and cultural resources.

The Philippines ranked 83rd in the Travel & Tourism framework; 84th in Travel & Tourism Business Environment and Infrastructure framework; and 78th in the Travel & Tourism Human, Cultural, and Natural Resources.

Other East Asian countries fared better than the Philippines' rank with Hong Kong, 14th; Singapore, 16th; Japan, 23rd; Korea, 31st; Malaysia, 32nd; Thailand, 42nd; Taiwan, 52nd and China, 62nd.

Besides the Philippines, other East Asian countries in the bottom half of the rankings were Indonesia, 80th; and Vietnam, 96th. - Cheryl Arcibal, GMANews.TV
http://www.gmanews.tv/story/83406/RP-lags-behind-in-tourism-investment-appeal-survey

icarusrising

March 5th, 2008, 05:58 AM

^^ Interestingly, this article views the same news with the opposite perspective...

RP climbs up in world
ranking for travel, tourism
Wednesday, March 05, 2008

By Darwin G. Amojelar, Reporter

The Manila Times

THE Philippines’ ranking in the most attractive environments for the travel and tourism industry climbed five notches this year, according to the World Economic Forum (WEF) study released on Tuesday.

In its Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Report 2008, the Switzerland-based organization said the country ranked 81st among 130 countries around the world. It scored 3.7 points in the overall travel and tourism competitiveness index.

In 2007, the country ranked 86th among 124 counties included in the survey.

WEF estimated that the Philippines’ travel and tourism industry last year amounted to $5.57 billion, reflecting a 4.4-percent annual growth with an employment of about 1.3 million people.

The travel and tourism industry contributed about $12.3 billion to the Philippine economy.

“Our study is not a ‘beauty contest’ on the attractiveness of a country. Rather, we aim to measure the factors that make it attractive to develop the travel and tourism industry of individual countries. The top-ranked countries demonstrate the importance of supportive business and regulatory frameworks, coupled with world-class transport and tourism infrastructure and a focus on nurturing human and natural resources,” Jennifer Blanke, WEF Global Competitiveness Network senior economist said.

In terms of regulatory framework, the Philippines scored 4.1 points; business environment and infrastructure, 3.2; and human cultural and natural resources, 3.8 points.

The travel and tourism competitive survey measures the factors and policies that make it attractive to develop the said sector in different countries.

The WEF also scored a number of “pillars” of travel and tourism competitiveness. It included policy rules and regulations, of which the Philippines scored 4.4; environmental sustain*ability, 4.3; safety and security, 4; health and hygiene, 3.6; and prioritization of travel and tourism, 4.4.

For air transport infrastructure, the country scored 2.9; ground transport infrastructure, 3.2; tourism infrastructure, 2.3; information and communication technology (ICT) infrastructure, 2.1; price competitiveness, 5.5; human capital, 3.8; education and training, 5; availability of qualified labor, 5; and cultural resources, 2.

European, North American countries ahead

Switzerland ranked first with 5.63 followed by Austria and Germany with 5.43 and 5.41, respectively. Included in the top ten are Iceland, United States, Hong Kong, Canada, Singapore, Luxembourg and United Kingdom.

The Philippines ranked below other Southeast Asian countries like Malaysia, ranking 32nd; Thailand, 42nd; and Indonesia, 80th. But the country was ahead of Vietnam, which was ranked at 96.

The travel and tourism competitiveness index uses a combination of data from publicly available sources, international travel and tourism institutions and experts from the industry, as well as the results of the executive opinion survey, and a comprehensive annual survey conducted by the WEF.

The WEF is an independent international organization committed to improving the state of the world by engaging leaders in partnerships to shape global, regional and industry agendas.

Incorporated as a foundation in 1971, and based in Geneva, Switzerland, the organization is non-profit, with no political, partisan or national interests.

diz

March 5th, 2008, 09:54 AM

lmao. that is expected from a pessimistic local media.

spearhead

March 5th, 2008, 10:25 PM

That report is about the measurement of tourism arrivals in the philippines and not the measurement of the world's favorite tourist destination and so the investment to attract more tourists. We may have been able to increase our tourist arrivals but we are still lagging behind because others are also enjoying the same increase. So the report is not really opposing the latter. Oh well it doesn't really matter.

