Other ASEAN ountries has greater tourist arrival because they are inland countries, unlike our Philippines, which is an archipelago.

Yup agree kasi mas mura kung land travel kesa sa air travel ehh dikit dikit sila at remeber Philippines is the Only S.E. Asean nation without land boarders!

Is Hard to move from an island to another I agree but our problem that we got bad transportation system and bad infrastructures even inside our islands , for example Luzon , How many hours you need to go to Baguio or Vigan by car or bus .. I would like to add train but we don't have it :bash:?

is there a reason why the roads in Palawan can't be paved so a journey to the tourist sites doesn't take twelve hours to reach in such a small island? and dot it with small rustic cafes with a native touch and it'll be a much tourist friendly place.

Boracay beats Bali, tops Asia tourism survey (http://www.manilastandardtoday.com/?page=business3_july19_2008)

Results of an online survey conducted by international magazine TravelWeekly listed the resort island of Boracay in Western Visayas as the best leisure destination in Asia, beating other favorites such as Bali in Indonesia and Sanya in China.

The survey, called “Attractions that rock Asia,” drew responses from 2.2 million viewers who participated in the online poll.

Boracay is the only Philippine destination nominated in the survey. No entry from the Philippines was included for other categories such as Best Business and Meetings Incentives and Conventions and Exhibits Destination, Best Cultural and Heritage Destination, and Best Eco-Tourism Destination.

Reacting to the results of the online survey, Tourism Secretary Ace Durano said the resort island, which is a part of Aklan, continued to attract tourists because of its unrivalled beauty.

He said the government was committed to intensify efforts to protect and preserve the natural charm of Boracay.

The Tourism Department is implementing a master plan for Boracay that involves decongestion of the crowded White Beach and improving water services on the island.

Durano earlier called for a moratorium of construction on the resort island, until a new land use plan was completed to guide new resorts development.

He said Boracay continued to be the destination of choice by tourists because of its natural assets and the quality service provided by the tourist establishments there.

“In promoting a destination, the natural beauty of the site is not the only consideration. We also have to give top-notch service to make the stay of our guests both pleasurable and memorable so they will keep coming back,” he said.

Arrivals on the island last year grew 7.7 percent to 596,707. The tourism department expects some 700,000 tourists to visit the island this year because of greater availability of flights from Asian countries.

In June this year, Mandarin Airlines, a sister company of China Airlines, opened direct flights from Taipei to Kalibo, one of the two gateways to Boracay, the other being Caticlan.

^^that's nice :p

I hope BORACAY doesn't get too spoiled and congested like BAGUIO.
I think it should be developed but not OVER DEVELOPED THAT IT LOSES IT'S NATURAL BEAUTY.
not just BORACAY but for many other islands in the PHILIPPINES.

:horse:

JP

^^ Maybe Baguio should reconsider removing some universities from baguio to make the area less crowded.

Do you really think the Universities (and institutions of learning) are causing the increase of this "maddening crowd in BAGUIO??"

IMHO
I think that majority of the people causing "the congestion" are not students, faculties or employees of the Universities (nor the foreigners taking the English Courses). Other people are coming to Baguio to reside there, because of it's beauty. They also know that they get away with doing it because there is NO SUFFICIENT ENFORCEMENT OF HOUSING RULES/ REGULATIONS/ LAWS.

I think there should be orderly development in designated areas to accomodate the increasing population, and restricted area to preserve the natural beauty of the region.

:horse:

JP

IMHO, one of the major reason why Baguio is so crowded and dense is because of the presence the major academic institutions which make the city the center of learning in Nothern Luzon. Having thousands of students studying in Baguio and thousands of tourist visiting the place each year will surely attract people to live there. But ofcoarse its the duty of the local government to implement the zoning regulations which have been neglected for many years now.

Is tourism the answer? (http://www.manilastandardtoday.com/?page=ritaLindaJimeno_july21_2008)

Last week, my husband and I treated my balikbayan sister to a holiday in Boracay. It was her first time to visit the island. She left the country about 20 years ago, when she was in her mid-20s, to take up master’s and doctorate degrees in the United States without so much as seeing any part of this country except our residence in Malabon and UP Los Baños where she had her college education. She is one of thousands of Filipinos who have left the country and found a niche outside of home—all because there seemed to be no place to shine and make big dreams come true in this land of few opportunities, especially for scientists.

One might say she is just a speck in the huge workforce we have exported and continue to export abroad. What is sad about this business of exporting human workforce is that we lose the talents and the minds we so need in this country to build it and make it competitive in the world community. The billions of dollars remitted in by our overseas Filipino workers can never measure up to the loss of human workforce, not to mention the social cost of families having to separate. But there seems to be no better option as there are not enough jobs and opportunities to our burgeoning population.

Yet, as my sister raved about Boracay island, calling it a real paradise by all standards, we realized that the answer to the country’s economic woes was found right in our midst. The powder white beaches of Boracay would not have lured the thousands of tourists visiting it each year were it not developed, initially by foreign investors, followed by local businessmen. Now it has five-star hotels, top resorts and restaurants, exciting water sports, good food, the luxuries of massage and spa at unbelievably fair prices and a beautiful array of Philippine products from our various provinces and islands. Jobs and businesses thrive in Boracay island. Everywhere one looks, even after typhoon Frank devastated it together with the entire province of Aklan, one sees what a booming tourism industry means.

Each province and island comprising our archipelagic nation offers unique and exquisite attractions that only need to be developed and marketed. Our leaders need not look far to find what our country should be noted for. It is not our skilled and educated workforce (whom we should keep rather than export) but rather our natural blessings and wealth that we should sell to the world.

My husband and I have been to Bali, Indonesia, to Vietnam, China, Thailand and Angkor Wat in Cambodia. I have seen the Grand Canyon of the US, the awesome museums of Paris and the Colosseum of Rome. I have seen the pyramids and the Valley of Kings and Queens of Egypt. I’ve seen practically the whole world but there is no place else I would rather be than in this country where nature’s beauty and wonder abound.

But why do we not attract as much tourism as we deserve?

People outside the country perceive the Philippines as an unsafe place to be. Travel advisories of the US and other big nations warn their nationals against travel to our country. Certainly, our country is no less safe than Italy where thefts often happen even in one’s hotel room; or in Belgium where I have seen young kids grab and steal video game equipment on display in a store; or in America where psychologically disturbed boys suddenly go on shooting sprees in schools, killing innocent children. Could it be that our government is just not doing enough to give tourism a shot in the arm and to dispel wrong images foreigners have of our country?

We are losing out in the contest to attract foreign direct investments. In Southeast Asia, we received the smallest FDI, with the biggest chunk going to Singapore, a small island state whose attractions are all man-made. Tourism is where foreign investments must go in this country because it offers the widest latitude for growth.

But government has to do its part to disabuse the minds of foreign investors that the Philippines is not an attractive investment destination. Corruption and red tape, for example, turn off investors. Yet in this country, it is so difficult to start up a business because of unclear and convoluted procedures. Grease money changes hands all the time starting from the lowest levels of starting up until one has fully established a business. Scandals that rocked the administration, such as the botched ZTE deal and the Piatco/Naia Terminal-3 fiasco, scare investors away. Then we have senators who castigate and embarrass investors for perceived minor infractions of protocol. One has to have a brave heart to dare invest in the Philippines. The problem of corruption must be addressed with seriousness and genuine political will.

The government must also provide the infrastructure for tourism to grow. Roads leading to destinations that have tourism potential must be developed. And yes, rest rooms and pit stops that offer amenities and food such as native delicacies must be put up. Something as basic as garbage bins to make people conscious of the proper disposal of waste must be found every where. Yet they are as scarce as can be. I remember visiting Mt. Fuji in Japan in the mid-’80s. One had to traverse roads off the beaten path en route to the volcano that was Fujiyama, or Mt. Fuji. Yet, rest rooms with clean toilets, toilet papers, hand dryers and quite a number of garbage disposal bins stood every so many kilometers. This is something we sorely lack. It’s a good thing that gasoline stations provide some amenities. But when one gets out to places outside city zones where there are a few or no gasoline stations, travelers, especially women, just have to learn to hold their bladder.

If the Philippines cannot compete in industries we cannot succeed in, such as manufacturing which is practically a disappearing activity, let us not force the issue. Let us rather thrive on the natural wealth we have and capitalize on them. Indeed it takes wisdom to see what is obvious to most. But the least that the government can do is to begin to understand that this country ought to be known and recognized the world over for its beauty and natural wealth. The issue of peace and order must be addressed and our natural resources must be preserved from degradation. And then hopefully, things will fall into place to solve our economic woes.

^^ is this from an article in the newspaper? or a blog?

I like the new slogan for Philippine tourism

"Philippines, your home in Asia" :)

is this from an article in the newspaper? or a blog?

From www.manilastandardtoday.com. The headline also acts as a link to the article itself, click it.

^^ nice slogan indeed.... I have yet to see the ads with the new slogan...

From www.manilastandardtoday.com. The headline also acts as a link to the article itself, click it.

Thanks kiretoce

^^ No prob, you're welcome. :colgate:

I like the new slogan for Philippine tourism

"Philippines, your home in Asia" :)
I like this too. :)

I like this too. :)

Here's the campaign :)

pU1I1Yt-ink

Here's the campaign :)

pU1I1Yt-ink

Nice! Very, very nice indeed! :okay:

‘Travel practitioners’ should come to NAIA-3--ex-DoT chief (http://globalnation.inquirer.net/news/breakingnews/view/20080722-150024/Travel-practitioners-should-come-to-NAIA-3--ex-DoT-chief)


By Abigail Kwok
INQUIRER.net
First Posted 16:30:00 07/22/2008


MANILA, Philippines -- To boost the image and reputation of the controversy-ridden Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3 (NAIA-3), “travel practitioners” across Asia and the country should be brought here to visit the new airport terminal, a former tourism secretary said.

Senator Richard Gordon, who served as head of the Department of Tourism from 2001 to 2003, said on Tuesday that instead of airport officials conducting dry runs, “representatives from travel practitioners in Asia…we should bring them here, pay for their transportation, bring ambassadors from all over Asia so that they can see that we now have a terminal [and] that we made a big step forward.”

NAIA-3 began commercial operations for domestic flights on Tuesday, after almost six years of delay caused by legal constraints.

Gordon said these legal issues should be settled immediately.

“Construction of the NAIA 3 is finished, let’s open it because when the international airlines land here, they will think that they are going to Terminal 3. Then they will ask why are we being taken to another terminal? And then they will find out that there is a controversy, there is corruption,” said Gordon in Filipino.

Gordon added that opening the new airport and ensuring its smooth operations would decrease the amount of criticisms domestic airports have received from local and foreign tourists.

“When they [tourists] go to the domestic airport, we are being criticized. What they think of our airport is worse than what they think of our politics. The criticisms of visitors who come here are worse than their criticisms of our Senate, Congress, and that I think is what we should listen to,” said Gordon.

The partial opening of NAIA-3 for domestic flights was a “great sigh of relief and confidence and pride because we are now showing that not only because other countries in Asia have done it, we have been able to do it,” Gordon said.

NAIA-3 opens with dawn flight to Caticlan (http://www.philstar.com/index.php?Headlines&p=49&type=2&sec=24&aid=20080722146)

By Rainier Allan Ronda and Rudy Santos

Wednesday, July 23, 2008

Nine domestic flights of Cebu Pacific, including those from Manila to Boracay, Laoag, Naga City, San Jose (Mindoro), and Tuguegarao, took off from the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3 yesterday.

An ATR 72-500 turbo prop plane ferried the first NAIA-3 passengers from Manila to Caticlan in Aklan at 4:10 a.m.

The leading domestic carrier officially transferred part of its domestic operations to the NAIA-3 yesterday, becoming the first airline to operate in the long-mothballed and controversially built facility.

Lance Gokongwei, president and chief executive officer of Cebu Pacific, expressed excitement over the partial transfer of their domestic operations to the facility, saying it was like going to “heaven” after suffering the congestion and inconvenience of the aging Manila Domestic Airport from where they previously operated all their domestic flights.

“This is a wonderful facility. It is like heaven when we just came from hell,” Gokongwei said. “And I think it’s going to be the same for our passengers.”

“You’ve been to our domestic terminal. It’s a 50- to 60-year-old facility and was built to accommodate perhaps 5,000 guests a day and now it’s taking in more than 15,000 guests a day,” Gokongwei said of the old domestic airport which still remains home to most of their domestic flights.

“We think we’ll do very well in this airport and I guess we’ll enjoy this airport,” Gokongwei told reporters yesterday at the sidelines of the send-off ceremonies held by the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) for one of the nine domestic flights of Cebu Pacific that took off from NAIA-3.

Alfonso Cusi, MIAA general manager, expressed satisfaction over the successful start-up operation of the terminal.

“This is the moment. The way to making this start-up operations happen was not easy but we pulled through,” Cusi said.

MIAA had two failed efforts at holding a soft opening of the facility in 2006 and 2007, with the first one being called off when a portion of the terminal’s ceiling at the arrival lobby area collapsed, while the second was cancelled when foreign experts warned against the opening of the facility due to serious structural defects.

After their successful initial operation of nine flights yesterday, Cebu Pacific is set to transfer another five domestic flights to NAIA-3 within the week.

Candice Iyog, Cebu Pacific vice president for marketing and product, said the transfer operations will continue until all their domestic flights operate out of the new terminal.

Next to their domestic operations, Iyog said, will be their international flights, which they currently operate out of the old NAIA Terminal I.

“This will allow us to operate efficiently and give passengers availing of our domestic to international connections a hassle-free experience,” Iyog said.

“Maybe a lot of people will start the day without noticing that airports are practically the windows and the doors to the world, we are bringing the world to the Philippines, and the Philippines to the world through our airports,” added Sen. Richard Gordon, who also attended the soft opening of the terminal.

“After working with Solgen (Agnes) Devanadera, the issue of legal impediment has been addressed, there’s no legal impediment in the opening, so it’s more on the structural defect and some other deficiencies,” said Rep. Danilo Suarez, chairman of the House oversight committee.

“Today, when we opened this airport, we breathed a great sigh of relief and pride because we are now showing that not only because other ASEAN countries have done it, we have been able to do it,” Gordon said.

Cebu Pacific is currently the single largest domestic airline offering the most number of routes, destinations and inter-island connections.

Last year, the 13-year-old air carrier overtook Philippine Airlines as the number one domestic airline in terms of number of passengers, with the feat attributed to its aggressive low-fare offerings.

Gokongwei, for his part, said Cebu Pacific will pursue aggressive expansion plans with the purchase of brand-new aircraft in addition to its current fleet of Airbus A319s, A320s and ATR 72-500s.

“Eight more ATRs are coming in the next year. So our fleet will go to about 31 aircraft by 2012 and about 41 by 2014,” Gokongwei told reporters.

Currently, the airline boasts of the youngest fleet in the Philippines, with 10 A319s, eight A320s, and two ATR 72-500s.

Gokongwei said that they will pursue their growth plans despite the skyrocketing price of fuel, which he admitted was causing “softer” load factors in their flights.

Gokongwei pointed out that their aggressive low-fare campaign was successful in luring more people to fly and travel.

“It’s an elastic market. There’s an impact on the number of guests you carry in the short term. But we believe that as people adjust to the new pricing, the people will come back to traveling,” Gokongwei said. - With Rudy Santos

Wanch: Thanks for posting....

‘Travel practitioners’ should come to NAIA-3--ex-DoT chief (http://globalnation.inquirer.net/news/breakingnews/view/20080722-150024/Travel-practitioners-should-come-to-NAIA-3--ex-DoT-chief)


By Abigail Kwok
INQUIRER.net
First Posted 16:30:00 07/22/2008


MANILA, Philippines -- To boost the image and reputation of the controversy-ridden Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3 (NAIA-3), “travel practitioners” across Asia and the country should be brought here to visit the new airport terminal, a former tourism secretary said.

Senator Richard Gordon, who served as head of the Department of Tourism from 2001 to 2003, said on Tuesday that instead of airport officials conducting dry runs, “representatives from travel practitioners in Asia…we should bring them here, pay for their transportation, bring ambassadors from all over Asia so that they can see that we now have a terminal [and] that we made a big step forward.”

NAIA-3 began commercial operations for domestic flights on Tuesday, after almost six years of delay caused by legal constraints.

Gordon said these legal issues should be settled immediately.

“Construction of the NAIA 3 is finished, let’s open it because when the international airlines land here, they will think that they are going to Terminal 3. Then they will ask why are we being taken to another terminal? And then they will find out that there is a controversy, there is corruption,” said Gordon in Filipino.

Gordon added that opening the new airport and ensuring its smooth operations would decrease the amount of criticisms domestic airports have received from local and foreign tourists.

“When they [tourists] go to the domestic airport, we are being criticized. What they think of our airport is worse than what they think of our politics. The criticisms of visitors who come here are worse than their criticisms of our Senate, Congress, and that I think is what we should listen to,” said Gordon.

The partial opening of NAIA-3 for domestic flights was a “great sigh of relief and confidence and pride because we are now showing that not only because other countries in Asia have done it, we have been able to do it,” Gordon said.

Before anyone of these politicians start bragging, they better get this airport up and running 100% and with all legal disputes settled amicably. It is like inviting someone to your home without bothering to clean up the mess inside the house.:ohno:

here's a site from a company having feasibility studies et al bout existing and proposed developments pertaining tourism in rp.
http://www.horwathap.com/site/?m=100&f=120&p1=979871746&p2=979872756&ty=1

Yes I'm affraid too for Boracay being so congested , it might loose its natural beauty . Boracay or Baguio should move their targets to a new level to more quality tourists , improve their infrastructure and ask for more money making them a luxury exclusive destination .

We have many island beautiful as Boracay and less rich tourists can go there.

Wanch: Thanks for posting....

To be honest, this is the best campaign I've seen in the latest promotion of The Philippines. It gives foreigners that they are welcome in this country and the feeling of being home away from home. Plus it also draw foreign nationals to make The Philippines a place to retire or to relax.

DoT taps more Japanese women (http://www.tempo.com.ph/news.php?aid=39518)

CEBU CITY – The Department of Tourism (DoT) wants to heighten tourist arrivals from Japan, this time luring more Japanese women.

Tourism Secretary Joseph "Ace" Durano said the growth of Japanese tourists have, for many years, remained "stagnant" but arrivals of Japanese women to the country showed significant increase.

"The ratio of Japanese ladies coming to the Philippines has grown from 10 percent in 2004 to now 20 percent," he said in an interview recently.

Durano said tourism expenditures from Japanese tourists increased by five percent in the first five months of this year, with the Japanese women contributing a bigger share.

He, however, quoted no exact figures.

Durano said majority of Japan’s "ladies market" are spending on high valued services such as spas offered by upscale resort-hotels, especially in Cebu.

In addition, he said more Japanese female tourists are extending their stay here.

Japanese tourists, the second top market for Central Visayas registered a slight increase of six percent in the first two months of the year, with a total volume of 29,589, according to the latest report from DoT 7.

Last year, tourists who visited the Philippines spent some $ 4.88 billion in high value services, including wellness and education, surpassing the government’s 2010 target of $ 4.8 billion.

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.

ARe there really Japanese ladies in the PHils? I never see any. I see some KOrean girls and Japane men but never girls.

^^ sa mga spa lang daw naglalagi, eh :D

:okay: :okay: :okay:

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/nation/view/20080727-150929/Caramoan-finds-fame-tourists-on-YouTube-Survivor

Caramoan finds fame, tourists on YouTube, ‘Survivor’
By Ephraim Aguilar
Philippine Daily Inquirer
07/27/2008

POWDERY WHITE SAND, CRYSTAL blue waters, lush vegetation, rock formations, marine life and, yes, fabulous sunsets—these are scenes from “Koh-Lanta Caramoan,” the French edition of the popular TV reality game show “Survivor,” shot entirely in the Caramoan Peninsula in Camarines Sur and now showing on YouTube.

Another website features a breathtaking view of Caramoan from a helicopter—the contestants’ first glimpse of the peninsula. Other tourist spots in the country are featured like Mayon Volcano in Bicol, the Banaue Rice Terraces, Chocolate Hills in Bohol, and Donsol, which is promoting itself as the butanding (whale shark) capital of the world.

Caramoan has been getting a lot of attention since the French edition of “Survivor” started airing in the first week of July. Already, tour packages to the peninsula’s white sand beaches and pristine islands, have proliferated on the Net.

YouTube user “TomFRules” has listed 10 of the peninsula’s best islands and beaches in his clip titled “10 reasons to go to Caramoan.”

Internet-savvy Kristina Gadaingan, who hails from Bicol but works in Manila, has already seen some episodes of the latest season of “Survivor-France” on YouTube.

10M viewers

She is excited to see the show because it was shot entirely in Caramoan, touted as the next Boracay.

“I’ve always wanted to go to places like Boracay or Palawan. I never knew there’s such a beautiful place close to home,” says Gadaingan of Legazpi City.

“Koh-Lanta Caramoan” started airing this month in French-speaking countries across Europe and in Canada. At least 10 million people are expected to watch “Survivor-France.”

Filipinos, who may not be able to see the French edition of the reality game show, are turning to the Internet to access what they can through the popular video-sharing site, YouTube.

Early post

A quick search of YouTube listed several interesting videos—some are trailers of the French reality game show while others are clips from actual episodes.

One of the earliest clips which was posted by user “kohlanta20081,” a week after the pilot episode aired in the first week of July, has been suspended, probably due to copyright infringement.

Another user, “kohlanta20083,” has posted two 30-second teasers of the latest episodes last Tuesday. No one knows, however, how long this could evade copyright watchdogs.

Longer clips

If you prefer longer clips showing more of Caramoan’s beauty, then check out http://2008-koh-lanta.skyrock.com. The blog has more clips of “Survivor-France” and more information on the contestants, however, since the site is in French, it may be a little difficult to navigate.

Another site, http://vodstream.tf1.fr/tf1divertissement/koh_lanta_8/episode_1/catchup1_ WMV9_464Kbit_etf1_169.wmv, opens with aerial views of Caramoan shot from a helicopter. Again, it is in French.

If you’re lost in translation, the site, http://babelfish.yahoo.com, translates foreign web pages into English and vice versa.

Virtual tours

Try googling “Caramoan” and you will find many references and links. First on the list is http://caramoan-paradise.blogspot.com.

Click on the link and this is what you get: “Need a worry-free, fun, exciting and adventurous stay at Caramoan? Been wanting to experience Philippine’s Secret Paradise? Eager to explore Camarines Sur? We can help you make your travel special. Please get in touch with me and let us start planning on your stay.”

YouTube user “danymous” has posted random video clips of Caramoan, added some music and the result is a music video showcasing the peninsula’s scenery—a musical virtual tour, so to speak.

Poor town hopeful

With all the exposure Caramoan has been getting, Mayor Constantino Cordial Jr. says he foresees his fourth-class municipality achieving second-class status within five to 10 years.

According to Cordial, Caramoan residents are also looking forward to the P320-million infrastructure projects pledged by President Macapagal-Arroyo through the Camarines Sur provincial government.

According to the mayor, the amount will cover expenses for the road networking, seaport repair and airport construction.

“We are in favor of all the development projects. But we have only one plea—that nature be preserved at its best,” says Cordial in a mobile phone interview.

Gota beach, which was closed to the public by the provincial government last summer because of the “Survivor” taping, has been reopened to the public.

However, Caramoan residents are now charged an entrance fee of P150 and tourists, P300. Cordial says the amount is quite expensive especially for the locals.

Camarines Sur Gov. Luis Raymund Villafuerte has said that once development projects are in place, the entrance to Gota beach may not always be free.

He also says Caramoan residents will benefit from the development of Gota beach in terms of employment opportunities.

Second time

Tourism Secretary Ace Durano, during his visit to Caramoan on May, said this was the second time “Survivor-France” chose the Philippines for its location.

“Survivor,” a popular TV reality game show produced in many countries, isolates its contestants in the wilderness to compete for cash and prizes. They are divided into tribes and they vote off other contestants until only one is left.

The show is known to choose locations in exotic environments.

Last year, “Survivor-France” was shot in Palawan and after it was aired, the number of French tourists arriving in Palawan increased by 23 percent, Durano said.

Reposting these pics to supplement the article...


(http://showbizandstyle.inquirer.net/breakingnews/breakingnews/view/20080721-149837/More-tourists-seen-with-Survivor)

http://media.melty.fr/media-actu-image-156634-article-s.jpg
http://media.melty.fr/media-actu-image-156632-article-s.jpghttp://media.melty.fr/media-actu-image-156631-article-s.jpg
http://media.melty.fr/media-actu-image-162888-article-g.jpghttp://media.melty.fr/media-actu-image-162688-article-g.jpg
http://kohlanta2008.files.wordpress.com/2008/06/kl-carte-caramoan.jpg




:okay: :okay: :okay:

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/nation/view/20080727-150929/Caramoan-finds-fame-tourists-on-YouTube-Survivor

Caramoan finds fame, tourists on YouTube, ‘Survivor’
By Ephraim Aguilar
Philippine Daily Inquirer
07/27/2008

POWDERY WHITE SAND, CRYSTAL blue waters, lush vegetation, rock formations, marine life and, yes, fabulous sunsets—these are scenes from “Koh-Lanta Caramoan,” the French edition of the popular TV reality game show “Survivor,” shot entirely in the Caramoan Peninsula in Camarines Sur and now showing on YouTube.

Another website features a breathtaking view of Caramoan from a helicopter—the contestants’ first glimpse of the peninsula. Other tourist spots in the country are featured like Mayon Volcano in Bicol, the Banaue Rice Terraces, Chocolate Hills in Bohol, and Donsol, which is promoting itself as the butanding (whale shark) capital of the world.

Caramoan has been getting a lot of attention since the French edition of “Survivor” started airing in the first week of July. Already, tour packages to the peninsula’s white sand beaches and pristine islands, have proliferated on the Net.

YouTube user “TomFRules” has listed 10 of the peninsula’s best islands and beaches in his clip titled “10 reasons to go to Caramoan.”

Internet-savvy Kristina Gadaingan, who hails from Bicol but works in Manila, has already seen some episodes of the latest season of “Survivor-France” on YouTube.

10M viewers

She is excited to see the show because it was shot entirely in Caramoan, touted as the next Boracay.

“I’ve always wanted to go to places like Boracay or Palawan. I never knew there’s such a beautiful place close to home,” says Gadaingan of Legazpi City.

“Koh-Lanta Caramoan” started airing this month in French-speaking countries across Europe and in Canada. At least 10 million people are expected to watch “Survivor-France.”

Filipinos, who may not be able to see the French edition of the reality game show, are turning to the Internet to access what they can through the popular video-sharing site, YouTube.

Early post

A quick search of YouTube listed several interesting videos—some are trailers of the French reality game show while others are clips from actual episodes.

One of the earliest clips which was posted by user “kohlanta20081,” a week after the pilot episode aired in the first week of July, has been suspended, probably due to copyright infringement.

Another user, “kohlanta20083,” has posted two 30-second teasers of the latest episodes last Tuesday. No one knows, however, how long this could evade copyright watchdogs.

Longer clips

If you prefer longer clips showing more of Caramoan’s beauty, then check out http://2008-koh-lanta.skyrock.com. The blog has more clips of “Survivor-France” and more information on the contestants, however, since the site is in French, it may be a little difficult to navigate.

Another site, http://vodstream.tf1.fr/tf1divertissement/koh_lanta_8/episode_1/catchup1_ WMV9_464Kbit_etf1_169.wmv, opens with aerial views of Caramoan shot from a helicopter. Again, it is in French.

If you’re lost in translation, the site, http://babelfish.yahoo.com, translates foreign web pages into English and vice versa.

Virtual tours

Try googling “Caramoan” and you will find many references and links. First on the list is http://caramoan-paradise.blogspot.com.

Click on the link and this is what you get: “Need a worry-free, fun, exciting and adventurous stay at Caramoan? Been wanting to experience Philippine’s Secret Paradise? Eager to explore Camarines Sur? We can help you make your travel special. Please get in touch with me and let us start planning on your stay.”

YouTube user “danymous” has posted random video clips of Caramoan, added some music and the result is a music video showcasing the peninsula’s scenery—a musical virtual tour, so to speak.

Poor town hopeful

With all the exposure Caramoan has been getting, Mayor Constantino Cordial Jr. says he foresees his fourth-class municipality achieving second-class status within five to 10 years.

According to Cordial, Caramoan residents are also looking forward to the P320-million infrastructure projects pledged by President Macapagal-Arroyo through the Camarines Sur provincial government.

According to the mayor, the amount will cover expenses for the road networking, seaport repair and airport construction.

“We are in favor of all the development projects. But we have only one plea—that nature be preserved at its best,” says Cordial in a mobile phone interview.

Gota beach, which was closed to the public by the provincial government last summer because of the “Survivor” taping, has been reopened to the public.

However, Caramoan residents are now charged an entrance fee of P150 and tourists, P300. Cordial says the amount is quite expensive especially for the locals.

Camarines Sur Gov. Luis Raymund Villafuerte has said that once development projects are in place, the entrance to Gota beach may not always be free.

He also says Caramoan residents will benefit from the development of Gota beach in terms of employment opportunities.

Second time

Tourism Secretary Ace Durano, during his visit to Caramoan on May, said this was the second time “Survivor-France” chose the Philippines for its location.

“Survivor,” a popular TV reality game show produced in many countries, isolates its contestants in the wilderness to compete for cash and prizes. They are divided into tribes and they vote off other contestants until only one is left.

The show is known to choose locations in exotic environments.

Last year, “Survivor-France” was shot in Palawan and after it was aired, the number of French tourists arriving in Palawan increased by 23 percent, Durano said.

Génial! :righton:

-fbWNrk8zIA

Koh Lanta Saison 8 Generique

^^ Thanks for posting

N4dWtEG67rw
Dept of Tourism Sec Ace Durano

Korean firm completes study on $2-billion Tapulao eco-tourism project in Zambales

PALAUIG, ZAMBALES — A Korean urban planner and developer has completed a feasibility study for Mt. Tapulao, which the local government wants to turn into a major tourist destination in Asia.

The development blueprint involves the construction of five-star hotels, leisure facilities, casinos, concert halls, condominiums and villas, as well as an 18-hole golf course within a 450-hectare area of the mountain.

The $2-billion project will be patterned after Genting Highlands in Malaysia, and Yeosu Hwayang Tourism Complex and Gampo Complex in Gyeongju City, both in Korea, said Sang-Hyun Park, vice-chairman and director for Overseas Project division of Korean developer Dongho Co., Ltd.

Proponents claimed the project would uplift living standards with minimal damage to the environment.

In April, the South Korean firm signed a deal with Governor Amor Deloso for the feasibility study. The governor said Mt. Tapulao has a semi-temperate climate similar to that of the Cordillera province and can rival Baguio City, the country’s summer capital. Tapulao in the local language means pine tree, which the mountain has plenty of.

Also known as the Zambales high peak, Mt. Tapulao rises to 2,037 meters above sea level and forms a contiguous chain of mountains in Central Luzon.

Dongho specializes in developing blueprints for urban development while minimizing its effects on the environment.

Dongho will plan, design and monitor before, during and after the construction of various development projects.

It will provide services involving water quality management, air pollution prevention, erosion, waste treatment and recycling.

Palauig Mayor Generoso Amog said the project would bring progress to his town. "We welcome the Mt. Tapulao project because it will surely bring economic growth to our town," he said.

On Wednesday, the mayor led a protest march calling for the declaration of Mt. Tapulao as a mining-free zone. They want to turn the mountain into an eco-tourism site instead.

Mr. Amog blamed mining activities in some sections of the mountain, whose summit is supposedly in danger of collapsing.

"Right now, Mt. Tapulao is in grave danger, which could be saved by the proposed eco-tourism project," he said. He said the peak would be preserved for mountain trekkers, campers and nature lovers.

Under the blueprint, a road network will be developed to complement the recently opened Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway via a new access road traversing the nearby town of Botolan to Tarlac province. — Reynaldo M. Garcia.

Tuesday, July 29, 2008 09:41:00 AM

http://www.mindanaoexaminer.com/gallery/20080728204100_0.jpg

http://www.mindanaoexaminer.com/gallery/20080728204100_1.jpg

Journalists pose for picture during the 1st National Media Summit on Eco-tourism held recently in Dapitan City in Zamboanga del Norte province in the southern Philippines. Also in the photo are Dapitan City Councilor Apple Marie Agolong, left, Tourism regional operations manager for Mindanao Romeo Urian and Dapitan City Vice Mayor Patri Bajamunde Chan during the opening of the summit at the Dakak beach resort. (Mindanao Examiner Photo / Mark Navales)

DAPITAN CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / July 29, 2008) – Dozens of journalists have pledged to support and help promote eco-tourism in the southern Philippines after the two-day 1st National Media Summit on Eco-tourism held in Dapitan City.

The summit, held at the Dakak beach resort, also coincided with the annual Kinabayo Festival, which is celebrated every July 25 in Dapitan City. Some 50 media participants, together with tourism officials, attended the media summit, said organizer Cheng Ordonez, president of the Peninsula Media Network.

City Councilor Apple Marie Agolong, who chairs the City Council's Committee on Tourism, said the summit was aimed at providing awareness to media practitioners the importance of eco-tourism on national and local economy.

She said resource persons from the Philippine Tourism Authority and City Tourism Council also spoke during the summit. “The role of the media is very vital in promoting local tourism, thus we have conceptualized this media summit,” Agolong told the Mindanao Examiner.

Agolong said Dapitan City is being promoted a major tourism destination in the country because of its beautiful beaches, among them the world-class Dakak resort, and rich culture. “That is why our local tourism stakeholders have come up with programs to aggressively promote Dapitan City as one among the world class tourist destinations in the country,” she said.

Agolong said Dapitan City is also where the Philippine national hero Dr. Jose Rizal was exiled for four in July 1892 by the Spaniards. While in exile, Rizal practiced ophthalmology, built a school and waterworks, planned town improvements, wrote, and carried out scientific experiments.

Then he successfully petitioned the Spanish government to join the Spanish army in Cuba as a surgeon; but on his way to Spain to enlist, the Philippine revolution broke out, and Rizal was returned from Spain, imprisoned, and tried for false charges of treason and complicity with the revolution. Rizal was executed on Dec. 30, 1896.

The day before he was executed, Rizal wrote to a friend: “I am innocent of the crime of rebellion. So I am going to die with a tranquil conscience.”
Agolong said among the city's tourism potentials include the historical shrine of Rizal.

“The historic exploits of Jose Rizal during his exile in Dapitan make our city a historical tourist place that could not be found in other places in Mindanao,” she said.

She said journalists were also given the opportunity to witness and cover the Kinabayo Festival which is being celebrated in honor of St. James. The festival is a colorful pageant re-enacting the Spanish-Moorish wars, mainly the Battle of Covadonga where the Spanish forces under General Pelagio took their last stand against Saracan.

They were able to overturn the tide through the miraculous spirit of St. James. The addition of local color and modernism has made this annual celebration a popular attraction which brings thousands of tourists to the Dapitan City.

St. James, the Greater is the patron saint of Dapitan City. Earlier on into the Spanish rule, Dapitan was still flooded by Moro pirates. The Jesuit priests fatefully set up St. James, to protect the locals from an attack of invaders. It was believed that in the fifth century, an apparition of St. James, atop a horse carrying a sword, guided the Spanish soldiers into victory over the Moors in the Battle of Covadonga. (Mark Navales (http://www.mindanaoexaminer.com/news.php?news_id=20080728204100))

Since nobody in the travel and tourism forum seems to care about any other country but their own, i found it futile to post pics of our beautiful isles.

PHOTOS BY RAUL ECHIVARRE from http://www.pbase.com/pointandshoot/profile
An awesome photographer

This place has become a tourist magnet as of late. The landscape is out of this world.
Bangui, Ilocos
http://i.pbase.com/o6/03/652403/1/73097879.lgQi8UEy._MG_723725pctSepiaGold.jpg

http://k41.pbase.com/o6/03/652403/1/73146636.rntstevE._MG_727325pctSepiaGold.jpg

http://k43.pbase.com/o6/03/652403/1/73188232.ULu0lQw7._MG_700825pctDarkSepia_filtered.jpg

http://k53.pbase.com/g6/03/652403/2/72872934.2jPOb4hm.jpg

VIGAN
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http://i.pbase.com/g6/03/652403/2/73819221.h9FGlZE0.jpg

http://k53.pbase.com/o6/03/652403/1/73440684.znhdApJf._MG_740025pct.jpg

Thanks for posting. I didn't realize that the wind mills in Ilocos are so tall until I saw these pictures. Great.

PHOTOS BY RAUL ECHIVARRE from http://www.pbase.com/pointandshoot/profile
An awesome photographer

This place has become a tourist magnet as of late. The landscape is out of this world.
Bangui, Ilocos


http://k53.pbase.com/g6/03/652403/2/72872934.2jPOb4hm.jpg



Wow :shocked: Maigay kaya ang ganyan kalalaking wind mill?

beautiful pics @dance

^^Napaka magical talaga ng mga windmills na yan. Apart from being such a great help to mother nature, they are also very pleasing to the sense of sight.

I saw windmills at work the 1st time I went to Germany and Belgium in August this year. I was awestruck. Huge, and majestic, couldn't imagine how winds could turn those giant propellers. There are so many places in the Philippines that can sustain the wind, not just Ilocos. We may not have the oil underground to supply our power. But we have geothermal, wind is another possibility.

And as stated, these places can easily be developed for tourism. When I see the smoke coming out of the mountainsides in Leyte where the geothermal plants are, I can't help but look at the mountain. Same when I saw the windmills in Germany. In the U.S., they even turned Hoover Dam into a tourist site. Another example of power generation but more popular as a tourist site is Niagara Falls.

Australian press positive on RP tourism



By BERNIE CAHILES-MAGKILAT

The Philippines is getting good press reviews in Australia after the Department of Tourism (DoT) has sponsored Australian publications on familiarization tours to various tourist spots in the country.

http://www.mb.com.ph/BSNS20080803131463.html

Tourism Secretary Joseph "Ace" Durano reported that some of Australia’s leading glossy magazines and newspapers featured the Philippines as ideal tourist destination.

"We regularly invite publications that exert considerable influence over the tourist population to come and experience the country as a holiday attraction. For the Australian market, we focus on how the Philippines offers so much adventure, while being one of their nearest destinations," Durano said.

The DoT, the office of Sydney-based Tourism Attaché Consuelo Jones, has coordinated with top parenting magazine Out & About With Kids, the Australian Gourmet Traveller, Luxury travel, Spa magazine, Life Etc. and Travel Today in featuring various destinations around the islands.

Similar arrangements were made with leading newspapers Sydney Morning Herald, Sunday Telegraph Magazine, Sun-Herald and the Sunday Herald Sun.

Durano reported that El Nido and Bohol took centerstage in Out & About with Kids’ latest Autumn and Winter issues, respectively. Editors deemed both islands as great vacation getaways for families, especially those looking to learn about nature.

Premier publication for foodies and travelers alike, the Australian Gourmet Traveller’s recent feature on the Philippines highlights the country as one that is replete with culture, festivals, tranquil beaches, shopping and –of course, dining experiences.

The magazine’s Spring 2008 issue included Travel Café Philippines in its monthly shopping guide, citing its’ offerings of uniquely Filipino coffee brews. Likewise, Palawan was listed in its tropical getaways, describing it as "dramatically lovely as –but far less touristy than- Thailand or Vietnam."