:cheers:

GearX

March 6th, 2008, 03:26 AM

EDITORIAL
Philippines 81st in world tourism (http://www.manilatimes.net/national/2008/mar/06/yehey/opinion/20080306opi1.html)

HERE’S good news for a change. The Philippines has advanced by five rungs in world tourism, according to the World Economic Forum, ranking 81st among 130 countries surveyed.

The WEF’s Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Report 2008 said Manila was 86th among 124 countries polled last year. The report ranked the most attractive environments for the travel and tourism industry, factoring in government policy, regulations, environmental sustainability, safety and security, health and hygiene and the priority given to tourism.

Tourism is a big moneymaker for the Philippines. The WEF estimated that our hospitality industry last year amounted to $5.57 billion, reflecting a 4.4- percent annual growth with an employment of about 1.3 million people. Our report yesterday said travel and tourism contributed about $12.3 billion to the national economy.

Tourism also boosts the national image. It reflects foreign confidence in our stability, infrastructure and sense of hospitality. Travel is a big come-on for investments since businessmen are part of the tourist crowd and their impressions count much for investment decisions.

Like housing, tourism has wide multiplier effect, boosting the travel (ships, airlines, bus lines) industry, the accommodations (hotels, condotels, tourist inns) business, sports and entertainment, restaurants, handicraft, historical and cultural centers and a wide constellation of local attractions.

It has advanced significantly on the programs of the Department of Tourism, Philippine Tourism Authority and the Department of Foreign Affairs. The report on arrivals for January is impressive. Problems remain however.

We have not reached the target we have been aiming for in the last decade. Among Asean (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) countries, Malaysia (ranked 32nd), Thailand (42nd) and Indonesia (80th) outpace us. Singapore is in the top 10, along with Iceland, the United States, Hong Kong, Canada, Luxembourg and the United Kingdom. Vietnam is 96th, but Hanoi’s economy is one of the fastest growing in the region, pulling along the tourist trade.

The growing strength of the peso could hurt tourism as travelers look elsewhere for cheaper destinations. Reports say that many metro Manila establishments prefer to receive peso, not dollar, payments for their services.

The government has reduced paperwork for travel to the Philippines. Under the visa-upon-entry program of the Bureau of Immigration and the DOT, tourists could enter without visas, receiving them at points of entry. Their character, purpose of business and length of stay are certified by the association of travel agencies or individual travel companies. What we fail to see is an effective monitoring system that tells us how many tourists have left and how many have overstayed legally or illegally.

Many kinks have to be ironed out before we could achieve a robust and fully rewarding tourism industry. By all means, we should widen the door to our visitors, ensuring that a correct proactive policy environment actively backs our culture of hospitality.

Political tourism

FILIPINOS have tried every approach from traditional tourism, ecotourism to medical tourism. We haven’t tried a potential winner—political tourism.

Philippine politics is unlike many others. Partisanship is a crowning glory. Permissiveness is a quality since it is not a crime for politicians to jump from one party to another. Families and political dynasties rule local and national elections. Succession is guaranteed by wealth.

This is a country where people squabble about an election that is two or three years away. The only place where many election outcomes are known in advance. All candidates sincerely believe they could only lose to cheating. This explains why concessions are rare.

The campaigns are unique. Issues and platforms are never discussed. There has never been a presidential debate in history. You cannot tell the parties or the political coalitions from each other because no group offers honest options. The messages and appeals are delivered to the voters through dance-and-song onstage, donations, black propaganda, motorcades and naked vote buying.

It takes weeks and months to know the victors and the losers. Some election protests take so long the real winner never gets to take his seat until the last day of the congressional session or until the incumbent local official has bled the treasury dry.

Filipinos may have contributed “people power” to the world but now they are increasingly embarrassed by “Edsa One” and “Edsa Two.” Mob power was never an answer to misrule.