In similar manner, the editors of Travel Today, a major resource for Australia ’s tourism industry, have recently run a special feature on the majestic Banaue Rice Terraces.

Meanwhile, Spa Magazine’s Summer 2008 issue provided a review on Boracay’s Mandala Spa. Here author Tracey Spicer describes her experiences as "one Spa holiday with could be truly life changing."

Bohol ’s natural wonders and attractions were the subject of Life Etc’s Spring 2008 travel section. The bi-monthly lifestyle glossy is read widely by the 35 year-old and above market.

"We’ve further teamed up with Australia ’s Luxury Travel Magazine –the sole high-end travel publication – in developing their special Philippine supplement for the Autumn 2008 issue," said DOT Undersecretary for Tourism Planning and Promotions Eduardo Jarque, Jr.

The 48-page pull-out material boasts of full-color images of Manila, Boracay, Cebu, Palawan and Baguio , as well as reviews on some of the top accommodations in these locales.

Sunday Herald Sun’s article on dining in Southeast Asia entitled "Dining on East Street," described the Philippines as a "food oddity," noting how street food coexist happily with Western fastfoods and fine dining places.

The same publication’s summer resort and spa special picked Boracay as the go-to destination when in the Philippines, describing it as the "perfect playground." Likewise, the Sunday Telegraph Magazine, a weekly lifestyle publication, outlined an itinerary for rejuvenation and recreation in the world-renowned beach.

Sunday Herald reporter Kristie Kellahan would summarize her experience by saying, "There’s a sense of fun and freedom on Boracay that’s infectious."

Confirming that the Philippines does offer "so much, so near," Sunday Morning Herald’s Richard Jinman reports of the stark contrast between the buzz and bustle of Manila and the peace and idylls of Bohol .

"We’re confident that our tie-ins with various media groups in Australia will help further increase arrivals from this market, which is the fifth largest. Already, tourist traffic from January to May 2008 is 13.2 percent better than that for the same period last year," shared Sydney-based Tourism Attaché Consuelo Jones.(BCM)

Govt expects 1 million tourists to visit Bicol by 2009 (http://www.gmanews.tv/story/112867/Govt-expects-1-million-tourists-to-visit-Bicol-by-2009)
Stella Arnaldo

LEGAZPI CITY, Philippines – Tourist arrivals in the Bicol region are expected to receive a major boost with the recent addition of Discovery Bay Misibis, and Hotel Venezia, a luxury resort and city hotel, respectively, built by low-key Bicolano businessman Elizaldy S. Co.

In an interview with select reporters at the sidelines of the blessing for the resort on August 8, Tourism Secretary Joseph "Ace" Durano said with the recent opening of the two hotels, which will be fully operational in 2009, tourist arrivals in the region are projected to grow by 10 percent, and hit the million mark.

The first phase of the P1.6-billion resort, has 38 villas, seven of which will be by the beach fronting the Albay Gulf, and the rest by two pools. Construction is scheduled to be completed in time for its soft opening this December.

Co, who made his fortune in construction, is hiring HSAI Raintree, to manage the resort located on Cagraray Island, Albay. HSAI Raintree Management Co. – a hospitality management firm – is a partnership between the Tiu family of the JKTC Group of Companies, and hotelier Annabella Santos-Wisniewski.

Another Co property, Hotel Venezia, at the Renaissance Gardens in Legazpi City, is seen raising the bar for the business hotel market in the province with its superior facilities, luxury amenities, and professional service.

HSAI Raintree is managing said 40-room hotel as well. A number of its rooms offer a stunning view of the Mayon Volcano, while the hotel is centrally located making it accessible to a number of natural tourist destinations within Albay and the other provinces in Bicol.

Three icons of Bicol

Bicol’s tourist arrivals and receipts have been steadily rising as more foreign tourists learn to appreciate the region as a primary tourist destination in the country. "What is remarkable is the 114 percent jump in foreign tourists in 2007, primarily due to what we call the 'three icons of Bicol' – the whale shark (butanding) in Donsol, Sorsogon; wakeboarding in Camarines Sur; and the Mayon Volcano," Durano said.

Camarines Sur alone accounted for some 51 percent of 897,680 total arrivals in Bicol last year, up 41 percent from the 637,127 recorded in 2006, data from the Department of Tourism’s Bicol regional office showed. Tourist arrivals in Bicol this year are seen growing by 8 percent to 974,000 while tourism receipts are projected at P481.3 million.

Upscale crowd

But the establishment of Discovery Bay Misibis, Durano said, is expected to attract a more upscale crowd with higher spending power, pushing tourist receipts in the region to reach P530 million. The resort is accessible via one-hour land travel from Legazpi City and soon, via 20-minute fastcraft, from the Legazpi Port.

According to Wisniewski, the resort has just been included in the Small Luxury Hotels of the World list, the second Philippine hotel to be included in the prestigious list. The first SLH in the Philippines is Discovery Shores Boracay, which is owned by the Discovery Leisure Co. of the JKTC Group.

On the other hand, Venezia has been designed as a business hotel which can host conferences, weddings and various group events, as well as a serve as a hub or jump-off point for tourists who want to travel to Donsol, Sorsogon, to see the whale sharks and visit the other interesting points within Albay, such as the Our Lady of the Gate Parish, an 18th century church in Daraga; Liñgon Hills, where a Japanese World War II tunnel was dug up; Busay Falls in the municipality of Malilipot; the Boiling Lake in Manito; as well as trek up the active Mayon Volcano.

In the first quarter of the year, 256,746 tourists arrived in Bicol, with 35,258 accounting for foreign travelers, and the rest domestic tourists including balikbayans, according to DOT’s Region 5 office. "We were surprised that in the first quarter alone, tourist receipts already reached P300 million," Durano said. "The more the foreign tourists, the better for the local economy."

More resort units

Meanwhile, Co said after the completion of Discovery Bay Misibis, he will start with the construction of three-story resort units, which is projected to be completed by 2010. It will have a total of 100 rooms and occupy 20 hectares of the entire 400 ha.-Misibis property. The entire resort project is estimated at P1.6 billion.

Discovery Bay Misibis is the second phase of Co’s real estate project in the area under his Misibis Land Co. The first phase dubbed Misibis Residential Estate, commenced in 2005 with the sale of 300 lots to individual homeowners, mostly Filipino-Americans for private development. A third phase is the construction of separate condotel units to be dubbed Amalfi Condotels. Project costs have yet to be determined for this development.

By Elizabeth Sanchez-Lacson
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 03:22:00 08/12/2008

Alliance Global Group Inc. (AGI) and Star Cruises Ltd., the third-biggest cruise line operator in the world, will invest $1.55 billion in two tourism-related projects on a 37-hectare portion of the famed “Pagcor City” along Manila Bay and in a township project of AGI’s sister firm Megaworld Corp. in Pasay City.

AGI, led by property tycoon Andrew Tan, said the vehicle company for the two large-scale tourism projects would be Travellers International Hotel Group Inc., AGI’s subsidiary, which will pour in P69 billion over the next five years into the projects.

This will make it the biggest hotel owner in the country with a total of 5,000 rooms. Travellers International plans to invest $1.1 billion to develop a 37-hectare property at the Manila Bay area into a 24-by-7 integrated entertainment city called Manila Bayshore. It will host several hotels with about 3,400 rooms and a world-class theme park at par with some of the best theme parks in the US and around Asia.

Travellers International will also invest $450 million to build three hotels as well as a themed shopping and entertainment center in Newport City, Megaworld’s 25-hectare master-planned urban resort complex across from the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia) Terminal 3.

Once completed, the Newport City hotel project will have a total of about 1,600 rooms. The six-star, all-suite Maxims Hotel will account for 176 rooms; the five-star Marriott Hotel, 365 rooms, and a three-star hotel with 1,060 rooms. Marriott is expected to open in 2009 while Maxims and the three-star hotel will start operations by 2010.

Maxims’ 176 hotel rooms will include three villas each with a private swimming pool and 24 suites equipped with a private outdoor jacuzzi and garden.

Travellers International was granted a license to develop the two tourism-oriented urban projects by the government’s Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor) last June 2.

AGI has also disclosed to the Philippine Stock Exchange the acquisition by Star Cruises of 50-percent direct and indirect interest amounting to $335 million in Travellers International.

“The next few years will be exciting for the Philippine tourism industry and we want to play a major role in promoting and developing this industry,” AGI president Kingson Sian said.

“We believe in the vision of making the Philippines one of the best tourist destinations in Asia, and together with our partner Star Cruises, we will make this happen,” he said.

Sian added that the recent opening of the Naia 3 would pave the way for the emergence of Newport City as a tourism gateway for the country.

In support of Travellers International’s efforts to promote tourism, the Philippine Economic Zone Authority has named Newport City one of the country’s first tourism economic zones.

The Manila Bayshore project, meanwhile, will serve as a tourists’ gateway to the country via the world-renowned Manila Bay.


GReat times for our tourism industry and the famous PAGCOR entertainment city

Tourist spending to hit $6 B
By Ma. Elisa P. Osorio
Saturday, August 16, 2008

Tourist spending is expected to reach $6 billion by 2010 despite the downward revision in tourist arrival target.

Tourism Secretary Joseph Durano said the expected volume of tourist arrival by 2010 will be at 4.1 million to 4.2 million, lower than the earlier announced five million.

“As with regards to volume, the five million was an aspirational target,” Durano explained.

According to Durano, more tourists will visit the country if only there are more hotel rooms.

“The number of tourists is dependent on the number of hotel rooms available,” he said.

Durano said the country needs to double the number of hotel rooms in the country. “Maybe we need 15,000 more rooms but these must be at least three star hotels.”

He explained that anywhere below the three star accommodation will be difficult to market.

Currently, Durano said hotel occupancy is at 80 percent to 90 percent.

To answer this need, European-based Accor Hotel, United Kingdom‘s Hotel, Malaysian hotel chain and two Indian firms are interested in building no frill hotels in the country.

“I will be meeting the representatives from the Indian firms,” Sammie Lim, chairman of the Philippine Retailers Association said in an interview.

Lim refused name the Indian companies saying only that one group owns four hotels while the other operates 30 hotels.

Lim explained that he is studying the concept of the Malaysian group which ties up the budget air fare to the hotel. “Air Asia has a partnership with a hotel near the airport. It is a good business,” he explained.

Lim said the investments are part of the ASEAN hotel project of the ASEAN member nations namely the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Myanmar and Malaysia.

Under the project, Asean-member countries will build similar no frills hotels in the 10 member countries. The hotels will be priced the same. The amenities, rooms and the lobby of all the hotels across the ASEAN will be the same as well.

According to Lim, the ASEAN ministers approved the ASEAN hotel concept last year after the meeting of the economic ministers in Manila.

Wala na sa 7 wonders ranking ang Tubbataha Reef, Chocolate, Puerto Princesa Subterranean at Mayon.

http://www.new7wonders.com/nature/en/liveranking/

Please vote to boost our tourism.

Multibillion-peso projects to boost Bicol tourism

By Jaymee T. Gamil
Southern Luzon Bureau
First Posted 18:12:00 08/16/2008

LEGAZPI CITY -- Albay may soon become the latest playground of the rich and famous as the local Sunwest Group of Companies pours in more than P3.2 billion to develop tourist destinations in this southern Tagalog province.

Scheduled for soft opening in December this year are the first two destinations -- the Discovery Bay Misibis resort in Cagraray Island and the Embarcadero commercial and information technology complex at the Legazpi City port.

“Right now in Legazpi City, you don’t really have many places to go to at night. You only have two malls and they close early in the evening. But at the Embarcadero, there will be a ferry service for tourists to go to Misibis, which is around 20 minutes away,” says Raeanna Cranbourne, project director of HSAI-Raintree.

Sunwest brought in HSAI-Raintree, the management firm behind Discovery Leisure Co., to operate the two projects, as well as the four-year-old Hotel Venezia in Legazpi City.

Accommodations

The 5-hectare resort in Misibis village in Cagraray Island would be the second Discovery-brand luxury resort in the Philippines, next to the Discovery Shores in Boracay.

Although actual rates have yet to be deliberated, Discovery Bay Misibis will cater to an exclusive, high-end market, or those willing to spend around $200 to $300 for a night’s stay, says HSAI-Raintree president Annabella Wisniewski.

Aside from two restaurants, 38 villas and a new Mandala Spa branch, Discovery Bay Misibis will bank on its white-sand beaches and view of the Albay Gulf and Mayon Volcano to attract tourists.

“Misibis has its own mark. The area is raw and everything is master-developed. This means we’re not going to have the same challenges we have in Boracay now,” notes Tourism Secretary Joseph “Ace” Durano.

While Boracay largely attracts a party-going crowd, Misibis is geared more toward those looking for a quiet getaway, an ecoresort and an adventure destination, Wisniewski says.

Ecotourists’ playground

Wisniewski adds that she hopes Discovery Bay Misibis will help build Albay’s image as an ideal tourist attraction.

Around 20 minutes away by boat from Discovery Bay Misibis is the Embarcadero de Legazpi, where seaside commercial center meets IT park.

Five buildings are already being constructed out of the 12 in the pipeline.

The first five buildings will house open-air food parks, restaurants, spas, groceries, an entertainment center and a call center with an initial 100 seats.

Out of a total of 60 commercial spaces up for lease, around 36 tenants are already confirmed while 17 more are under negotiation, says Annie Sumanga, president of Misibis Land Inc. (MLI), the Sunwest subsidiary that oversees the construction of Discovery Bay Misibis and Embarcadero de Legazpi.

Sunwest has acquired three catamaran ferries, two helicopters and an airplane to use Discovery Bay Misibis and Embarcadero de Legazpi as jump-off points to other tourist destinations in the region, says Alexander de la Cruz, MLI sales director.

And if the three properties could provide the accommodations, then the rest of the Sunwest projects under the master plan could provide the “playground” for ecotourists, says Durano, who attended the blessing of the Discovery Bay Misibis last Aug. 8.

Sunwest CEO Elizaldy Co says there are plans to develop another property near the lake in Manito town.

Sunwest is envisioning a health spa, hot spring resort and ecopark in the area.

Sunwest also plans to put up basic tourist facilities in a 30-ha property in whale shark-capital Donsol town in Sorsogon.

Donsol’s Dancalan village is also gaining renown as an ideal spot for year-round firefly-watching.

Upon the completion of the new destinations, the Bicol tourism office expects a growth in tourist arrivals by at least 10 percent.

Last year, about 897,680 tourists visited the region and they spent an estimated P443.5 million.

Growth

Albay Gov. Joey Salceda, meanwhile, lauded Sunwest for pioneering private investments in areas facing the Pacific, which, while rich in natural wonders, are also more susceptible to natural hazards.

He assured the investors, however, that the local government was committed to disaster risk reduction to protect investments in the area.

“We are in a typhoon belt, but this should not be a hindrance to the generations to come,” adds Legazpi City Mayor Noel Rosal.

DOT on a campaign to make bird-watching tours fly

By Tina Arceo-Dumlao
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 18:04:00 08/16/2008

TOURISM SECRETARY JOSEPH “Ace” Durano says he gets a natural high out of coming up with novel tourism packages to market to travelers here and abroad.

And the department under Durano has come up with plenty.

There are diving excursions in Anilao, Batangas; Apo Reef, Negros Oriental, and Coron, Palawan; whale watching adventures in Donsol, Sorsogon; ecotourism tours in Bohol and Ifugao; beach frolics in Cebu; surfing escapades in La Union, Aurora and Siargao; and even food trips in Laguna and Quezon.

The latest to be added to the list are bird-watching tours, which he believes will bring in significant tourism dollars to the Philippine economy.

“There are a lot of tourists out there who travel the world to look at birds. Some of them do come here, so what we need to do is to properly package the products. We have to let the world discover the Philippines as a destination for bird watching,” Durano tells Inquirer.

The Philippines, he says, definitely has a lot to offer as it is home to an estimated 600 species of birds, of which more than a third—like the Philippine eagle and the Cebu flower pecker—can only be found here.

The Philippines can thus boast that it has the most endemic bird species per square kilometer in the world, beating Brazil and Indonesia.

Bird-watching tours in the pipeline will take visitors to places like Candaba, Pampanga, Olango Island in Cebu and Agusan Marsh in Mindanao, where thousands of migratory birds from mainland Asia and Japan come to rest to escape the winter.

Durano says the time is right to spread the word on the Philippines because of the growing interest worldwide in the pleasures of bird watching.

The Wild Bird Club of the Philippines reports that birding or bird watching is one of the fastest growing recreational activities in the world, with 47.7 million in the United States alone participating in birding activities in 2006.

Filipinos are also starting to appreciate the birds around them, but there is still an urgent need to educate the locals on the importance of taking care of these beautiful animals.

This is why the DOT and the WBCP are joining hands to promote the 4th Philippine Bird Festival to be held on Sept. 12 and 13 in Puerto Princesa. The dates mark the start of the annual winter migration of birds from north Asia.

The bird festival will be held this year in Palawan to highlight efforts to protect its forest, wetlands and coastal habitats. This year’s logo is the Palawan Peacock Pheasant, which is found only in this ecologically-diverse province.

“The Philippine Bird Festival aims to get people excited about nature and conservation through recreational bird watching and bird photography,” WBCP president Michael Lu says in a statement.

Durano is also confident that as communities earn from the dollars to be brought in by bird watchers from other countries, they will be further encouraged to take care of the environment and stop the killing of these birds, many of which are endangered.

The DOT is packaging the bird-watching tours as part of the Adventure Philippines program, which is run together with Recreational Outdoor Exchange, one of the country’s leading retailers of outdoor apparel and equipment.

Adventure Philippines is part of the department’s campaign to get a big slice of the world’s growing market for adventure tourism and nurture the local adventure travel community.

“Adventure tourism is getting to be a multibillion-dollar global industry, accounting for a fifth of the world’s tourism market. Travelers all over the world are searching for more adrenaline-packed activities and excitement, more than the usual scenic packages. And we have what it takes to bring them to the Philippines,” Durano says.

“New activities such as bird watching will also open up new destinations to the world,” he adds.

To bring “Adventure Philippines” to the market, the DOT is putting together Philippine Travel Exchange 2008.

Phitex, which will be held on Sept. 10-11 at the SMX Convention Center, is expected to attract wholesale travel buyers from some 20 countries that are looking for packages revolving around activities such as bird watching, mountain trekking and climbing, camping and whitewater rafting.

Phitex will be followed by the Philippine Travel Mart to be held at the SM Megamall on Sept. 12-14.

The DOT is pinning its hopes on adventure travelers to help boost this year’s total visitor arrivals to a record 3.5 million despite economic difficulties in traditional sources of visitors such as the United States and Japan.

“The DOT is strongly promoting adventure tourism to selected foreign markets while encouraging the local industry players to adapt their product development efforts to this emerging trend and cash in on the opportunities,” Durano says.

Tourist spending to hit $6 B
By Ma. Elisa P. Osorio
Saturday, August 16, 2008

Tourist spending is expected to reach $6 billion by 2010 despite the downward revision in tourist arrival target.

Tourism Secretary Joseph Durano said the expected volume of tourist arrival by 2010 will be at 4.1 million to 4.2 million, lower than the earlier announced five million.

“As with regards to volume, the five million was an aspirational target,” Durano explained.

According to Durano, more tourists will visit the country if only there are more hotel rooms.

“The number of tourists is dependent on the number of hotel rooms available,” he said.

Durano said the country needs to double the number of hotel rooms in the country. “Maybe we need 15,000 more rooms but these must be at least three star hotels.”

He explained that anywhere below the three star accommodation will be difficult to market.

Currently, Durano said hotel occupancy is at 80 percent to 90 percent.

To answer this need, European-based Accor Hotel, United Kingdom‘s Hotel, Malaysian hotel chain and two Indian firms are interested in building no frill hotels in the country.

“I will be meeting the representatives from the Indian firms,” Sammie Lim, chairman of the Philippine Retailers Association said in an interview.

Lim refused name the Indian companies saying only that one group owns four hotels while the other operates 30 hotels.

Lim explained that he is studying the concept of the Malaysian group which ties up the budget air fare to the hotel. “Air Asia has a partnership with a hotel near the airport. It is a good business,” he explained.

Lim said the investments are part of the ASEAN hotel project of the ASEAN member nations namely the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Myanmar and Malaysia.

Under the project, Asean-member countries will build similar no frills hotels in the 10 member countries. The hotels will be priced the same. The amenities, rooms and the lobby of all the hotels across the ASEAN will be the same as well.

According to Lim, the ASEAN ministers approved the ASEAN hotel concept last year after the meeting of the economic ministers in Manila.

ano ibig sabihin ng "no frills hotels"??

^ no frills-no inessential features.

^ no frills-no inessential features.

In Tagalog?? ano pow....:nuts:

^^ walang hindi-importanteng features sa hotel:):)

In Malaysia, we got an example of no-frills hotel........here it is...

http://www.tunehotels.com/

In other words All Important feature should be included!

^^ walang hindi-importanteng features sa hotel:):)

I guess these hotels are designed for low budget people.
Impossible to compare to 5 star hotels ,where people pay for having frills !

DoT confident on 3.5 M tourist arrivals (http://www.mb.com.ph/BSNS20080825133375.html)

The Department of Tourism has remained confident they are on track for an 8-9 percent increase or 3.4 million to 3.5 million tourist arrivals this year from last year’s 3.09 million with the expected heavy inflows in the latter part of the year.

Eduardo Jarque Jr., DoT Undersecretary for Tourism Planning and Promotions told Business Bulletin, said that tourist arrivals from January to May this year totaled 1.372 million, up 7.4 percent from 1.278 million in the same period last year.

Arrivals from Asia made up 52.2 percent of the total, with Koreans at 19 percent and Japanese at 11 percent. China contributed 5.4 percent.

"If the trend continues, we will hit our target because the best months are yet to come," Jarque said.

The latter of the year, which is the winter months in Europe and the US and other four season countries, are the times of the year when tourist arrivals are heavy as rich people from these continents try to escape and take a breather from the harsh winter season.

So far, the DoT has focused its marketing strategy concentrating 70 percent of its resources on North Asia, southeast Asia and India, with the remaining 30 percent on Europe.

Specifically, the focus over the past years has been on South Korea , China and Japan.

Tourism Secretary Joseph Ace Durano also said that despite the economic slowdown, the country is still achieving respectable growth rate.

This was made possible by concentrating in the nearby region as well as in the emerging markets, such as Russia .

With the high cost of travel due to the higher prices of fuel, tourists from these countries were considering destinations closer to home rather than long-haul destinations.

The DOT has also also resorted to hiring marketing representatives in targeted countries with huge tourist potential to make up for the absence of tourism offices the agency cannot put up because of its limited resources.

Jarque said that when Durano came on board he decided to appoint marketing representatives in Russia , India and Hong Kong to capture high value tourists from these emerging countries.

Jarque said the marketing representatives have been of big help to the DOT in bringing warm bodies into the country.

"The Secretary made sure that our marketing representatives are very well connected local people and are very well known in their respective local tourism industries thus they are more effective in selling the Philippines ," Jarque said.

Because of limited resources, the DOT has maintained 14 tourism attaches worldwide. Jarque used to be a tourism attaché in Los Angeles in the US .

"We need have more and we have more plantilla positions but these have not been filled up," he said.

According to Jarque , Russia was targeted because there are very wealthy Russians who stay longer in beaches and resorts.

"They come not on weekends but for as long as three weeks," he said.

The target now is tourists from Vladivostok region or Eastern Russia, which is only two hours away from Korea and two hours to Manila .

Vladisvostok is also two hours away from Shanghai or two hours to Manila but is nine hours away from Moscow .

At present, tourists from Vladivostok come here on limited chartered flights.

"That is why we have to address accessibility and distance since we don’t have direct flights to Russia ," he said.

In the case of India , Jarque said that the visa upon arrival scheme of the Bureau of Immigration for tourists and business people has facilitated in bringing in more wealthy tourists from India .

"Indian women shop like crazy, they go berserk when they go shopping and we bring them to every shopping places including Divisoria, Greenhills and the high-end malls here," he said.

The Indian men also love the entertainment in the country, he said.

"They love our night life, all for clean fun," Jarque said.

Big Indian firms are also giving incentives trips to the Philippines for their employes so there have been corporate outings here from India .

In addition, there have been Indian students flocking into the country taking aviation courses.

According to Jarque , India , an emerging economic power, is beefing up its aviation industry and has ordered the biggest number of fleet.

The Philippines has also hosted location shootings for four Indian movies given the fact that Bollywood, India ‘s version of Hollywood , is a fast rising industry.

For almost two years, Jarque said Hong Kong registered negative growth in tourism arrivals and that baffled the DOT.

"We found out we did not have a product and Manila has become an old stopover for them," he said.

"Now, you’ll be surprised how many Hong Kong shoppers come here and they love our night spots as well," he said.(BCM)

Tourism estate zone for Boracay mulled (http://www.mb.com.ph/BSNS20080825133377.html)

By FIL C. SIONIL

In a move to pump more development in the paradise island of Boracay, the government is spearheading a call for landowners to form a tourism estate zone that would provide them a package of incentives, including tax holidays.

Specifically eyed are those properties facing the internationally acclaimed, white beach, said Tourism Secretary Ace Durano.

In an interview, Durano explained the overall objective is to have a tourism estate zone, which like any other estate zone will be accorded an array of incentives and in turn, provide financial flexibility to island stakeholders to develop their resort at par with international standards.

This is one way of perking up the economy in the country side.

Having a tourism estate zone will, alternatively, "increase the value of their properties," pointed out Durano.

He cited the property of the soon-to-be-open Shangri-La Boracay, and the adjoining property of San Miguel Corp., both of which are within an area that had been earlier declared as a tourism estate zone.

As a tourism estate, land owners have the privilege of tax-free importation of capital equipment and four to six years income tax holidays (ITH).

It was learned that four other resorts in the country have already been recognized as tourism estate zones, which include Discovery Bay Misibis and Hotel Venezia projects of HSAI Raintree in the Bicol region.

Furthermore, Durano disclosed the landowners will "have the option of paying five percent of gross income instead of the usual 35 percent corporate tax" soon after the ITH expires.

According to the Tourism official, landowners must have a minimum of five hectares to form a tourism estate.

The department of tourism will certify its veracity. Landowners will then have to obtain environmental compliance certificates with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources. They, too, have to comply with the other conditionalities imposed by the Philippine Economic Zones Authority to all estate zones.

Meanwhile, Durano assured that "prior vested rights" by stakeholders in the island paradise "will be respected."

He gave this assurance in reaction to the recent rally by resort owners protesting the proposed legislation that will declare certain portions of the island public and disposable land.

In particular, the resort owners decried House Bill 1109, Declaring Certain Parcels of the Public Domain within Boracay Island, Malay, Aklan as Agricultural Land Open to Disposition.

The proposed bill, sponsored and filed by Aklan Rep. Florencio Miraflores on July 12, 2007, had been approved on third reading by the House and is now pending at the Senate.

The resort owners argued that 30 percent of the island had already been titled before then President Ferdinand Marcos issued Proclamation 1801 in 1978, which declared about 60 areas in the Philippines – mostly islands, coves, and peninsulas – as "tourist zones and marine reserve under the administration and control of the Philippine Tourism Authority."

The presidential proclamation, likewise, prohibits development and construction projects "without prior approval of the President of the Philippines upon recommendation of the Philippine Tourism Authority."

The enactment into law of HB 1109 could affect more than 50 percent of the current stakeholders of Boracay since many of them only have tax declarations as evidence of ownership of their current properties.

The National Mapping and Resource Information Authority has just concluded its survey of Boracay Island, and already identified several portions as forest areas which should not be titled.

Durano said "land titles can be given either through judicial process or by legislation."

But, he was quick to point out that "prior vested rights must be respected," referring to laws already in place previous to HB 1109 covering Boracay Island.

"The fears (of landowners) are unfounded. It is a non-issue. The main issue is that the law, rights are respected. So any law will be nullified," Durano said.

He stressed the "government cannot forcibly take over (a private) property.

"The law recognizes several proofs of ownership. Tax declarations, actual occupation of the land, TCT (transfer certificate of title), etc. are some proofs (of ownership) recognized under the law," said Durano.

In 2006, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo issued Presidential Proclamation 1064 classifying 60 percent of the island as "alienable and disposable." HB 1109 is said to correct the flaws of rroyo’s proclamation.

A Vibrant Mexican-Motif beach resort town in Quezon (http://www.mb.com.ph/TOUR20080826133517.html#)
Tuesday, August 26, 2008

Being lulled to sleep by the monotony of seeing nothing but the lush greenery hemming the narrow paved road leading to the port in the coastal village of Bantigue in the rustic ton of Pagbilao in Quezon, one is pleasantly surprised by the sudden appearance to the left of a row of bright colored house and big igloo-shaped shelters behind a white perimeter fence.

(photo by Donald Tapan)Tucked in a buri palm-fringed pocket white sand beach facing a tranquil cove is a luxury beach resort club for people who would like to escape the dim and tainted air of the big city – the sprawling 12-hectare Pueblo por la Playa (Spanish for "a town by the beach") in that secluded place seven kilometers from the Maharlika highway leading to Bicol near Lucena City, the provincial capital.

What makes the exclusive beach resort stand out from the rest of its class are its big, double-tiered 48 meter long by 37-meter-wide adult and children infinity pools and Mexican-inspired duplex villas with brightly stuccoed walls that combine top become a colorful work of art. The interiors of the six rainbow-like vacation homes (out of a total of eleven), with 200-quare-meter floor area each, are different from the outside, with their respective color motifs and décor.

The bedroom headboards, indoor gardens in the living rooms, and bathroom fixtures were inspired by the great carvings and frescoes in the ancient Mayan civilization

and the murals found in Mexico’s many Spanish colonial churches and shrines. Ceiling illustrations of big , smiling crescent moons, for example, are done in playful art, and showcase Mexico’s vibrant profusion of folk art, which has as electrifying effect on first-time visitors.

"When we conceptualized Pueblo in 2004, as to what motif to use, we decided on Mexican because of its attention getting loud colors," explains 31-year-old Irvin M. Alcala, its CEO. "Earlier, we thought of going Thai but its wood-intensive architecture was quite expensive, while Mediterranean design lacked color."

"Construction began in late 2005, and we worked gingerly around the eight-meter-tall buri plams and other leafy coastal trees, eliminating only the brush," says Irvin, son of Rep. Proceso "Procy" Alcala of the second district of Quezon, where the high end resort is located. "After which, we bulldozed the boulder-strewn narrow shoreline and pumped out its waist-deep muck," continues Irvin, a civil engineer by profession. "After rip-rapping the cleared one-meter-wide coast, we reclaimed and widened it with tons of fine, white sand hauled form a nearby shoal that disappears during high tide. Now, our beach is almost 1,000 square meters wide, [and its] ivory sands are similar to that of Boracay."

Aside from the five other Mexican villas that are being built, six new one-level similarly designed residential country homes with an average floor area of 400 square meters, situated at both sides of the boot-shaped resort area, have been built and five more are in varying phases of construction, out of a total of 60 units that have been sold out already.

The Alcala-owned Cotta Relaty and Development Corporation in Lucena City, who owns and built Pueblo, whose members and homeowners and from adjoining towns, Metro Manila, and balikbayans spending their holidays here, also fabricates its own Mexican inspired furniture and décor – from its colorful, tabletop mosaic murals done on heavy cement slabs, to illustrations on both sides of the backrest of their wooden chairs, to metal wall and ceiling lamps with an Aztec blazing sun design (all collector’s item) at Pueblo’s Oaxaca (pronounced wahaka) Café, Pueblo’s fine dining restaurant that overlooks the tranquil bay. The Mexican bistro could seat 75 diners and another 70 al fresco under the shade of the tall buri palms (Corypha Elata Roxb.) with their distinctive, big, fan-like pointed leaves.

To assure the freshness of its table fare, the resort has its own organically grown kitchen herbs in greenhouses across the road – from ordinary ones like rosemary and sage, English thyme, and Greek oregano to assorted kinds of mint (chocolate, orange, and spearmint), bell peppers, Spanish tarragon (for tea), different varieties of lettuce, pumpkin, including stevia (whose leaf extract is used as a sugar substitute), and yes, they plant and harvest their own sweet corn, too, tended by its own agriculturist. For seafood, Pueblo has its own fishponds at Maharlika Island across Pagbilao Bay, while meat comes from organically raised poultry and livestock.

"Pueblo por la Playa is the ultimate luxury beach destination for those who subscribe to the concept that brings fine dining, entertainment, family fun and fitness together", concludes Irvin. "All in an idyllic place whose unique leitmotif and setting are second to none."

‘Manila Grand Opera Hotel
signals bullish outlook’ (http://www.businessmirror.com.ph/0829&302008/nation01.html)


THE emergence of a first-class hotel in the heart of Manila, in Chinatown, is a sign of the bullish outlook of businessmen in the tourism industry, according to President Arroyo, as she hailed the opening of the Manila Grand Opera Hotel at the place where the “theater with a history” formerly stood.

“Being strategically located in Chinatown, the melting pot of trade and commerce in Manila, the hotel promises to showcase our tradition of hospitality to tourist and business travelers, particularly those coming from China, who are now among our top foreign visitors,” the President said in a message for the blessing and inauguration of the hotel on Saturday (August 30).

Coinciding with the opening of the hotel are the birthday and formal launching of the new biography of Ambassador Antonio L. Cabangon Chua, head of the business group that owns and operates the hotel.

The new book, entitled The Continuing Saga of Success and written by Jose E. Lacaba and Eric S. Caruncho, updates an earlier biography, A Saga of Success, written by the late National Artist Nick Joaquin.

Cabangon Chua, in his own message for the occasion, said having a first-class hotel built in Manila gives him “much personal satisfaction, for I love the city of Manila, where I was born in 1934, at the Philippine General Hospital.”

The ambassador said that while the Second World War drove him and his mother to Mandaluyong, where she hailed from, he always considered himself a Manileño and “it has always been my pride and joy to create job opportunities for my fellow Manilans.”

Besides the Manila Grand Opera Hotel, the business group of Cabangon Chua also owns and operates the Citystate Tower and Cherry Blossoms Hotels in Ermita, Manila.

The President noted in her message that the eight-story hotel represents the “latest and the best we can offer not only in promoting tourism but also in fostering international goodwill, understanding and vibrant cross-cultural relations.”

Designed by One Design Consultancy Corp., headed by Rafael Tecson, its 250 guest rooms are equipped with infrared doorkeys, all-therapeutic beds, cable TV and Wi-Fi and LAN access. Among its amenities are a gym, massage spa for the health and fitness needs of visitors.

For the benefit of Chinese visitors to the country whose numbers are seen to increase, the hotel will offer authentic Chinese cuisine at a big restaurant that can seat 1,000 guests. For this, the hotel has hired the services of Lau Wai Chung, one of the most experienced chefs in the Asian hotel industry and former chief cook of Century Seafood Restaurant.

Known as Chef Achung, Lau studied in prestigious culinary schools and pursued a successful career as chef of leading hotels and restaurants in Asia, before serving more than 20 years at Century Seafood Restaurant.

The hotel’s general manager, Lawrence Li Tan, says being at the helm of the newest player in the luxury hotel market, especially one with the historic legacy of the Manila Grand Opera House that nurtured the careers of many of the country’s finest entertainers for decades, poses a challenge to provide “excellent service beyond compare.”

A tourism graduate of Centro Escolar University, Tan pursued a career in hotel management and administration in the United States, rising from the ranks to become manager of leading hotels in Arizona and Florida.

DoT confident on 3.5 M tourist arrivals (http://www.mb.com.ph/BSNS20080825133375.html)

The Department of Tourism has remained confident they are on track for an 8-9 percent increase or 3.4 million to 3.5 million tourist arrivals this year from last year’s 3.09 million with the expected heavy inflows in the latter part of the year.

Eduardo Jarque Jr., DoT Undersecretary for Tourism Planning and Promotions told Business Bulletin, said that tourist arrivals from January to May this year totaled 1.372 million, up 7.4 percent from 1.278 million in the same period last year.

Arrivals from Asia made up 52.2 percent of the total, with Koreans at 19 percent and Japanese at 11 percent. China contributed 5.4 percent.

"If the trend continues, we will hit our target because the best months are yet to come," Jarque said.

The latter of the year, which is the winter months in Europe and the US and other four season countries, are the times of the year when tourist arrivals are heavy as rich people from these continents try to escape and take a breather from the harsh winter season.

So far, the DoT has focused its marketing strategy concentrating 70 percent of its resources on North Asia, southeast Asia and India, with the remaining 30 percent on Europe.

Specifically, the focus over the past years has been on South Korea , China and Japan.

Tourism Secretary Joseph Ace Durano also said that despite the economic slowdown, the country is still achieving respectable growth rate.

This was made possible by concentrating in the nearby region as well as in the emerging markets, such as Russia .

With the high cost of travel due to the higher prices of fuel, tourists from these countries were considering destinations closer to home rather than long-haul destinations.

The DOT has also also resorted to hiring marketing representatives in targeted countries with huge tourist potential to make up for the absence of tourism offices the agency cannot put up because of its limited resources.

Jarque said that when Durano came on board he decided to appoint marketing representatives in Russia , India and Hong Kong to capture high value tourists from these emerging countries.

Jarque said the marketing representatives have been of big help to the DOT in bringing warm bodies into the country.

"The Secretary made sure that our marketing representatives are very well connected local people and are very well known in their respective local tourism industries thus they are more effective in selling the Philippines ," Jarque said.

Because of limited resources, the DOT has maintained 14 tourism attaches worldwide. Jarque used to be a tourism attaché in Los Angeles in the US .

"We need have more and we have more plantilla positions but these have not been filled up," he said.

According to Jarque , Russia was targeted because there are very wealthy Russians who stay longer in beaches and resorts.

"They come not on weekends but for as long as three weeks," he said.

The target now is tourists from Vladivostok region or Eastern Russia, which is only two hours away from Korea and two hours to Manila .
Vladisvostok is also two hours away from Shanghai or two hours to Manila but is nine hours away from Moscow .

At present, tourists from Vladivostok come here on limited chartered flights.

"That is why we have to address accessibility and distance since we don’t have direct flights to Russia ," he said.

In the case of India , Jarque said that the visa upon arrival scheme of the Bureau of Immigration for tourists and business people has facilitated in bringing in more wealthy tourists from India .

"Indian women shop like crazy, they go berserk when they go shopping and we bring them to every shopping places including Divisoria, Greenhills and the high-end malls here," he said.

The Indian men also love the entertainment in the country, he said.

"They love our night life, all for clean fun," Jarque said.

Big Indian firms are also giving incentives trips to the Philippines for their employes so there have been corporate outings here from India .

In addition, there have been Indian students flocking into the country taking aviation courses.

According to Jarque , India , an emerging economic power, is beefing up its aviation industry and has ordered the biggest number of fleet.

The Philippines has also hosted location shootings for four Indian movies given the fact that Bollywood, India ‘s version of Hollywood , is a fast rising industry.

For almost two years, Jarque said Hong Kong registered negative growth in tourism arrivals and that baffled the DOT.

"We found out we did not have a product and Manila has become an old stopover for them," he said.

"Now, you’ll be surprised how many Hong Kong shoppers come here and they love our night spots as well," he said.(BCM)

I think the TOURISM INDUSTRY AND LEADERS finally GOT IT!