Gossips and rumors, especially about military coups and civilian mutinies, are part of the landscape. There is always a scandal—true or imagined—breaking out each month. Media focus and coffeeshop talk keep the rumors alive. The Congress spends as much time to investigations as to lawmaking.

Foreigners have a lot to learn from our politics. They could have their pick of the walking tours to the presidential palace, the Batasan Building, the Senate Executive Bldg., the Commission on Elections offices, city hall, the provincial capitol and the numerous media forums. The campaign period is highly recommended. Voting and ballot counting at the precinct are instructive. The “political noise” is overwhelming. Entertainment is guaranteed. We promise.

filcan

March 6th, 2008, 03:46 AM

^^while its good news we've moved up the rankings lets understand that were still in the bottom half of the top tourist destinations in the world.

Manila-X

March 6th, 2008, 06:34 AM

Espma

March 6th, 2008, 08:15 AM

^^ I think getting them to the Philippines is a major obstacle already..geeez how much hassle do they have to go through to get there..or is there a direct flight right now?!

Manila-X

March 6th, 2008, 08:19 AM

^^ I think getting them to the Philippines is a major obstacle already..geeez how much hassle do they have to go through to get there..or is there a direct flight right now?!

The only problem is there is only one direct flight from Europe to Manila and that is from Amsterdam. Other would have to either stop over at HK, Dubai or BKK before changing a connect flight to Manila.

OtAkAw

March 6th, 2008, 04:09 PM

^^Even before thinking of going to the beaches here in the Philippines, nasa Phuket, Pattaya, Phang Nga, Langkawi at saan mang dako na sila.

kiretoce

March 6th, 2008, 07:02 PM

Philippines 81st in world tourism (http://www.manilatimes.net/national/2008/mar/06/yehey/opinion/20080306opi1.html)

Here's good news for a change. The Philippines has advanced by five rungs in world tourism, according to the World Economic Forum, ranking 81st among 130 countries surveyed.

The WEF’s Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Report 2008 said Manila was 86th among 124 countries polled last year. The report ranked the most attractive environments for the travel and tourism industry, factoring in government policy, regulations, environmental sustainability, safety and security, health and hygiene and the priority given to tourism.

Tourism is a big moneymaker for the Philippines. The WEF estimated that our hospitality industry last year amounted to $5.57 billion, reflecting a 4.4- percent annual growth with an employment of about 1.3 million people. Our report yesterday said travel and tourism contributed about $12.3 billion to the national economy.

Tourism also boosts the national image. It reflects foreign confidence in our stability, infrastructure and sense of hospitality. Travel is a big come-on for investments since businessmen are part of the tourist crowd and their impressions count much for investment decisions.

Like housing, tourism has wide multiplier effect, boosting the travel (ships, airlines, bus lines) industry, the accommodations (hotels, condotels, tourist inns) business, sports and entertainment, restaurants, handicraft, historical and cultural centers and a wide constellation of local attractions.

It has advanced significantly on the programs of the Department of Tourism, Philippine Tourism Authority and the Department of Foreign Affairs. The report on arrivals for January is impressive. Problems remain however.

We have not reached the target we have been aiming for in the last decade. Among Asean (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) countries, Malaysia (ranked 32nd), Thailand (42nd) and Indonesia (80th) outpace us. Singapore is in the top 10, along with Iceland, the United States, Hong Kong, Canada, Luxembourg and the United Kingdom. Vietnam is 96th, but Hanoi’s economy is one of the fastest growing in the region, pulling along the tourist trade.

The growing strength of the peso could hurt tourism as travelers look elsewhere for cheaper destinations. Reports say that many metro Manila establishments prefer to receive peso, not dollar, payments for their services.

The government has reduced paperwork for travel to the Philippines. Under the visa-upon-entry program of the Bureau of Immigration and the DOT, tourists could enter without visas, receiving them at points of entry. Their character, purpose of business and length of stay are certified by the association of travel agencies or individual travel companies. What we fail to see is an effective monitoring system that tells us how many tourists have left and how many have overstayed legally or illegally.

Many kinks have to be ironed out before we could achieve a robust and fully rewarding tourism industry. By all means, we should widen the door to our visitors, ensuring that a correct proactive policy environment actively backs our culture of hospitality.