:banana::banana::banana:
JP

^^Russians are good tourists , they got a lot of money now and their weather can be an advantage for us. Especially in Vladivostok .

Mean annual temperature: 4.3 ℃ (39.7 ℉)
Average temperature in January: −13.7 ℃ (7.3 ℉)
Average temperature in August: 20.2 ℃ (68.4 ℉)
Average annual precipitation: 722 mm (strong summer maximum)

Imagine all those russians coming from the cold winter finding a paradise in Boracay or in Palawan, we have a lot of churches and beautiful monuments left by the Spaniards , shopping centres , biggest malls in the world .

I always thought we have a beautiful country , finally someone else have the same sentiment now.

Lol I forgot also indians and everybody else in the world are good too and you are welcome. Lol in case some indian or some other man or woman coming from other countries read my post and get offended because i forgot to mention them.

alam nyo ba kung gaano ka-kuripot ang mga indian na nakatira na sa US. Gusto lahat libre. Sila ang pinaka kuripot sa mundo...

http://http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZtbyVFLl_7U (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZtbyVFLl_7U)

ha ha totoo pala yan, dapat dalin sila sa divisoria at 168

mas mabuti na yung kuripot na maraming naipon kesa galante pero bankrupt ang uwi, gaya ng napakaraming pinoy na nag wa-one time millionaire :(

DFNN, Japanese firm to form tourism joint venture (http://http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/storypage.aspx?StoryID=130107)

Technology and gaming firm Diversified Financial Network Inc. (DFFN), through its Singapore-based unit Avensis Leisure Pte. Ltd., has teamed up with a Japanese travel firm to offer luxury tour services to wealthy tourists in Japan, Singapore and Philippines.

The company signed Wednesday a memorandum of understanding with Asian Elite Club Co. Ltd. for the creation of a joint venture company, which would be equally owned by the two companies.

"We see a big market for this new business. Soon, Asia will have the largest growth in terms of tourism. This is in line with the upper class growing tremendously," said DFNN chief executive officer (CEO) Ramon Garcia.

Asian Elite, he noted, has been successful in this kind of undertaking. The Japanese firm has been providing business consulting, tour planning and marketing services for high net worth tourists from China, Hong Kong, Taiwan and other countries in the region. It also provide clients with services and products suited to this niche market such as private commercial aircraft and executive ground transport.

The new service would complement DFNN's gaming business under subsidiary Pacific Gaming Investments Pte. Ltd., Garcia added.

Asian Elite CEO Makoto Honda, for his part, said that the recent announcement of the Philippines to open major entertainment and gaming hubs, including the Manila Bay tourism project by state-run Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. and those in Subic, Clark and Boracay, is attractive to its clientele.

Honda said the joint venture with DFNN would offer a standard tour package worth $10,000 to $300,000 per person.

He said the tours, which would last for five to seven days, are planned according to the demands of each client.

The joint venture will bring its first batch of tourists to the country in the fourth quarter of the year.

"The Philippines is well known for its hospitality...they would be the perfect partners for the concierge and dedicated services that we would like to provide our clients who have come to Japan and are now looking for other destinations in Asia," said Honda.

RP to take part in 3 major tourism
expos in Europe before year-end (http://www.businessmirror.com.ph/09042008/economy03.html)

By Max V. de Leon
Reporter


THE Philippines will be participating in three upcoming major tourism expos in Europe as the government strives to build on the double-digit hikes in visitor arrivals from different European nations.

The different European markets outpaced the growth rates registered by other source markets from January to July 2008, with arrivals from the Russian Federation growing by 35 percent, France by 26 percent, Spain by 22 percent, and the United Kingdom by 18 percent.

The Scandinavian market, which is comprised of Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden, recorded a 16-percent hike in tourist arrivals.

Seeing Europe as still a largely unexploited source market, the Department of Tourism (DOT) called on travel and tour stakeholders, entrepreneurs, hotels, resorts, airlines and transport services to join in three major tourism trade expositions in Europe that will be held in the last quarter of the year.

First on the DOT’s schedule is the Travel Trade Gazette (TTG) Incontri, the premier business-to-business travel trade event in Italy, which will be held on October 24 and 25 in Rimini Fiera, Italy.

The other expos are the Dive Show 2008 at Birmingham, England, slated on November 1 and 2 in the National Exhibition Center, Birmingham, UK, and the World Travel Market (WTM) 2008 from November 10 to 13 at Excel Docklands, London.

“Our presence in these travel trade fairs sustains our drive to bring in the European market, which remains one of our highest spenders,” Tourism Secretary Ace Durano said.

TTG Incontri will be joined by significant decision-makers in the European travel industry, with the event’s highlight being the two-day business negotiations involving presentation of new products, sealing deals with partners and forging agreements between travel trade buyers and sellers.

The Dive Show 2008 is sponsored by Diver, Britain’s leading diving magazine. Durano said the Philippines will be enticing Europeans to experience the country’s various diving destinations, such Batangas, Bohol and several parts of Palawan.

The WTM, meanwhile, is a “must-attend” opportunity for travel entrepreneurs as more than generating business, attendees will also have the opportunity to learn industry innovations and gain competitive advantage.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3065/2762746847_71dbf0eb76_b.jpg

“The biggest water festival on earth is about to end its run but not without a big splash from the Philippines,” said Tourism Secretary Joseph Ace Durano on the final weeks of the year’s most important exhibition, Expo Zaragoza, which highlights the theme, Water and Sustainable Development.

The exposition is ongoing in the ancient Spanish City of Zaragoza, the country’s fifth largest city. The Philippines, through the Department of Tourism, the Department of Foreign Affairs, and the Department of Trade and Industry, sent its own delegation to the exposition which has over 100 participants. The Philippine pavilion which features an underwater theme showcases the country’s teeming marine life. There is also an interesting display of the country’s best water practices.

Domingo Ramon Enerio, tourism attaché for London and deputy commissioner general of the Philippine delegation, said, “We are all set for the rest of the month with fun and festive activities to entertain guests which come to around 8,000 daily.”

According to Enerio, the country has an ongoing travel exchange with Catai Tours, Ultima Frontera and Viajes Iberia. Showcasing the Philippines’ top destinations, the travel exchange pushes adventure tourism in Bohol and Davao, diving in Palawan, trekking in Luzon, and shopping in Manila. Dive packages and other underwater adventure packages are being snapped up by guests. The team is also raffling off prizes to lucky visitors. The first draw held gave out a six-day trip to premier Philippine destinations and a Jewelmer gold pearl pendant. Other draws are scheduled in the following days.

“Luminaries are likewise frequenting our pavilion. Just the other day we welcomed Her Highness, Ubolratana Mahidol, Princess of Thailand.” Enerio added that Princess Mahidol was serenaded by the UST Singers and was given a grand tour of the Philippine pavilion. The daughter of King Bhumidol Adulyadej and Queen Sirikit reportedly enjoyed the hilot or traditional massage and coffee-tasting.

Gruppo Tribale, a six-member percussion group, has also debuted with their daily performances in front of the pavilion, drawing crowds into dancing and merry-making. While the UST Singers have started serenading guests with kundiman and well-known Spanish songs in, “Nostalgia Filipina.”

Outside the booth, the Philippine delegation will host a big get-together for travel wholesalers, operators, and media members. The event dubbed as Filipinas Te Espera Party Night will have the travel exchange, free massage and overflowing drinks courtesy of Tanduay Rhum at Las Playas.

Another celebrity, Zaragoza’s mascot Fluvi, has also gained media attention during a much celebrated meeting with the Philippines’ own mascot, Filipo. The party was covered live by Spain’s top global media networks such as Aragon Televisión and Radio Nacional de España, and an Australian broadcasting company, SBS TV. Leading newspapers in Spain also featured photos of the two beloved mascots. A unique campaign involving Filipo was also launched in partnership with Heraldo de Aragon, the no. 1 daily newspaper in Aragon, a province in Spain. The paper publishes photos of guests taken with Filipo with caption that reads, “Is this you with Filipo?” Winners can claim their prizes from the Philippine pavilion.

Expo souvenirs showcasing Philippine ingenuity and craftsmanship are on discount at 40 percent off for “Rebajas.”

Before its closing, the 2008 Expo Zaragoza is expected to have hosted seven million guests from all over the world.

http://www.manilastandardtoday.com/?page=goodLife2_sept4_2008

San Miguel Octoberfest

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3141/2829450969_87f316b385.jpg

^^:banana::i'll be there this night.:cheers:

Mayoyao’s deep magic (http://www.philstar.com/scripts/article_print.php?PhilStar&id=2008083040&type=2)

By Audrey N. Carpio
Sunday, August 31 2008

http://www.philstar.com/newphilstar/www/image/20080831/travel1.jpg


It was a good night for a war dance.

A full moon reflected its tumescent state in the rice paddies, still wet from a fresh harvest. The dancers, dressed in woven thongs and skirts, braided belts and feathery headdresses, lifted an open palm or spear, depending on the type of ritual and celebration, and moved in and out of the circle, a whirl of red, black and white, to the rhythmic threshing of the gong. They told an ancient tale of headhunters and tribal conflict, of victory and thanksgiving for a bountiful harvest.

We were in Mayoyao, the Cordilleras, and this night in particular our group of travelers had descended into the valleys where 2,000 years before Ifugao ancestors carved out rice terraces on the slopes of these mountains. A modernized Ifugao hut, whose iconic cogon roof had been replaced with red-painted galvanized steel, provided the evening’s shelter. Mayoyao is one of the 11 municipalities of Ifugao, almost all of which have their own set of terraces. Banaue, of course, remains the most famous, with an appearance on the P1,000 bill; but unknown to many, there are terraces beyond Banaue that form a network so extensive that, if placed end to end, they would reach halfway around the world.

After the dance, the performers changed back to their regular attire of pants, T-shirt, Adidas jacket and bolo. Everyone partook of the meal that had been killed just earlier. Pinikpikan involves lightly beating a live chicken so that its blood coagulates and thickens the meat around the wings and neck. After the chicken is taken out of its misery, it is plunged into an open fire to burn off the feathers, then chopped up and cooked in a container. Inhumane or not, the process of making the dish was actually more exciting than the taste of the chicken, which was plain, save for the hint of blood and smoke.

But the tapuy — oh, the sweet tapuy. Our guide JP Alipio, one third of the Cordillera Expeditions group, brought over a few bottles of the rice wine from his personal estate in Baguio, bootlegged in Ginebra bottles. Now this was the stuff: none of that burnt-tasting bitter brew sold at souvenir shops that littered the rim of Banaue. The tapuy had the light red color of a rosé and a natural sweetness to it, and seemed to go down especially well after spitting out one’s moma or betel nut chew.

Impassable is nothing

“I wanted Filipinos to see their country the way a tourist would,” says Alipio, explaining why he puts together these off-the-beaten-path trips to the Cordilleras. “There are so many beautiful places here, each with its own distinct character, language and customs.” Alipio is a true Cordilleran, having grown up in Baguio where he spent a lot of time exploring the outer regions trekking, biking and camping. But the mountains are more than just a playground for this environmental management post-grad; they are his passion and his advocacy; its soil, his own soul. Alipio has investigated issues from tribal wars to pesticide use and has received grants from the National Geographic Society as a Young Explorer to research the Cordillera region, as well as mentored under adventure photographer Gordon Wiltsie.

One of his expeditions for the National Geographic was a hardcore 38-day trek known as the Philippine Central Cordillera Traverse, a trail that connects Benguet to the Mountain Province and ends at Tirad Pass. No wonder, on our mini expedition to Mayoyao, every destination according to our guide was just “30 minutes away” and involved “light trekking.” We took maybe five hours to hike up and down a forested mountain and were blistered, scratched, sweaty and palpitating all the way. I tripped over vines and slipped a few times, and wished I could’ve worn my as yet unbroken-in Hi-Tec Base Element shoes, which are waterproof and would have provided better grip and traction on muddy trails and steep inclines than the battered old pair of sneakers I had on.

But, at the base of the mountain swept an elegant waterfall, its icy waters a salve for our sunburns and a contemplation for our complaints. The photographers of the group whipped out their tripods and shot the rapids while the rest of us splashed around and screamed like children. When hunger struck, a lunch of barbecued chicken, veggies and rice was served on freshly macheted banana leaves (nature provideth). Ben Muni must be thanked for hauling around all the supplies in his gigantic backpack. Ben is the second guide from Cordillera Expeditions, and while not a native of the parts like JP, he could very well be one, as a teacher of anthropology at UP Baguio and a team member of the Central Cordillera Traverse. His extensive knowledge of local culture is outshone only by his ability to crack jokes and lighten people’s spirits.

The third of the Cordillera Expeditions triumvirate is Cherry Malonzo, a med school graduate who has backpacked all over the country and has known JP from their college mountaineering days. She added a woman’s touch to the expeditions, though she is certainly as fit, if not fitter, than the boys, earning her the nickname “Ula the Amazona.” The three are good friends above everything else, and their love for the outdoors is so infectious you can’t help feel like you’ve been traveling buddies for a long time.

The other rice crisis

And after the guides have taken you safely — sometimes holding your hand — through the wilderness, you do feel a sense of gratitude, not just for reaching the destinations but also for the detours along every step of the way. If a 30-minute hike took a few hours, it was because we stopped through villages where children would congregate and want to have their photograph taken, or we paused to hear a hymn sung in the local dialect at a makeshift church, or we interrupted a household’s afternoon routine and asked to try our hand at rice pounding.

Simple as they are, these are the kind of experiences fast becoming extinct in a world where almost everything and everyplace is accessible at a price. Banaue is an example of unplanned tourism gone awry — the supposed Eighth Wonder of the World, the rice terraces there have been neglected and abandoned by younger Ifugao folk who look for more lucrative careers in tourism or in the city, or who have converted them into plots for lodging and shops. Visitors leave the place not with a sense of wonder but often disappointment with the rundown view and the widespread prostitution of native culture. Eventually, the reason for tourists to come to Banaue in the first place will cease to exist.

“Ecotourism” meanwhile has been a marketing buzzword of late and a label slapped on almost any kind of nature-related activity. True responsible ecotourism must minimize its own impact, aid in conservation of the ecosystem, build environmental and cultural awareness and respect, and be sustainable by giving back to the community through jobs and socio-economic benefits. According to many definitions of the term, ecotourism must, above all, sensitize people to the beauty and fragility of nature.

“We have a policy to use only locally produced food and services like guides, transportation and catering,” says Alipio on how they apply the leave-no-trace ethic to their tours. “It makes less business sense, but in the long run the communities not only benefit monetarily, but will start to give more value to the local environment that the explorers come to see.” The people of Mayoyao have learned the lessons of Banaue, and are using the income generated from tourism to save the terraces, which were designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Danger in 2001. Our local guides Leandro Elahe, who joined us on our walks, and Grace, who led the cultural activities, are part of MATTIKHAO (Mayoyao Trekkers, Tour Guides, and Indigenous Knowledge Holders Allied Organization), a group that uses part of their earnings to fund the rehabilitation of the terraces.

A group limited in size — 12 people at the most — also lessens the impact on the environment and its resources. By staying at an Ifugao hut, the demand for inns (and building of new ones) is minimized. “We hope to create a new kind of tourist,” explains Alipio, “a traveler who would much rather stay in a hut than look for five-star accommodations, someone who is respectful of local customs and traditions, someone who will readily eat the local food and drink, dance with the locals, and be mindful of the people and environment they are visiting.” And to address the 10-hours-plus road trip getting there, a portion of the tour fees is donated to planting trees to offset emissions from travel.

Sure, the local practitioners did put on a show for the guests, but it was in the form of performance and theater, not a staged ceremony of sacred ritual that may no longer even be relevant. I believe that at some level it was also for the instruction of the younger generation, the lot of children who might possibly lose interest in their heritage and never be inclined to put on a G-string. The toothless, wrinkled old man who dons his tribal garb to step into the dance is repeating a motion inscribed in memory, singing a song that was never written down, and calling out to the god of the Sky World, who existed long before religion.

We left Ifugao with hopefully little to no trace. But Ifugao no doubt left a huge impact on us.
* * *

Special thanks to Hi-Tec shoes for their sole support. Hi-Tec is available at Rox Bonifacio High Street and SM Department Stores.
Head for the mountains. Visit cordiexpeditions.multiply.com.

Copyright 2007. Philstar Global Corp. All rights reserved. This article cannot be published or redistributed without the permission of the publisher.

By Ronnel Domingo (http://business.inquirer.net/money/breakingnews/view/20080907-159239/DOT-still-optimistic-on-arrivals-despite-rising-travel-costs)
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 20:44:00 09/07/2008

THE DEPARTMENT OF Tourism hopes that the Philippine Travel Exchange will help push the industry’s revenues this year toward the target of $5.8 billion amid a shortage of accommodation facilities.

To be held at the SMX Convention Center on Sept. 10-11, Phitex 2008 will gather stakeholders and marketers that are expected to help meet this year’s target of 3.5 million foreign visitor arrivals.

“Phitex can help a lot to bring in those figures, which can also push our total room capacity to its limits,” said Tourism Secretary Ace Durano in a statement.

Durano said last August that available tourism accommodation could only serve up to 4.2 million or about a fifth short of the 5 million target for 2010.

“But the DOT will keep gunning for industry expansion and sustain the demand so as to encourage more private sector investments in high-end accommodation facilities,” he said.

Expected to attend the forum are tourism stakeholders who are from or are operating in France, Austria, Czech Republic, Spain, Germany, Italy, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom, Russia, Australia, Hong Kong, India, Korea, China, Japan, Taiwan, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, Canada and the United States.

“At least 166 of local sellers have so far registered to do business with the visiting buyers,” Durano said. “Their transactions can bring in volumes of foreign visitors over the short and long term although this year we expect to have mostly by high-value activities like shopping and adventure tourism.

Phitex 2008 would feature the latest modes of adventure tourism, particularly birdwatching and glamping or camping in luxury, both of which have a large following in the high-end outbound markets of Europe.

MANILA, Philippines – Due to its relatively small proposed budget for 2009, the Department of Tourism (DOT) will be limiting its activities to 20 countries worldwide, the tourism chief said Monday.

Tourism Secretary Joseph "Ace" Durano said that because of the budget given to the agency, they decided to limit their activities to 20 countries.

Durano was present during the House briefing regarding the proposed P1.74 billion DOT budget for 2009.

Durano said they will be focusing on neighboring countries like Singapore, Malaysia, Vietnam, and Australia to help build up Philippine tourism.

Key markets like the United Kingdom, Spain, France, and Italy will also be targeted, said Durano.

At the same time, the DOT is working on developing ties with emerging markets like Russia, he added.

Durano said Russia was not on the DOT's radar in 2005, saying the "stumbling block" was that Russians were considered "restricted nationals."

The deployment of a delegation to Russia, however, opened up negotiations that led to the adoption of a less strict visa policy, said Durano.

The DOT has likewise convinced Russian travel agents to offer Philippine tourism packages, he said.

Durano said they have engaged in talks with various airlines as there were no direct flights from Russia to the Philippines, adding that they are also working on consumer awareness about travel fare and such.

Durano said his department used up all of its budget for the year, which was P1.66 billion for 2008.

"We have more than 100 percent absorption of the budget. A lot of our spending is abroad…reality is, I know we cannot be given more,"he said.

The DOT plans to spend P774 million on international tourism promotion next year, and is hoping to sustain the growth of foreign arrivals in the Philippines, said Durano.

"We would want to sustain the 8 to 10 percent growth until 2010. But it's becoming more challenging with the slowdown of key markets like US and Japan,"he said.

Durano said 366,662 visitors from the United States went to the Philippines during the first seven months of the year. The US visits comprised 19.1. percent of the total foreign arrivals in the country, coming in second after Korea which made up 19.8 percent.

From Japan, meanwhile, were 216,114 visits or 11.3 percent of the total.

The US visits' growth rate was 1 percent while visits from Japan declined by 6.5 percent, said Durano.