Political tourism

Filipinos have tried every approach from traditional tourism, ecotourism to medical tourism. We haven’t tried a potential winner—political tourism.

Philippine politics is unlike many others. Partisanship is a crowning glory. Permissiveness is a quality since it is not a crime for politicians to jump from one party to another. Families and political dynasties rule local and national elections. Succession is guaranteed by wealth.

This is a country where people squabble about an election that is two or three years away. The only place where many election outcomes are known in advance. All candidates sincerely believe they could only lose to cheating. This explains why concessions are rare.

The campaigns are unique. Issues and platforms are never discussed. There has never been a presidential debate in history. You cannot tell the parties or the political coalitions from each other because no group offers honest options. The messages and appeals are delivered to the voters through dance-and-song onstage, donations, black propaganda, motorcades and naked vote buying.

It takes weeks and months to know the victors and the losers. Some election protests take so long the real winner never gets to take his seat until the last day of the congressional session or until the incumbent local official has bled the treasury dry.

Filipinos may have contributed “people power” to the world but now they are increasingly embarrassed by “Edsa One” and “Edsa Two.” Mob power was never an answer to misrule.

Gossips and rumors, especially about military coups and civilian mutinies, are part of the landscape. There is always a scandal—true or imagined—breaking out each month. Media focus and coffeeshop talk keep the rumors alive. The Congress spends as much time to investigations as to lawmaking.

Foreigners have a lot to learn from our politics. They could have their pick of the walking tours to the presidential palace, the Batasan Building, the Senate Executive Bldg., the Commission on Elections offices, city hall, the provincial capitol and the numerous media forums. The campaign period is highly recommended. Voting and ballot counting at the precinct are instructive. The “political noise” is overwhelming. Entertainment is guaranteed. We promise.

Manila-X

March 7th, 2008, 05:57 AM

I read online that there was a bloody rally dispersal that happened in Intramuros and some foreign tourists witnessed it. Just wondering what their perception of Manila and particularly The Philippines will be?

icarusrising

March 7th, 2008, 10:30 AM

MINDANAWORLD : Trade, tourism in Sultan Kudarat

By Joji Ilagan- Bian
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Posted date: March 06, 2008

April will be a busy month for the province of Sultan Kudarat, with several activities lined up.

These include the 2nd Sultan Kudarat Business Week Celebration (April 7-11) to be hosted by the Sultan Kudarat Chamber of Commerce and Industry Foundation Inc. (SKCCIFI), Federation of Mindanao Business Chambers of Mindanao and Isulan Chamber of Commerce and the 2nd SocSarGen (South Cotabato, Saranggani, General Santos) Area Business Conference on April 16-21.

The province is composed of 11 municipalities and one component city; its coastal areas and towns are directly facing Australia and the three major Asean partners of Mindanao—Brunei, Indonesia and Malaysia

Trade concerns

Among the issues to be discussed are the lack of products-to-region association, high cost of product licensing, absence of food testing laboratory, unregulated importation of consumer products, questionable quality of imports, market and supply matching for raw materials and products, extortion in several check points, preservation of aquamarine products, infrastructure problems such as the lack of bulk handling facilities, and the lack of all-weather road networks.

To address these concerns, event organizers have identified some programs that will be undertaken. These include the branding of goods produced in the region as “Mindanano Ini” [This is Mindanao]; lobbying for reduction of product licensing fees; establishment of regional food testing and product analysis laboratories; strict enforcement of import regulations; enforcement of import monitoring; creation of a Mindanao business portal; establishment of aquamarine post-harvest facilities, and port expansion.

Tourism issues

The tourism sector will discuss the absence of all-weather road access to identified tourism sites, poor tourism facilities, Mindanao regional air links, lack of interregional Mindanao travel and tour coordination among concerned agencies, and various promotional and marketing efforts.