Durano, however, remains positive, as the 6.1 percent growth in total foreign arrivals in the country for the first seven months of 2008 surpassed records posted the past three years.

- Johanna Camille Sisante, GMANews.TV (http://www.gmanews.tv/story/118866/DOT-to-focus-on-20-countries-due-to-budget-limits)

MANILA, Philippines – Due to its relatively small proposed budget for 2009, the Department of Tourism (DOT) will be limiting its activities to 20 countries worldwide, the tourism chief said Monday.

Durano said they will be focusing on neighboring countries like Singapore, Malaysia, Vietnam, and Australia to help build up Philippine tourism.

Key markets like the United Kingdom, Spain, France, and Italy will also be targeted, said Durano.

At the same time, the DOT is working on developing ties with emerging markets like Russia, he added.

The DOT plans to spend P774 million on international tourism promotion next year, and is hoping to sustain the growth of foreign arrivals in the Philippines, said Durano.

"
Durano said 366,662 visitors from the United States went to the Philippines during the first seven months of the year. The US visits comprised 19.1. percent of the total foreign arrivals in the country, coming in second after Korea which made up 19.8 percent.


- Johanna Camille Sisante, GMANews.TV (http://www.gmanews.tv/story/118866/DOT-to-focus-on-20-countries-due-to-budget-limits)

I only counted 11 or 12 countries in this article. I wonder what other countries are being targeted?
:dj:
JP

^^ P1.79 B??! good luck sa competition...

SM plans to put up convention center in Cebu (http://www.businessmirror.com.ph/09092008/companies04.html)

By Willy Rodolfo III
Reporter

SM Investments Corp. (SMIC) announced in Cebu yesterday that it is considering building a 5,000-seater convention center within its complex at the north reclamation area in this city.

The planned convention center will be put up just behind the upcoming hotel at the present open parking area beside the mall. “This will become like a little SMX,” SM Prime Holdings vice president Marissa Fernan said, referring to the SM Exhibition Center near the SM Mall of Asia in Pasay City.

SMIC will soon be opening its unused 10-year-old 20-story building at the North Reclamation Area into a hotel next year.

In a press conference, Fernan said the hotel will open to help provide rooms for Cebu’s expanding tourism and business clientele.

“We are very confident that the things that will be happening in the hotel will go with ours [mall],” Fernan said.

The SM company earlier signed a management agreement with Carlson Hotels Worldwide–Asia Pacific (Carlson) to run the 400-room hotel.

To be called as the Radisson Hotel Cebu, the P2.6-billion hotel is scheduled for completion in the first quarter of 2009.

It was originally called Sofitel Cebu Hotel and was supposed to be operated by Europe’s Accor Group. SMIC, however, decided to transfer the operations to Carlson to take advantage of latter’s brand of hotel management.

The Radisson Cebu hotel boasts of 10 meeting rooms, a 1,000-square meter ballroom, a spa and fitness center, a lobby lounge, and an all-day dining restaurant, among others. It is strategically located in the heart of Cebu City, only 2 kilometers (km) from the central business district and less than 20 km from the airport.

The SM complex sits on a 23-hectare property at the north reclamation area, situated in the middle of the airport and the world-class resorts in Mactan Island as well as the business and financial districts of Cebu City.

^^ this will really put CEBU in the TOURISM AND CONVENTION MAP of the Philippines.

:banana:
JP

^^ this will really put CEBU in the TOURISM AND CONVENTION MAP of the Philippines.

:banana:
JP

When I think of sun-kissed, serene isles inhabited by warm, culturally rich people... I think of the Visayas. It's about time the world know about Central Philippines! :cheers:

Koreans make up most of foreign arrivals in RP - DOT (http://www.gmanews.tv/story/118843/Koreans-make-up-most-of-foreign-arrivals-in-RP---DOT#)

JOHANNA CAMILLE SISANTE, GMANews.TV
Article posted September 08, 2008 - 12:50 PM
MANILA, Philippines – Koreans made up the bulk of foreign visitors in the Philippines for the first seven months of the year, the Department of Tourism (DOT) said Monday.

At the House budget briefing of the DOT’s proposed budget for 2009, Secretary Joseph “Ace" Durano said 19.8 percent of all foreign visitors in the country from January to July 2008 were from Korea.

This translates to 380,619 Korean visitors, with a growth rate of 1.5 percent.

Visitors from the United States came in second with 366,662 or 19.1 percent of the total, while Japan completed the top three with 216,114 Japanese visitors or 11.3 percent.

Unlike US visits whose number grew by 1 percent, however, visits from Japan declined by 6.5 percent, said Durano.

The rest of the top 11 markets for the country’s tourism industry for the first seven months are mostly from Asia:

* China, with 102,653 visitors or 5.3 percent of the total foreign visitors;

* Taiwan, with 72,946 or 3.8 percent;

* Hong Kong, with 68,496 visitors or 3.6 percent;

* Australia, with 67,436 visitors or 3.5 percent;

* Canada, with 60,667 visitors of 3.2 percent;

* Singapore, with 57,332 or 3 percent;

* United Kingdom, with 52,939 visitors or 2.9 percent; and

* Malaysia, with 39,518 visitors or 2.1 percent

Durano said the visits from these countries have grown substantially, with visitors from Canada and China increasing by as much as 18.3 percent.

Citing data from their quarterly exit surveys in airports, Durano said nearly half or 47.3 percent of the foreign arrivals are in the Philippines for vacations, particularly in beaches, while one-fourth or 25 percent go to the country to visit friends or relatives.

Thirteen percent of foreign visitors are business travelers; 1.2 percent are in the country for conventions; and 11 percent are in the country for various reasons, including English-language learning, added Durano.

Durano said they based the tourist arrival figures on the United Nations’ definition of tourists.

"We are using the definition of the UN World Tourism Organization of what a tourist is: a foreign national or foreign passport holder staying in another country for a night," said Durano, adding that some countries don’t follow the UN definition, like Macau which counts even those who do not stay overnight.

Based on arrival and departure cards and sea manifests, more than 250,000 foreign visitors arrived at the country each month, with January, March, and July having the highest visitor volume, said the DOT in its presentation before the House panel.

The DOT said the 6.1 percent growth in total foreign arrivals in the country for the first seven months surpassed records in the past three years.

The 2009 budget proposal allots P1.74 billion to the DOT, an increase from 2008’s P1.66 billion. - GMANews.TV

mga sir/ma'am im currently doin my thesis and its about the pagcor city meron ako mga nkitang pic ng site s google at nkita ko n din ung master plan pero ang prob ko e di ko alam kung paano ung ayos ng master plan. kung upryt b xa as is o nka tagilid sana my makatulong skin kc nkakabaliw ang pgpunta punta s pagcor at wla nmn ako napapala puro pinababalik ako sayang s pera kc studyante lng ako.

PLSSS HELP ME!!

mga sir/ma'am im doing a thesis and its about the pagcor city and i have a problem about the master plan and the site. di ko alm kung pano ung ayos ng master plan s site at sawa n ako s pagpunta punta s pagcor sayang pera ko wla nmn ako npapala any help would greatly be appreciated

PLSSSSS HHEELLPP MMEE!!

HAAHHH!! SASABIHIN KO N LAHAT NG GUSTO KO!!
dapat ang mga government offices always ready to help the students s mga researches nila at wag n pahirapan e anak ng teteng ang dami hinahanap n mga kung ano anong ka bullshitan basta ang hirap explain nkakaburat cla. dapat my department na ang focus e tulungan mga studyante pra s mga researches nila malay nila my maitulong p mga estudyanteng to s knila at maging mas productive cla... (hayyy ok n ako)
dapat ano ung... ung parang mag tuon ng pansin at maniwala s mga kakayahan ng mga kabataan. basta parang ganun.(nxtym n mgpost ako d2 maiintindihan nyo n ako)

HAAHHH!! SASABIHIN KO N LAHAT NG GUSTO KO!!
dapat ang mga government offices always ready to help the students s mga researches nila at wag n pahirapan e anak ng teteng ang dami hinahanap n mga kung ano anong ka bullshitan basta ang hirap explain nkakaburat cla. dapat my department na ang focus e tulungan mga studyante pra s mga researches nila malay nila my maitulong p mga estudyanteng to s knila at maging mas productive cla... (hayyy ok n ako)
dapat ano ung... ung parang mag tuon ng pansin at maniwala s mga kakayahan ng mga kabataan. basta parang ganun.(nxtym n mgpost ako d2 maiintindihan nyo n ako)

There are pictures of PAGCOR city in Projects forum, Metro Manila, and go to Bagong Nayong Pilipino. It shows you're frustrated with this research. Be patient. Ganyan talaga yan,

mga sir/ma'am im doing a thesis and its about the pagcor city and i have a problem about the master plan and the site. di ko alm kung pano ung ayos ng master plan s site at sawa n ako s pagpunta punta s pagcor sayang pera ko wla nmn ako npapala any help would greatly be appreciated

PLSSSSS HHEELLPP MMEE!!

ano na bang nangyayari sa mga estudyante ngayon, hindi na marunong magsulat ng matino? nakakaasar.

at spoon feeding pa ata ang research na gusto:D

RP rising as major tourist haven (http://business.inquirer.net/money/breakingnews/view/20080921-162040/RP-rising-as-major-tourist-haven)
By Doris Dumlao
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 20:47:00 09/21/2008

THE PHILIPPINES, ASIA’S “BEST-kept secret” haven for tourists, would likely sustain at least a 10-percent growth in tourist arrivals and receipts this year through 2010, stock brokerage CLSA Asia-Pacific said in a recent study.

“Natural attractions and rebranding efforts have molded the Philippines into one of the most exciting Asian holiday destinations,” according to a special report written by CLSA analyst Alfred Dy. He noted that the country was now carving a niche in a number of tourism segments, including outdoor, medical, education and retirement tourism.

“In spite of the frequent travel advisories that have dominated headlines across the globe, the Philippines is a wonderful country to visit with 7,107 islands to choose from. The weather is warm year-round and the population is outgoing and friendly. With a spectacular nightlife, the affordability of tour packages makes the Philippines an appealing destination for travellers,” Dy said.

In three years, the analyst projected that annual arrivals should climb to 4.1 million and receipts to $6.5 billion. This suggested that tourist receipts as a percentage of the country’s gross domestic product would hit 3.4 percent in 2009-2010 from a low of only 1.9 percent in 2003.

“One of the most outstanding features of the Philippines is its diversity. Chinese, Spanish, American and other nationalities combine to create a rich, vibrant culture. English is widely spoken and the Philippines is ranked No. 3 globally in terms of percentage of population who speak the language. Overall, people are very friendly and have a positive attitude toward foreigners who visit the country,” Dy explained.

Rebounding after years of stagnation, tourist arrivals hit an all-time high of 3.09 million in 2007, up 9 percent from the year before while receipts hit a record-high $4.89 billion, or 41 percent higher than in 2006.

Aside from the beautiful sites and destinations, the Philippines is an extremely competitively priced holiday destination, Dy said.

The analyst said the Philippine government was also finally getting its act together to draw more tourists to its “wealth of wonders” (WOW), as coined by former tourism secretary and now Sen. Richard Gordon. Dy noted that stability and security have improved significantly while the national government was actively addressing major infrastructure bottlenecks, which should improve access and slash travel time across the country.

Koreans make up most of foreign arrivals in RP - DOT (http://www.gmanews.tv/story/118843/Koreans-make-up-most-of-foreign-arrivals-in-RP---DOT#)

JOHANNA CAMILLE SISANTE, GMANews.TV
Article posted September 08, 2008 - 12:50 PM
MANILA, Philippines – Koreans made up the bulk of foreign visitors in the Philippines for the first seven months of the year, the Department of Tourism (DOT) said Monday.

At the House budget briefing of the DOT’s proposed budget for 2009, Secretary Joseph “Ace" Durano said 19.8 percent of all foreign visitors in the country from January to July 2008 were from Korea.

This translates to 380,619 Korean visitors, with a growth rate of 1.5 percent.

Visitors from the United States came in second with 366,662 or 19.1 percent of the total, while Japan completed the top three with 216,114 Japanese visitors or 11.3 percent.

Unlike US visits whose number grew by 1 percent, however, visits from Japan declined by 6.5 percent, said Durano.

The rest of the top 11 markets for the country’s tourism industry for the first seven months are mostly from Asia:

* China, with 102,653 visitors or 5.3 percent of the total foreign visitors;

* Taiwan, with 72,946 or 3.8 percent;

* Hong Kong, with 68,496 visitors or 3.6 percent;

* Australia, with 67,436 visitors or 3.5 percent;

* Canada, with 60,667 visitors of 3.2 percent;

* Singapore, with 57,332 or 3 percent;

* United Kingdom, with 52,939 visitors or 2.9 percent; and

* Malaysia, with 39,518 visitors or 2.1 percent

Durano said the visits from these countries have grown substantially, with visitors from Canada and China increasing by as much as 18.3 percent.

Citing data from their quarterly exit surveys in airports, Durano said nearly half or 47.3 percent of the foreign arrivals are in the Philippines for vacations, particularly in beaches, while one-fourth or 25 percent go to the country to visit friends or relatives.

Thirteen percent of foreign visitors are business travelers; 1.2 percent are in the country for conventions; and 11 percent are in the country for various reasons, including English-language learning, added Durano.

Durano said they based the tourist arrival figures on the United Nations’ definition of tourists.

"We are using the definition of the UN World Tourism Organization of what a tourist is: a foreign national or foreign passport holder staying in another country for a night," said Durano, adding that some countries don’t follow the UN definition, like Macau which counts even those who do not stay overnight.

Based on arrival and departure cards and sea manifests, more than 250,000 foreign visitors arrived at the country each month, with January, March, and July having the highest visitor volume, said the DOT in its presentation before the House panel.

The DOT said the 6.1 percent growth in total foreign arrivals in the country for the first seven months surpassed records in the past three years.

The 2009 budget proposal allots P1.74 billion to the DOT, an increase from 2008’s P1.66 billion. - GMANews.TV

Looks like the influx of Korean tourists is slowing down though, merely increasing by 1.5% Looks like the next country to increase tourists to the Philippines will be China.

Looks like the influx of Korean tourists is slowing down though, merely increasing by 1.5% Looks like the next country to increase tourists to the Philippines will be China.

^^ good cuz theres lots of them :D

CxPaDzdYlHk

Philippine coral reefs are said to be one of the most beautiful in the world, they're on display at Chicago's Shedd Aquarium.

ganda nito, try niyo po e view...:)
DoPdEd8ah_A&feature=related

^^ good cuz theres lots of them :D

The influx of tourists and investments go hand in hand... :D


Koreans top new Subic investors in first 8 months (http://www.philstar.com/index.php?Business&p=49&type=2&sec=27&aid=2008092311)

By Bebot Sison Jr.
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
SUBIC BAY FREEPORT — South Korean investors invested $198.8 million in the Freeport zone during the first eight months of this year, making them the biggest group of new investors for the past three years.

The South Korean firms, with a total of 46 projects approved by the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) from January to August, committed more than 85 percent of the $232.6 million worth of new investments for the said period.

Filipino investors, meanwhile, came in second with 67 projects worth $10 million followed by Taiwanese firms with three projects worth $2.9 million, and Malaysians with another three proposals amounting to $2 million.

SBMA administrator Armand Arreza said the influx of Korean investors in the area came on the heels of the $1.6-billion investment infused by shipbuilder Hanjin Heavy Industries Corp.-Philippines in 2006 and 2007.

“Most of these Korean companies are either suppliers or subcontractors of Hanjin, and some are property developers that also target the growing Korean community not only in Subic, but in other parts of the country,” Arreza said.

“Subic’s biggest new investor so far this year, the Subic Neocove Corp., is also a Korean company which intends to develop a resort to cater mostly to Korean expatriates,” he added.

“Of course, Subic has a good mix of nationalities, who have been part of the local business community since the freeport was established in 1992,” Arreza said.

Among the nationalities that put up new investments in the area this year are the Taiwanese, Japanese, American, Malaysian, Pakistan, Norwegian, Australian, British, Singaporean and Canadian.

SBMA records also indicate that in January to August this year, foreign direct investments (FDIs) composed the bulk of fresh capital infusions in Subic with a total of $208.8 million.

In the same period, the SBMA had approved a total of 130 projects, with projected employment totaling 5,177.

These increased the number of approved projects in the Subic Bay Freeport to 1,103, with committed investments totaling $5.73 billion.

Arreza said that for the past three years, Korean firms had topped other nationalities in terms of value of new investment projects.

In 2006, Korean companies put up a total of $1.36 billion, followed by Filipinos with $57 million, and Taiwanese with $9.8 million.

Last year, Koreans were again on top with $993 million worth of investments, followed by Filipinos with $355 million, and the Taiwanese with $222 million. — With Elisa Osorio

^^ tourism industry in RP is growing....

More Japanese tourists to
visit RP this year- DOT (http://www.businessmirror.com.ph/09242008/economy04.html)

By Lenie Lectura
Reporter

THE Department of Tourism (DOT) is expecting more Japanese tourists to visit the Philippines this year.

In a statement, the department said Japanese arrivals are seen to increase to 400,000 even as the Japanese outbound market is decreasing due to economic shocks and high fuel and airplane fares.

In 2007 there were 395,012 Japanese tourists in the country. The number was 6.4 percent lower than the 2006 figures.

According to the DOT, the Japanese outbound market shrunk to 17.29 million from a high of 17.5 million in 2006.

Director Benito Bengson, head of the DOT team in Japan, said the department뭩 strategy of attracting niche markets such as Japanese women and Japanese couples looking for possible wedding sites, would help boost traffic to the Philippines.

밯e are always on the lookout for new measures to attract more guests to visit the Philippines. I believe that our ongoing campaign and the increasing air seats would help us achieve our goals,?Bengson said.

Tourism Secretary Joseph Ace Durano, meanwhile, said the availability of additional air seats between the Philippines and Japan is a sure boost to the department뭩 campaign of bringing in more guests. 밫his means more tourists can visit the country even during peak seasons,?he said.

Durano issued the statement as low-cost carrier Cebu Pacific announces its inaugural flights to Osaka, Japan, in November. It will fly the Manila-Osaka route four times weekly.

At present, only four airlines fly the Philippine-Japan route, namely, Philippine Airlines (PAL), Northwest Airlines, Thai Airways and Japan Airlines.

PAL, the country뭩 flag carrier, is planning to increase its Manila-Osaka flights to seven days. It is also preparing to offer Osaka-Cebu flight twice a week.

Danny Lim, PAL country manager in Japan, said the additional air seats and the aggressive marketing campaigns being implemented by the DOT will help increase arrivals from Japan.

밫he tourists will come in once we have the necessary infrastructure and the support services needed. We also need to promote newer destinations to the Japanese market,?Lim added.

Durano explained that the proximity between the Philippines and Japan also serves as an added factor for greater visitor traffic from Japan.

Bengson said the new route allow local travel and tour operators to tap a greater number of potential Japanese clients. 밫he Manila-Osaka route has a great potential to stimulate the Japanese market, which will create more opportunities for Japanese visitors to explore the various destinations in the Philippines,?Bengson said.

The DOT is also promoting the Philippines as a shopping destination for high-spending Japanese guests.

A report from Japanese credit- card company JCB estimates that Japanese guests spend $110 daily during their stay in the Philippines.

The Philippines is also promoting itself as an alternative health, wellness and retirement haven for the aging Japanese market.

A report from the Japan National Institute of Population and Social Security said, about 20.2 percent of the Japan뭩 120 million population belongs to the 65-and-above age bracket, or those in retirement age.

밫he Philippines is an ideal destination for Japanese travelers because of the availability of goods and services they need. The proximity between the two countries is also an added factor,?Bengson emphasized.