Organizers say the issues will be addressed through the holding of fora that will bring the private sector and local government units together to work on investments in tourism facilities in identified tourism sites; lobbying for budget allocation for the construction and rehabilitation of all-weather road networks in identified tourism sites; massive information campaign to promote the Mindanao Tourism Roadmap; creation of a Mindanao Travel Website; publication of Mindanao Travel and Trade Guidebook; promotion of a stronger public-private sector partnership in tourism programs and projects, and the establishment of a Mindanao Regional Air Linkage.

Business congress

The congress is an annual Mindanao-wide event that will gather members of the business community, local government units, national and regional government offices to discuss economic programs, issues and advocacy that will help make Mindanao globally competitive in trade and tourism—which are the focus of this year’s congress. The congress has adopted the theme “Go Mindanao: Gearing towards global competitiveness in trade and tourism.”

* * *

A seminar exclusive for Mindanao-based journalists, titled “Exploring Population, Health and Environment Linkages,” will be held at the Phela Grande Hotel, General Santos City March 10-12. Please call +63918 2936786 for information.

Joji Ilagan Bian is chairperson of Joji Ilagan Foundation and Mindanao representative to the Export Development Council. Email comments to jojibian2@yahoo.com.

Source: http://business.inquirer.net/money/features/view/20080306-123048/Trade-tourism-in-Sultan-Kudarat

chocolato1000

March 7th, 2008, 05:23 PM

Foreigner banned after insulting Filipinos

MANILA, Philippines -- For insulting Filipinos in public and bad-mouthing an immigration officer, a foreigner has been banned from entering the country by Immigration Commissioner Marcelino Libanan.

Libanan issued the blacklist order against Jenifer Sharmila Kalka, 42, identified as a Dutch national.

The incident occurred at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) immigration arrival area last February 8, minutes after Kalka arrived aboard a Cathay Pacific flight from Hongkong, Libanan said.

NAIA-BI officials reported that Kalka allegedly refused to answer routine questions from immigration officer Fortunato Manahan who was on duty at the NAIA-BI counter. He asked her purpose in coming to the Philippines and after being politely advised to fill up the disembarkation form, she refused to do so.

Instead, the woman allegedly turned rowdy and said: “You Filipinos are f___ing lazy!” which caused a commotion among the other passengers, according to Libanan.

Kalka reportedly continued to shout her invectives even after she was warned that she won’t be allowed to enter the country.

When brought to the airport’s immigration office, the woman allegedly repeated her unkind remarks, saying “you Filipinos are f___ing lazy. That is why you are poor,” according to Libanan.

She was thus refused entry, issued an exclusion order, and booked on the first available flight to her port of origin, said Libanan.

Libanan said Kalka was among thousands of foreigners who have been blacklisted by the BI for being rude and arrogant towards immigration officers.

Libanan noted that Kalka and many of the other foreign travelers who were blacklisted also uttered insulting remarks about Filipinos, an act which, he said, was “an affront to the dignity of our people and to our sovereignty as a nation.”

“A foreign tourist who exhibits arrogance and rude behavior upon his arrival in the Philippines should be turned back right away for he does not deserve the hospitality of our country and people,” the BI chief said.

By Tetch Torres
INQUIRER.net

youdamiren

March 7th, 2008, 05:24 PM

Foreigner banned after insulting Filipinos
http://globalnation.inquirer.net/news/breakingnews/view/20080307-123371/Foreigner-banned-after-insulting-Filipinos

By Tetch Torres
INQUIRER.net
First Posted 15:25:00 03/07/2008

MANILA, Philippines -- For insulting Filipinos in public and bad-mouthing an immigration officer, a foreigner has been banned from entering the country by Immigration Commissioner Marcelino Libanan.

Libanan issued the blacklist order against Jenifer Sharmila Kalka, 42, identified as a Dutch national.

The incident occurred at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) immigration arrival area last February 8, minutes after Kalka arrived aboard a Cathay Pacific flight from Hongkong, Libanan said.

NAIA-BI officials reported that Kalka allegedly refused to answer routine questions from immigration officer Fortunato Manahan who was on duty at the NAIA-BI counter. He asked her purpose in coming to the Philippines and after being politely advised to fill up the disembarkation form, she refused to do so.

Instead, the woman allegedly turned rowdy and said: “You Filipinos are f___ing lazy!” which caused a commotion among the other passengers, according to Libanan.

Kalka reportedly continued to shout her invectives even after she was warned that she won’t be allowed to enter the country.

When brought to the airport’s immigration office, the woman allegedly repeated her unkind remarks, saying “you Filipinos are f___ing lazy. That is why you are poor,” according to Libanan.

She was thus refused entry, issued an exclusion order, and booked on the first available flight to her port of origin, said Libanan.

Libanan said Kalka was among thousands of foreigners who have been blacklisted by the BI for being rude and arrogant towards immigration officers.

Libanan noted that Kalka and many of the other foreign travelers who were blacklisted also uttered insulting remarks about Filipinos, an act which, he said, was “an affront to the dignity of our people and to our sovereignty as a nation.”

“A foreign tourist who exhibits arrogance and rude behavior upon his arrival in the Philippines should be turned back right away for he does not deserve the hospitality of our country and people,” the BI chief said.

diz

March 8th, 2008, 01:56 AM

maybe we wouldn't be badmouthed if weren't so lazy and poor? :dunno:

I mean, the reason why our country is poor is due to lazy politicians who'd rather steal money than get it the slightly difficult way of doing their job correctly. I can't deny it.. we are lazy towards ourselves...

kevinb

March 8th, 2008, 05:25 AM

The only problem is there is only one direct flight from Europe to Manila and that is from Amsterdam. Other would have to either stopover at HK, Dubai or BKK before changing a connect flight to Manila.

And unless otherwise they are really interested in coming to the Philippines, it won't matter if they have stopovers in other tropical countries. And speaking of tropical countries, those much famous tropical countries are going to be hindrances for Scandinavians to fly directly to the Philippines after stopping there, thinking that they are already in a country with the warmth of the sun. I just hope the tourism strategies of DoT and PTA would come to a positive fruition.

maybe we wouldn't be badmouthed if weren't so lazy and poor? :dunno:

I mean, the reason why our country is poor is due to lazy politicians who'd rather steal money than get it the slightly difficult way of doing their job correctly. I can't deny it.. we are lazy towards ourselves...

What's the sense of these foreigners to give unnecessary feedback towards us when, in the first place, they don't participate in molding us? It's like you being dissapointed of a particular product when you didn't even help in the making of the product. Makes sense?

amigo32

March 8th, 2008, 05:56 AM

How about those filipinos badmouthing Filipinos? Should we also send them to timbuktu?

Weina

March 8th, 2008, 06:18 AM

^^yeah send them to timbuktu please. they shouldn't be admitting in the first place that they're filipinos. they're worst than these foreginers. and remember respect is earned not required or demanded. but of course hindi rin pede na apakan na lang tayo nang foreigners kung nasa tamang lugar lang naman tayo.

and going back to topic, with the strength of the peso i think tourism in the philippines will not be that attractive anymore. thailand nowadays is also feeling in their tourism business the impact of a very strong baht. imagine their currency is even stronger now than NT$.

diz

March 8th, 2008, 08:55 AM

What's the sense of these foreigners to give unnecessary feedback towards us when, in the first place, they don't participate in molding us? It's like you being dissapointed of a particular product when you didn't even help in the making of the product. Makes sense?

It's not their job to help us in the first place. :) They shouldn't be even be "molding us". That's like doing someone else's homework coz the person who's actually supposed to do it is, again, lazy! We shouldn't even need help at all since we our somewhat a rich country, if that money was used properly.

Now, don't get me wrong, I'm not insulting us... I'm just saying that we had and still do have the opprotunity to become a strong economy..

nayki

March 8th, 2008, 09:43 AM

kiretoce

March 10th, 2008, 04:24 PM

Despite problems, RP tourism grows (http://www.manilatimes.net/national/2008/mar/10/yehey/opinion/20080310opi2.html)

In Southeast Asia, the Philippines ranked below Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia—but ahead of Vietnam—in a recent review of the travel and tourism industry throughout the world. That should surprise few globetrotters.