Local travel agencies losing workers
to migration; schools fail to cope (http://www.businessmirror.com.ph/09242008/economy03.html)

By Max de Leon
Reporter

EVEN the local travel and tourism industry is being hit by the migration of Filipino workers, and the schools are not providing it the right talent to fill the resulting vacancies.

This, Amadeus Philippines general manager Albert Villadolid said, is now threatening the operational viability of local travel agencies.

밢ur current estimate is that 12 percent of those who leave to work abroad are in the tourism industry. With this scenario, travel agencies are now challenged to fill their vacancies with qualified personnel with the same skills,?Villadolid said in a statement.

According to government data, more than 760,000 Filipinos opted to work abroad during the first seven months of the year, representing a 26-percent increase from the same period last year. Currently, there are more than 8 million Filipinos working abroad.

Villadolid said more than 3,000 travel agencies in the country usually lose their employees to companies in the Middle East, Europe and the United States.

Currently, Villadolid said most newly hired personnel of travel agencies only stay in their companies for six months to gain experience and make themselves marketable internationally.

After this, they will seek employment abroad to get better salaries than the entry-level compensation they are getting from the local firms.

Amadeus, which provides solutions to more than 2,000 travel agencies across the country, said if this is not remedied, there will be a scaling down of operations in the travel and tourism industry.

One solution they are looking at, Villadolid said, is to partner with schools so they can adjust their curriculum according to the needs of the industry.

Currently, the human resource and tourism graduates of universities are not getting the specific talent that are required by the industry, including the simple skills of handling bookings. 밫he schools are teaching students mainly functional and management topics when, in fact, they need specific content skills in order to be hired,?Villadolid said.

Amadeus has already partnered with the Cebu State College and Technology, College of the Holy Spirit, College of St. Benilde, Columban College, Indiana Aerospace University, Intercontinental Training and Review Center, La Concordia College, Philippine Women뭩 University, Polytechnic University of the Philippines, Royal Christian PAL Learning Center, Southville International School and College, University of Caloocan, University of the Philippines and University of San Carlos-Recoletos.

<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/0qIK1PVWG60&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/0qIK1PVWG60&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>

http://www.youtube.com/user/HappySlip

More 'Korea towns' rising in RP (http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/features/09/20/08/more-korea-towns-rising-rp)

abs-cbnNEWS.com | 09/20/2008 3:46 PM

The Korean population in the Philippines has been steadily rising during the past few years even despite reports that their numbers have dwindled in areas such as Baguio City.

Korean-owned businesses have been on the rise in Quezon City, Baguio City and even in the province of Pampanga.

In areas between Porac and Angeles City in Pampanga, there are even subdivisions tagged as “Korean towns” because they are predominantly occupied by Korean nationals.

One Korean, Eric Kim, said that this is because it is easy to manage a business in the country.

Kim, who has been staying the country for less than a year, has already established a commercial building and is also now engaged in money changing trade.

"Philippines give me a lot of money… I'll be rich here for sure," he said.

Koreans said they favor living in the Philippines because of its steady climate. They said that back in South Korea, the climate it either too hot or too cold.

They also cited that the cost of living in the Philippines is not as expensive as in Korea. South Korea’s capital Seoul is among the most “expensive” cities in the world.

Numbers rising

Tourism Undersecretary Phineas Alburo said Koreans topped the number of foreign tourists visiting the Philippines.

In 2007, more than 650,000 Korean tourists entered the country.

Midway 2008, there were already 300,000 Koreans who visited the Philippines, effectively replacing the Japanese and Americans as country’s top foreign tourists.

The influx of Koreans to the Philippines is even greater than the number Filipinos returning home.

"Marami sa kanila, nag-i-stay at dito na naninirahan," said Alburo.

Because of this, some Filipinos express their concern over the “boom” of Korean population.

"Darating ang araw, sila na ang mamumuno dito sa amin, baka kami pa ang mapa-alis," said one Filipino.

Business down

Meanwhile in Baguio, many Koreans have left and business establishments owned by the foreigners in the summer capital have closed due to bankruptcy.

The Bureau of Immigration said from 10,000 last year, only 4,000 Koreans are living or studying in Baguio City.

The city government said many Korean establishments went bankrupt.

Koreans interviewed by ABS-CBN News said the establishments went bankrupt because of the worsening economy of the Philippines.

The city treasurer's office, meanwhile, said Baguio doesn't look at the situation as a big loss when it comes to business tax. It said Korean establishments have a minimal share to the city's revenue.

The treasurer's office, however, admitted Koreans' purchasing power would be missed by the city.

Baguio is one of the Koreans' favorite destinations in the country because of its climate and availability of English tutorial centers.

In Cebu City, Koreans said they are pleased with how the Cebuanos handle their visitors. The foreigners said that aside from the various English tutorial centers in Cebu, they appreciate the warm culture of the people in the Visayas.

Asked about the dangers of staying in the Philippines, the Koreans said the Philippines, especially Cebu, "is as peaceful as it can be."

From 2003 to 2006, the Korean population in the Philippines grew by at least 50 percent. Government data shows that from 378,602 in 2003, the number of Koreans staying in the country ballooned to 572,133.

The influx of Koreans in the country, dubbed "the Korean invasion," became more obvious with the sprouting of hundreds of Korean business establishments in the Philippines. -- With reports from Henry Omaga-Diaz, Butch Mendizabal and Carmi Cavanlit, ABS-CBN News

as of 09/20/2008 3:48 PM

I find this article somehow amusing because the government agency trumpeting it is the DOT...

Demand for RP bananas growing (http://www.philstar.com/index.php?Business&p=49&type=2&sec=27&aid=2008092411) :banana:

Thursday, September 25, 2008
The Department of Tourism (DOT) reported yesterday a huge demand for senorita and other kinds of local bananas.

Benito Bengzon Jr., head of the DOT’s Team Japan, said the huge demand for Philippine bananas is driven by the so-called ‘banana diet’ which has become popular among Japanese women. Bengzon said banana is the main source of fiber and potassium for most Japanese women.

“The Philippine banana is very popular in Japan despite its high cost,” Bengzon said as he noted that the fruit is being used to encourage prospective Japanese travelers to visit the country.

With the high demand for Philippines bananas. DOT has entered into an agreement with the Banana Importing Association of Japan to promote Philippine-sourced bananas to the Japanese consumer market.

Tourism Secretary Ace Durano said with the agreement, more Japanese tourists are likely to visit the country considering that part of the Philippines’ charm is its abundant supply of tropical fruits.

“The promotion of our Philippine produce is part of the DOT’s strategy to lure Japanese visitors to visit the Philippines. High quality but low-cost products are a come-on to the choosy Japanese market,” Durano explained.

He then noted that the Philippines is now the top exporter of bananas to Japan, providing 862,000 tons or 91.4 percent of the said country’s banana requirement. Other Asian countries such as Malaysia and Taiwan also export bananas to Japan but in much smaller quantities.

A report from the Bureau of Agricultural Statistics (BAS) showed that the country exported $400.8 million worth of bananas to Japan in 2007. — Mayen Jaymalin

i think philippine tourism campaign is a success as i'm too will be going to manila for 5 days starting 17th Oct...;)

i think philippine tourism campaign is a success as i'm too will be going to manila for 5 days starting 17th Oct...;)

Is this your first visit to Manila? You will surely enjoy it here.... I know that what we have can be found also in Malaysia but surely, if you like cultural or heritage tour, the Philippines is different due to Spanish influence. The colonial structures are still around in Intramuros. If you also want night life and not "so clean fun" - banyak juga :), casinos and on-line gaming are scattered everywhere in hotels and entertainment centers, if you also like live bands, lots of bars here with talented singers. Try to visit San Miguel by the bay at the back of Mall of Asia, etc. etc. If you have time, a visit to Subic is worth the trip. Go to TAgaytay and see Tall Volcano, claimed to be the smallest volcano....

Go to TAgaytay and see Tall Volcano, claimed to be the smallest volcano....

you mean Taal Volcano:)

I find this article somehow amusing because the government agency trumpeting it is the DOT...

Demand for RP bananas growing (http://www.philstar.com/index.php?Business&p=49&type=2&sec=27&aid=2008092411) :banana:



bananas for Japanese women:D:D:D

you mean Taal Volcano:)

:lol: yes....I stand corrected.

Is this your first visit to Manila? You will surely enjoy it here.... I know that what we have can be found also in Malaysia but surely, if you like cultural or heritage tour, the Philippines is different due to Spanish influence. The colonial structures are still around in Intramuros. If you also want night life and not "so clean fun" - banyak juga :), casinos and on-line gaming are scattered everywhere in hotels and entertainment centers, if you also like live bands, lots of bars here with talented singers. Try to visit San Miguel by the bay at the back of Mall of Asia, etc. etc. If you have time, a visit to Subic is worth the trip. Go to TAgaytay and see Tall Volcano, claimed to be the smallest volcano....

yes, first time. sure i want to see something not available in malaysia and i love to visit corrigedor island. anyway i only can spend my 5 days in MM, seeing how manilenos having their life daily ;). cultural, heritage is a must for me, don't worry.

taal volcano is quite far and i'm afraid if i getting lost heading there...anyway, it is just a lake, right? no hot water or lava for me to touch? :D

taal volcano is quite far and i'm afraid if i getting lost heading there...anyway, it is just a lake, right? no hot water or lava for me to touch? :D

haha it's an active volcano, it can erupt anytime without warning :D

Boracay, Palawan among Asia's top vacation spots: poll (http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/lifestyle/09/17/08/boracay-palawan-among-asias-top-vacation-spots-poll)

abs-cbnNEWS.com | 09/17/2008 10:26 AM

Travelers from all over the region have chosen Boracay Island and Palawan province in the Philippines as two of the best holiday destinations in Asia this year, according to a Web poll by online travel magazine Smart Travel Asia.

The 2008 online poll showed Boracay and Palawan ranking seventh and eighth respectively in the top 10 holiday destinations in Asia. Palawan shared eighth place with Chiang Mai, Thailand. Both Philippine destinations were jointly ranked seventh in the 2007 Smart Travel Asia poll.

Boracay is famous for its white sand beaches, which make it a popular tourist spot in the country. On the other hand, Palawan is rated by National Geographic Traveler magazine as the best island destination in East and Southeast Asia region in 2007, and the 13th best island in the world having "incredibly beautiful natural seascapes and landscapes." Some of the most famous tourist spots in Palawan are the Calauit Game Preserve and Wildlife Sanctuary, Coron Bay in Busuanga and the El Nido Marine Reserve Park.

The otherworldy Bali, Indonesia was chosen Asia's top holiday destination in the Smart Travel Asia poll for the third straight year followed by Phuket, Thailand; Kerala, India; the island republic of Maldives; shopping mecca Hong Kong and Bangkok, Thailand. Angkor, Cambodia ranked ninth place while Koh Samui, Thailand and Rajasthan, India both shared tenth place.

Smart Travel Asia said the poll results revealed the continued dominance of Thailand as a "holiday brand" with four destinations in the Top Ten, and the strong emergence of India.

The same poll also showed El Nido Resort Lagen Island in Palawan ranking among the top 25 leisure hotels and resorts in Asia this year.

According to Smart Travel Asia, the poll results reflect the online voters' "substantial hands-on travel experience, word-of-mouth at dinnertime chats, as well as an idea of the brand drawn from advertising and editorial exposure in the media, which is mostly online." Smart Travel Asia is the region’s only dedicated online travel magazine with over one million readers worldwide.

Vijay Verghese, Smart Travel Asia editor, said voters in the annual travel poll took an average 15.5 annual air trips and earned $175,162 with roughly 60 percent based in Asia, 20 percent in UK/Europe and 20 percent in the United States. - David Dizon, abs-cbnNEWS.com

Shangri-La Makati, Manila Pen among Asia's top business hotels: poll
(http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/business/09/12/08/shangri-la-makati-manila-pen-among-asias-top-business-hotels-poll)

DAVID DIZON / abs-cbnNEWS.com | 09/12/2008 5:28 PM

The Makati Shangri-La and the Peninsula Manila were ranked among the best business hotels in Asia this year, according to a Web poll by online travel magazine Smart Travel Asia.

Results of the 2008 online poll showed Makati Shangri-La and the Peninsula Manila ranking 14th and 17th respectively in the top 25 business hotels in Asia. A potential field of 800 business hotels in the region were included in the poll.

According to Smart Travel Asia, the poll results reflect the online voters' "substantial hands-on travel experience, word-of-mouth at dinnertime chats, as well as an idea of the brand drawn from advertising and editorial exposure in the media, which is mostly online." Smart Travel Asia is the region’s only dedicated online travel magazine with over one million readers worldwide.

Vijay Verghese, Smart Travel Asia editor, said voters in the annual travel poll took an average 15.5 annual air trips and earned $175,162 with roughly 60 percent based in Asia, 20 percent in UK/Europe and 20 percent in the United States.

The Peninsula Hong Kong was ranked the best business hotel in the region, up from its second best ranking in the 2007 poll. Last year's best business hotel, Island Shangri-La Hotel in Hong Kong, slipped to number 4 in this year's ranking. Six of the top 10 business hotels in the Smart Travel poll are in Hong Kong, according to the poll results.

According to its Web site, the Makati Shangri-La offers 699 spacious and beautifully appointed guest rooms and suites, each with views of Makati’s famous avenues and the city beyond. All guests of the hotel receive in-room high-speed Internet access and complimentary access to the hotel’s 24-hour fitness center.

The hotel is walking distance from deluxe cinemas, premium shopping malls and trendy bars and restaurants, making the hotel a prime location for business and family travellers from around the world.

On the other hand, Peninsula Manila public relations manager Joseph Arias said Peninsula Manila has become popular to business travelers because of its spacious lobby and excellent service.

"It's not just a hotel for the business traveller. It's a hotel for everybody who would realy go for excellent five-star deluxe service and that's what the Peninsula brand is known for. The Peninsula Hotel Group is a small group of select hotels in select cities so it's very conservative. It's more of really delivering excellent service of the highest standard to its clientele, the bulk of whom are business travellers," he told abs-cbnNEWS.com.

He said that aside from the lobby, the Peninsula Manila also has the Club, which is two business floors with its own lounge. Guests check in and out on the floor and receive complementary breakfast, cocktails and afternoon tea every day.

Arias said the hotel is reopening its Ayala Tower with 249 rooms in October. He said the major renovations will reflect the new "timely Filipino" style of the hotel compared to the neo-classical style of the past.


as of 09/12/2008 5:28 PM

I find this article somehow amusing because the government agency trumpeting it is the DOT...

Demand for RP bananas growing (http://www.philstar.com/index.php?Business&p=49&type=2&sec=27&aid=2008092411) :banana:

Thursday, September 25, 2008
The Department of Tourism (DOT) reported yesterday a huge demand for senorita and other kinds of local bananas.

Benito Bengzon Jr., head of the DOT’s Team Japan, said the huge demand for Philippine bananas is driven by the so-called ‘banana diet’ which has become popular among Japanese women. Bengzon said banana is the main source of fiber and potassium for most Japanese women.

“The Philippine banana is very popular in Japan despite its high cost,” Bengzon said as he noted that the fruit is being used to encourage prospective Japanese travelers to visit the country.

With the high demand for Philippines bananas. DOT has entered into an agreement with the Banana Importing Association of Japan to promote Philippine-sourced bananas to the Japanese consumer market.

Tourism Secretary Ace Durano said with the agreement, more Japanese tourists are likely to visit the country considering that part of the Philippines’ charm is its abundant supply of tropical fruits.

“The promotion of our Philippine produce is part of the DOT’s strategy to lure Japanese visitors to visit the Philippines. High quality but low-cost products are a come-on to the choosy Japanese market,” Durano explained.

He then noted that the Philippines is now the top exporter of bananas to Japan, providing 862,000 tons or 91.4 percent of the said country’s banana requirement. Other Asian countries such as Malaysia and Taiwan also export bananas to Japan but in much smaller quantities.

A report from the Bureau of Agricultural Statistics (BAS) showed that the country exported $400.8 million worth of bananas to Japan in 2007. — Mayen Jaymalin

Here in Singapore, the only bananas that major groceries sell are Philippine Bananas grown huge banana plantations in Mindanao, Philippines. The usual brands are Del Monte, Dole and Aloha. Everyday, me and my officemates buy bananas from a nearby supermarket and they would always opted to choose only imported bananas from Philippines. Iba kasi ang texture at lasa. Maski yung Malaysian colleague ko said that their bananas fail in comparison with the one from the Philippines...:).

yes, first time. sure i want to see something not available in malaysia and i love to visit corrigedor island. anyway i only can spend my 5 days in MM, seeing how manilenos having their life daily ;). cultural, heritage is a must for me, don't worry.

taal volcano is quite far and i'm afraid if i getting lost heading there...anyway, it is just a lake, right? no hot water or lava for me to touch? :D

You can take a boat ride to Taal volcano. I've seen a number of tourists do that. Tagaytay City where Taal volcano is located, is 1.5 to 2 hour drive from Makati.

haha it's an active volcano, it can erupt anytime without warning :D

sssssssssshhhhhhhhh, don't scare off the tourists.

:lol::lol::lol:

^^^^

Okey yang si BF basta uunahin niya yung mga Pilipino.

^^^^

Okey yang si BF basta uunahin niya yung mga Pilipino.

:lol::lol::lol::lol:
o sige ikampanya mo na sya:D

Here in Singapore, the only bananas that major groceries sell are Philippine Bananas grown huge banana plantations in Mindanao, Philippines. The usual brands are Del Monte, Dole and Aloha. Everyday, me and my officemates buy bananas from a nearby supermarket and they would always opted to choose only imported bananas from Philippines. Iba kasi ang texture at lasa. Maski yung Malaysian colleague ko said that their bananas fail in comparison with the one from the Philippines...:).

Same thing here in Auckland. Our office have this weekly delivery of fruits and one of them are Bananas. If they see that it is from somewhere else they wont touch it but if it is from the Philippines, it will be gone the moment you blink.

our soils are so fertile banana grows wild everywhere. we are not the bananna republic for nothing.



:lol:

our soils are so fertile banana grows wild everywhere. we are not the bananna republic for nothing.



:lol:

I didn't know that we're banana republic.

Banana cures depression! A high banana diet makes the Pinoys a happy bunch!
In the States, Banana is the number one selling fruit, followed by apples.

That is why we are one of the happiest people in the world.???

^^ How about Philippine mango? Is it widely accepted in NZ?

^^ How about Philippine mango? Is it widely accepted in NZ?

unfortunately not, come to think of it, bakit nga wala. nakikita ko lang pacific islander mangoes or the latin american produce.

i read somewhere before they wouldn't even let the Guimaras mango variety in. Mango for milk or something to that effect.

yes, first time. sure i want to see something not available in malaysia and i love to visit corrigedor island. anyway i only can spend my 5 days in MM, seeing how manilenos having their life daily ;). cultural, heritage is a must for me, don't worry.

taal volcano is quite far and i'm afraid if i getting lost heading there...anyway, it is just a lake, right? no hot water or lava for me to touch? :D

Is this your first visit to Manila? You will surely enjoy it here.... I know that what we have can be found also in Malaysia but surely, if you like cultural or heritage tour, the Philippines is different due to Spanish influence. The colonial structures are still around in Intramuros. If you also want night life and not "so clean fun" - banyak juga :), casinos and on-line gaming are scattered everywhere in hotels and entertainment centers, if you also like live bands, lots of bars here with talented singers. Try to visit San Miguel by the bay at the back of Mall of Asia, etc. etc. If you have time, a visit to Subic is worth the trip. Go to TAgaytay and see Tall Volcano, claimed to be the smallest volcano....


Hope you'll enjoy your trip in the Philippines! Don't be "culture-shocked", just like what your actress Carmen Soo had experienced. hehehe... Philippines is quite different from other Asian countries due to Spanish and American influences. Mabuhay!