Many foreigners, especially Westerners, who come to our part of the world look forward to the exotica that the mere mention of “Asia” conjures. Not only do the people look different and speak in unfamiliar tongues, they also belong to centuries-old civilizations that have fascinated Europeans since the time of Marco Polo.

The problem is that when the same travelers get off their flight in Manila, Clark, Cebu or Davao what they immediately experience is what an American novelist once described as “the shock of recognition.” Not only do the Filipinos they meet speak English, of a sort, there seems to be little that distinguishes them culturally and instantly identifies them as Asian. But that is precisely the comparative advantage that we have not fully tapped.

Our colonial experience was what shaped our nationhood yet we Filipinos have not outgrown our adolescent love-hate relationship with our past. Macau in China, Malacca in Malaysia and Goa in India have learned to profit from their historical ties to Portugal, but we Filipinos seem embarrassed by our Iberian links.

Our collective discomfort with our history—the real one, not the nativistic legends conjured by historical revisionists—has given rise to our general indifference to culture. Thus, when foreigners come to our shores, we have little to show by way of monuments, artifacts and other manifestations of Filipino civilization.

Tourist traffic

If tourism has not developed—not yet, anyway—on the same scale as it has in, say, Thailand with its distinct culture, the officials who are charged with boosting tourist arrivals are hardly to blame. In fact, they should be commended for having increased tourist traffic despite our sparse cultural attractions, inadequate infrastructure and security headaches.

Officials led by Tourism Secretary Ace Durano have managed to raise the Philippine travel industry’s ranking by five notches based on a study released last week by the World Economic Forum, based in Switzerland.

The WEF Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Report 2008 placed the Philippines at the 81st spot on a list of 130 countries. It is an improvement over the 86th ranking given last year in a review of the travel industry in 124 countries.

Published reports quote Jennifer Blanke, senior economist of WEF Global Competitiveness Network, as saying: “The top-ranked countries demonstrate the importance of supportive business and regulatory frameworks, coupled with world-class transport and tourism infrastructure and a focus on nurturing human and natural resources.”

In the top 10 are Switzerland, Austria, Germany, Iceland, Uni*ted States, Hong Kong, Canada, Singapore, Luxembourg and United Kingdom. The Philippines ranked below Malaysia at the 32nd spot, Thailand 42nd and Indonesia 80th but was ahead of Vietnam at 96th.

The WEF survey measured factors and policies that help develop travel and tourism in individual countries.

The Philippines ranked high in price competitiveness, education and training and availability of qualified labor. It did relatively well in policy rules and regulations, prioritization of travel and tourism, environmental sustainability, human capital, safety and security and healthy hygiene. It did poorly in air transport and ground transport infrastructure, tourism infrastructure, information and communication technology and cultural resources.

The WEF 2008 report is important because it points out to countries like the Philippines that aim to reap the economic benefits of tourism the areas they need to put more focus on. No doubt Durano and other DoT officials are already working on them.

PAL presses ahead

What promises to help draw more foreign visitors is the decision of Philippine Airlines to press ahead with its expansion program. Notwithstanding the lack of support from or even hostile policies of the government and problems—due to the usual foot-dragging of Philippine officials—with US aviation authorities are being ironed out, PAL has announced its plan to launch 56 weekly flights to seven destinations in China.

The flag carrier is set to introduce regular service to Chongqing, twice weekly, on March 14 followed by Chengdu, twice weekly; on March 18; and Macau, five times weekly on May 1. These cities join four other points in the airline’s China network. PAL already flies to Shanghai seven times weekly, Xiamen seven times weekly, Hong Kong 28 times weekly, and Beijing up from one to five times weekly by March 30.

PAL’s combined 56 weekly flights to China in May is set to surpass its operations to the United States, 33 times weekly to five points, and Japan, 28 times weekly to four points—PAL’s traditional bread-and-butter routes.

China is set to become PAL’s top destination with 56 weekly flights to seven points this May—the most by any Philippine carrier to that country.

icarusrising

March 11th, 2008, 10:56 AM

PCCI looking forward to improved RP
tourism business to boost economy

By Imelda V. Abaño
Correspondent

BAGUIO CITY—Lamenting that the Philippines lags behind its Asia-Pacific neighbors in terms of tourism investments, Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) president Samie Lim remains optimistic of the presence of good business environment to make the country more competitive.

“Right now we do not have much investments as other countries do. That means we still have to do more to beef up investments and tourist arrivals in the country,” Lim told the BusinessMirror.

Lim was in Baguio City Saturday as the guest speaker of the business and tourism forum sponsored by the Department of Tourism (DOT) in the Cordillera and the Baguio-Benguet Chamber of Commerce and Industry Inc.

Earlier, the World Economic Forum’s 2008 Travel and Tourism Competetiveness Report ranked the Philippines 81st out of 130 countries polled in terms of travel and tourism.

But Lim believes that the Philippines, an archipelago of 7,000 islands, has a lot to offer by way of business, travel and tourism.

“Tourism business is a consistently growing industry. It is one of the easiest ways to get people out of poverty, but the government should make growth sustainable,” Lim said.

Lim noted that the economy grew by 7.3 percent last year, the highest in 31 years. He said gross domestic product growth for the fourth quarter was 7.4 percent, from 5.5 percent last year.

“We are on the right track in terms of government policies, and physical infrastructure are in place. I’m sure this year we can sustain the economic growth if we do not have too much political noise,” Lim said.

Lim said that aside from tourism business, business-process outsourcing, information technology, OFW remittances, mining, logistics, transportation and infrastructure would continue to be engines of growth for this year.

In tourism, according to the DOT’s medium-term plan, it aims to reach 5 million tourist arrivals by 2010, which means an annual average increase of 20 percent. But Lim said the active promotion of the Philippines as a prime tourist destination is not enough.

“In order to achieve these targets and to ensure continued growth of Philippine tourism and its promotion as prime tourist destination, investments and the development of new infrastructure are crucial,” Lim said.

He said the government must develop targeted strategies for its key markets, adding that improving tourist arrivals, road access, accommodation, attractions and activities will speed up the development of tourism business in the country.

Lim said in the next five years, the government needs to achieve $5-billion investments, collect $5-billion annual tourism revenue, create 5 million jobs and attract 5 million international tourists.

“Laying down these figures means we still need a coordinated effort, more creativity and initiative for our goal of a sustainable tourism development and promotion in the country to become a reality,” he said.

He lamented that many attractions in the country have not been properly maintained and need reinvestment.

Lim identified medical tourism, gaming sector as well as natural attractions in different parts of the country as potential markets for business tourism.

He said among the cities being aggressively promoted today are Manila, Davao, Cebu, Clark in Pampanga and Laoag City. Poro Point in La Union is also rising to become a tourist destination in the country with vast beaches.

“All of these natural beauty in our country are God-given. It’s just in front of us that we did not appreciate it so well, so it takes people from outside to come and say that it is much more beautiful than their own country. So some of them come back and they invest,” Lim said.

Lim also suggested to Asean member countries to provide one integrated tourist site through standardizing marketing, reservations, hotel accommodations, transportations and package tours. In this way, he said, Asean countries can offer tourists affordable trips all in one platform.

“We have to energize international gateways. The free flow of people is becoming a reality and we no longer think of just the Philippines as a market but for Asean community,” Lim said.

Over the years, holiday is still the major purpose of visit in the Philippines. According to the National Statistical Coordination Board, around 45 percent of the total visitors are coming because of that.

Visiting friends and relatives comes next with 26.5 percent, while 16.9 percent are coming for business. Other specific purposes identified were convention attendance, official travel and incentive travel.

According to the DOT, in 2007 visitors from abroad reached more than 3 million tourists. Most of our visitors are coming from Korea, the United States, Japan and China, ranked accordingly. Considerable number of visitors also came from Australia, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore, Canada and the United Kingdom.

Tourist expenditure posted a hefty growth of 40.99 percent to reach $4.885 billion, surpassing the DOT’s $3.782-billion target. Tourism investment was pegged at $5.6 billion and jobs generated from tourism-related businesses reached 3.54 million.

Source: http://www.businessmirror.com.ph/03112008/economy01.html