They don't want our mangoes? its their loss. hmmmmp

unfortunately not, come to think of it, bakit nga wala. nakikita ko lang pacific islander mangoes or the latin american produce.

i read somewhere before they wouldn't even let the Guimaras mango variety in. Mango for milk or something to that effect.

RP lagging behind neighbors in attracting foreign retirees

MORE FOREIGNERS have chosen to retire in the Philippines this year, government data show, but experts say there is much to be done for the country to truly become a retirement haven.

The number of foreigners granted special resident retiree visas grew 20% to 960 in the first eight months of 2008 versus roughly 800 in the same period last year, Reynaldo D.L. Lingat, general manager of the Philippine Retirement Authority (PRA) said in a phone interview late last week.

More than a third of the retirees are Chinese (36%), while a similar number are Korean (33%). Americans and Japanese comprise 16% and 5% of the number, respectively. The rest are from Australia, India and Germany, Mr. Lingat said.

"[But] the Philippines is not among the top 20 preferred retirement destinations in the world," he added, noting that neighboring Thailand and Malaysia figured more prominently. The PRA still needs to attract 640 foreign enrollees to hit its yearend target.

The Philippines’ laggard performance is due to the lack of a long-stay tourist program and limitations to land tenure for foreigners, International Chambers of Commerce Retirement & Healthcare Coalition, Inc. chairman Henry J. Schumacher said in a phone interview late last week.

Although visas are granted to qualified retirees, there is a need to first grant tourist visas that cover longer periods, he said.

"In order to get new people to accept the Philippines as a retirement haven, we have to invite tourists to [first] stay here for three to four months to understand how the country ticks," Mr. Schumacher said.

"The Bureau of Immigration has been very restrictive [compared with their counterparts in] Thailand and Malaysia," he added.

Mr. Schumacher also recommended that since foreigners are restricted from owning land in the Philippines, a compromise would be to apply the Condominium Act — which allows foreigners to own 40% of a unit — horizontally to include retirement villages and town houses.

Subic, Clark, Metro Manila, Tagaytay, Dumaguete and Cebu can be marketed as retirement hubs as medical services, living accommodations and recreation facilities are available there, he added.

"Quite a number of Japanese and Korean investors [are building such facilities in the Philippines]," Mr. Schumacher said.

For his part, Mr. Lingat said the PRA is working on integrating agencies to improve the provision of health care to foreign retirees. PRA, he added, has put in place a tracking system to monitor bottlenecks in retirement visa applications.

Mr. Schumacher said, however, that the PRA should not focus on registration efforts.

"The PRA view is very short-term...[It] is income-oriented," he said, referring to the agency’s collection of up to $50,000 in deposit from retirees and a monthly pension of $800. "I prefer it to be a service organization." — Jessica Anne D. Hermosa

http://www.bworldonline.com/BW100108/content.php?id=051&src

RP lagging behind neighbors in attracting foreign retirees

MORE FOREIGNERS have chosen to retire in the Philippines this year, government data show, but experts say there is much to be done for the country to truly become a retirement haven.

The number of foreigners granted special resident retiree visas grew 20% to 960 in the first eight months of 2008 versus roughly 800 in the same period last year, Reynaldo D.L. Lingat, general manager of the Philippine Retirement Authority (PRA) said in a phone interview late last week.

More than a third of the retirees are Chinese (36%), while a similar number are Korean (33%). Americans and Japanese comprise 16% and 5% of the number, respectively. The rest are from Australia, India and Germany, Mr. Lingat said.

"[But] the Philippines is not among the top 20 preferred retirement destinations in the world," he added, noting that neighboring Thailand and Malaysia figured more prominently. The PRA still needs to attract 640 foreign enrollees to hit its yearend target.

The Philippines’ laggard performance is due to the lack of a long-stay tourist program and limitations to land tenure for foreigners, International Chambers of Commerce Retirement & Healthcare Coalition, Inc. chairman Henry J. Schumacher said in a phone interview late last week.

Although visas are granted to qualified retirees, there is a need to first grant tourist visas that cover longer periods, he said.

"In order to get new people to accept the Philippines as a retirement haven, we have to invite tourists to [first] stay here for three to four months to understand how the country ticks," Mr. Schumacher said.

"The Bureau of Immigration has been very restrictive [compared with their counterparts in] Thailand and Malaysia," he added.

Mr. Schumacher also recommended that since foreigners are restricted from owning land in the Philippines, a compromise would be to apply the Condominium Act — which allows foreigners to own 40% of a unit — horizontally to include retirement villages and town houses.

Subic, Clark, Metro Manila, Tagaytay, Dumaguete and Cebu can be marketed as retirement hubs as medical services, living accommodations and recreation facilities are available there, he added.

"Quite a number of Japanese and Korean investors [are building such facilities in the Philippines]," Mr. Schumacher said.

For his part, Mr. Lingat said the PRA is working on integrating agencies to improve the provision of health care to foreign retirees. PRA, he added, has put in place a tracking system to monitor bottlenecks in retirement visa applications.

Mr. Schumacher said, however, that the PRA should not focus on registration efforts.

"The PRA view is very short-term...[It] is income-oriented," he said, referring to the agency’s collection of up to $50,000 in deposit from retirees and a monthly pension of $800. "I prefer it to be a service organization." — Jessica Anne D. Hermosa

http://www.bworldonline.com/BW100108/content.php?id=051&src

i hope this retirees will help the philippines.

Can somebody please post the latest Foreign Tourist Arrival figures of the country?
I believe the latest statistics to be available will be the August 08 figures?

Here is the Philippines' tourist arrivals growth starting January 08:
Jan--- +7.8% year-on-year
Feb--- +11.7
Mar--- +6.0
Apr--- +4.3
May--- +6.8
Jun--- +4.4
Jul--- +6.1
Aug--- ???

Jan-July: 1.91 million/ receipts- $2.17 billion

Hopefully we'll be able to achieve, even surpass, our 3.4 million target.

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/nation/view/20080930-163698/Palawans-underground-river-leads-online-poll

NEW 7 WONDERS OF NATURE
Palawan’s underground river leads online poll
By Ronnel Domingo, Ephraim Aguilar
Southern Luzon Bureau, Philippine Daily Inquirer
09/30/2008

MANILA, Philippines—The Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park in Palawan is topping the New 7 Wonders of Nature online poll, according to the live ranking results on its website Monday.

Tourism Secretary Ace Durano said that as of Monday four of the country’s natural havens had again shown a strong presence in the online poll: Bohol’s Chocolate Hills was ranked No. 4, Palawan’s Tubbataha Reef, No. 5, and Bicol’s Mayon Volcano, No. 11.

The New 7 Wonders of Nature is an ongoing campaign of the Switzerland-based foundation, the same group behind the New 7 Wonders of the World search last year. The results are determined by the number of votes cast by logging on to the website http://www.new7wonders.com. Voting is until Dec. 31.

“We are pleased with the current rankings but as the deadline draws near, we should be more persistent in urging Filipinos to vote and actively promote our candidates,” Durano said.

Great tourism boost

Although the competition mandates that only one nominee per country would be included in the official final seven, having four strong nominees at this stage was a great boost for Philippine tourism, he said.

The other top placers are: Ha Long Bay in Vietnam; Cox’s Bazar Beach, Bangladesh; Al-hasa Oasis, Saudi Arabia; Ganges River, Bangladesh and India; Ali Sadr Cave, Iran; 9 Sundarbans Forest, Bangladesh and India; and Lake Saiful Maluk, Pakistan.

“The whole world is tuned in to this competition. Even if only one of our candidates remains in the final seven, we have gained so much publicity for our country as a destination with diverse natural sites,” Durano said.

Eduardo Jarque Jr., tourism undersecretary for planning and promotions, said nominees in the search must be a natural site, a natural monument or a natural landscape.

“There must be no human interference involved in the creation of the sites,” he said.

77 sites in next round

The nominees that make it to the top 77 sites will be eligible for the next round. Voting will continue until July 7 next year, according to the website.

A panel of experts under professor Federico Mayor, former director general of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), will review the top 77 nominees and choose 21 finalists, which will be declared on July 21 next year.

The finalists will then be put to a popular vote.

The finals will run from 2009 to 2010, with each of the 21 finalists having a chance to be presented to global voters through the New 7 Wonders World Tour.

The Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park, features a limestone karst mountain landscape with an 8.2-km navigable underground river.

According to the New 7 Wonders website, “The underground river is reputed to be the world’s longest. At the mouth of the cave, a clear lagoon is framed by ancient trees growing right to the water’s edge. Monkeys, large monitor lizards and squirrels find their niche on the beach near the cave.”

^^ great news!

i'm sure tourism will benefit from and has contributed to this...

Just this hour: Singapore-based Channel News Asia reported that the PHILIPPINES is the HOTTEST REAL ESTATE MARKET in SOUTHEAST ASIA!

:banana::cheers::banana::cheers:

^^ great news!

i'm sure tourism will benefit from and has contributed to this...

Just this hour: Singapore-based Channel News Asia reported that the PHILIPPINES is the HOTTEST REAL ESTATE MARKET in SOUTHEAST ASIA!

:banana::cheers::banana::cheers:

what do you mean?!?!? was that aired?

^^what do you mean?!?!? was that aired?

Yes, Channel News Asia is a Singapore based TV. It's really good to hear this positive news about the Philippines. When I lived in Singapore years ago, all you can see/hear about the Philippines were all the negative such as flood, rebellion, poverty, freaking news....at least for a change.

what do you mean?!?!? was that aired?

here's the same video on this thread http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=395780&page=30

Just wanna share with you the tourism statistics as of July 2008:

Tourists arrival from:
1. ASEAN: 146,291, Singaporeans topped the list at 54,154 followed by Malaysians
2. East Asia: 823,641, Koreans are no. one 375,010 followed by Japanese
3. NOrth America: 428,117: Americans, 366,882 followed by CAnadians
4. Europe: 194,176
5. Australia and Pacific: 99,495
6. Africa: 1,893
7. Middle East: 24,339
8. South Asia: 25,911
9. Others: 175,267

This is in Cebu, this will boost our tourism esp. in the queen city of the south. Originally posted in Cebu thread high rise. A ride at the top of the 40 storey Crown Regency Hotel, Cebu City.

http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u177/Jarenz_038/SEA_Rides.jpg

one more thing we need to do reign in the begging children.
also improve the food quality , even with just street vendors, less pork , fat, grease and too exotic ingredients like patis, bagoong .DOT reports 157% growth in Q1 arrivals of German, Russian tourists
By Ma. Elisa P. Osorio
Saturday, October 4, 2008
The Department of Tourism (DOT) said yesterday that the number of German and Russian tourists who arrived in the country in the first quarter rose by 157 percent. To sustain this rate of growth, DOT said it would be joining more European trade fairs.

“The significant expenditure growth can be highly attributed to our presence in the International Tourismus Borse last year. More than strengthening established links, we will surely gain momentum from these salvos of travel trade fairs slated before the year ends,” Tourism Secretary Joseph Durano said.

“We hope to get a chunk of outgoing Russian tourist expenditure which is reported at $16.1 billion in 2006, and continues to rise,” he noted.

The DOT is stepping up its campaign for high-spending travelers under the umbrella theme of Nature, Adventure and Culture.

“More than just diving, we are offering bird-watching, which is fast becoming a multibillion dollar tourism industry,” Durano said.

In line with this, a month-long bird watching activity package is being offered at a price ranging from $10,000 to $15,000 including airfare and lodging. A Bird Watching Guidebook for Europeans is also being prepared.

The DOT has successfully concluded its participation in three travel fairs, and three more are scheduled for the rest of the year.

The DOT said Europeans are already familiar with tourist destinations in the Philippines.

“The familiarity of the French market with our destinations is also due to our partnership with Koh Lanta TV show, which featured Caramoan and Palawan,” Eduardo Jarque Jr., DOT undersecretary for tourism planning and promotions, said.

Koh Lanta is the French version of American reality show Survivor. Koh Lanta shot its entire 2008 season in Gota Beach, Camsur, while last year it featured Palawan. The show is being aired in France, Belgium, Switzerland and North Africa.

“The country gained a lot of media mileage as we also hosted the grand finale of the show which was featured live on TV,” Jarque said.

Meanwhile, Jarque underscored the importance of having a Philippine honorary consul in St. Petersburg, which is instrumental in linking up with representatives of the city government.

“After several sales missions in Moscow, we have conducted research and surveys which revealed the potential of St. Petersburg,” Jarque said.

He said the new passenger port and reconstruction plans for Pulkovo airport provide opportunities to boost tourism for the Philippines.

“We are targeting travelers planning their winter holidays and trade players in search of new packages as according to a study 84 percent of total travel departures from Russia is from the leisure market,” Jarque said.

The country is presenting its prime destinations of sun, sea and sand for the Otdykh Leisure Moscow while health and wellness packages are the main attractions for the Luxury Leisure Fair.



RSS Back to top

RP: ‘Ecotourism Destination of the Year’

By Alex Vergara
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 05:48:00 10/05/2008

MANILA, Philippines - The French can’t seem to get enough of the Philippines these days.

Fresh from being featured in two seasons of “Koh Lanta,” the French version of “Survivor,” the country recently clinched another honor: the coveted “Ecotourism Destination of the Year” title in the 2009 edition of Nature, one of France’s biggest travel fairs.

A jubilant Joseph Ace Durano, secretary of the Philippine Department of Tourism, broke the good news at the recently concluded Top Resa travel fair in Paris.

Colleagues from DOT and the Philippine Tourism Authority as well as representatives from the government and private sectors, which included some of the country’s biggest tour oper ators and resort establishments, joined him in the four-day fair.

The country’s participation culminated in a cocktail party hosted by DOT for France’s top travel executives. Dubbed as “Mabuhay Night,” the affair was hosted by Frenchman and “Koh Lanta” star Denis Brogniart and featured the Bayanihan Dancers, May Bayot and Acoustic Jive, champion bartender Ryan Burgos and “Koh Lanta” finalists.

Unlike Top Resa, which marked its 30th year, Nature appeals more to direct consumers as opposed to industry movers. The Philippines has been joining Top Resa for the past three years, and will debut next year in Nature. As the sole featured destination, all eyes will likely be on the Philippines.

“An adventure travel fair like Nature mirrors the French people’s preference for ecotourism,” said Durano. “It combines nature-based travel with a bit of physical activity and cultural immersion.”

Unprecedented

Durano attributed this latest development to a number of factors, foremost of which is the country’s selection as site of “Koh Lanta” for two years in a row. After shooting in El Nido, Palawan, in 2006, the show’s producers were back in late 2007, this time in Caramoan, Camarines Sur, with a new batch of competitors.

“This is unprecedented in ‘Koh Lanta’s’ history,” he said. “Since it debuted a few years ago, the show is watched by almost 8 million people every week.”

Images of the Philippines are likely to linger in French living rooms a year or two from now, as Durano finalizes details with producers of the French version of “Great Amazon.” The show, which reportedly has a bigger following than “Koh Lanta,” also wants to shoot an entire season in the Philippines.

“Based on exit surveys we did, foreign tourists spent close to $4.8 billion in the Philippines last year,” said Durano. “This figure doesn’t include plane fares and hotel accommodations, which they usually buy in their respective countries, and other miscellaneous expenses.”

After exceeding last year’s target of three million tourists by close to 100,000, the country, despite dire global developments, seems poised to meet its current target of 3.5 million tourists by the end of 2008.

Faced with a financial meltdown, the US market has begun to slow down. The same condition applies to Japan and other key European markets, except France and Russia.

“While global tourism continues to contract, the French market, as far as we’re concerned, grew by 29 percent in the first seven months of the year,” he said.

French arrivals to the country was in the red as recently as three years ago, making such a feat all the more impressive, Durano added.

Only the Russian market, which posted a 34-percent growth rate within the same period, did better. Both groups are known to visit a particular country for an average of two weeks.

“Europeans spend more as a whole because they stay longer,” said Durano. “Although the average amount they spend is lower than short-staying tourists, they end up spending more during their two- to three-week stay.”

Personalized service

But unlike Russians, who love to stay in big hotels that promote luxury travel, the French prefer small and quaint resorts where service is more personalized.

This explains why big players, with the exception of Sofitel Philippine Plaza, from such mature destinations as Manila, Cebu and Boracay were absent in Top Resa. In their place were relatively remote properties from Palawan, Camarines Sur and Bohol.

“We’re very careful not to position the Philippines in France as a place known primarily for big-city hotels,” said Durano. “The French have always been trend-setters when it comes to food, clothes and, as we found out, also travel.”

With a relatively minuscule promotions budget compared to that of Thailand, Malaysia and India, DOT has learned to become more selective and creative in its marketing thrust.

In lieu of major ad placements in CNN and BBC, for instance, Durano and his team led by Undersecretary Edu Jarque, Assistant Secretary Theresa Martinez and Team Europe head Verna Buensuceso have chosen smaller but more focused marketing venues to get the country’s message across.

DOT has tapped Frenchman Blaise Borezes, PR manager for the Asian market of Interface, a leading PR and advocacy firm in France, to promote the country as a tourism destination.

It was through Interface’s efforts that the country gained the attention of people behind “Koh Lanta.” The company is also responsible for identifying and inviting French travel journalists to go to the Philippines on familiarization tours.

After years of being relegated to the fringes through expensive tailor-made tour packages drawn up by a handful of French experts on Asia and such activities as diving and trekking, the Philippines is now slowly inching its way into the mainstream.

For one, said Borezes, a growing number of tour operators in France now include the Philippines in their window displays. They likewise offer the potential French traveler a choice between costly tailor-made tours and more readily available and affordable group-tour packages to the country.

Serious efforts

The country’s 83-sq m booth this year, although similar in look with previous efforts, was much bigger to accommodate all participants than when DOT first joined Top Resa. It only goes to show, said Borezes, that the country is serious in its efforts to promote tourism and has now joined the ranks of major players.

“Interest in the Philippines is bound to intensify after Jet Tour and Bacamces Tramsat, two of France’s best tour operators, recently launched the Philippines as one of its major destinations,” he said.

The French, he added, are always on the lookout for newer, more exciting destinations in Asia. Those who first stumbled on the Philippines were pleasantly surprised to find out the country, apart from its postcard-pretty beaches, has an interesting Latin heritage that’s totally unique in Asia.

“The French are always looking for culture in a country,” he said. “They love visiting old churches and going to markets to experience how life is in a particular place. If you travel so far, you need to find something different yet familiar. You don’t travel for 15 hours just to see a nice beach.”

This is my Opinion and my Observation, yesterday i was in Manila to meet some friends over there and i am so happy to see and gladly to say that more tourist is visiting our country today. I saw many Korean's , American's and French and also Indian walking in the district of Manila, Go to Mall just sight seeing and taking a snapshot around the metro, hopefully that more tourist would be flourished to our Historical Country and I'm also ask to our govt to boost our infrastructure project to lure more tourist.

English instruction tagged as lure for Taiwan tourists
THE PHILIPPINE representative office in Taiwan is promoting schools that specialize in teaching English, particularly in Cebu, in a bid to increase tourist arrivals.

Manila Economic and Cultural Office (MECO) said in a statement yesterday that it is promoting language centers in the Philippines alongside tourist attractions.

"MECO is...encouraging Taiwanese travel agencies to offer booking in the ESL learning programs in conjunction with sight-seeing, diving, and golf...to boost tourism activity in Cebu," the statement read, noting that the low cost of English classes in the Philippines is the country’s edge over language centers abroad.

The statement cited two Cebu-based language centers, namely: Cleverlearn English Language Institute and Cebu Pacific International Language School, as being such schools. "ESL [English as second language] classes offered in the country...are comparable to the best in other parts of the world. At both schools, a four-week course costs just half of the tuition charged in North American language centers," the statement read. — JADH

http://www.bworldonline.com/BW100708/content.php?id=053

http://i33.tinypic.com/hwmtf5.jpg
http://i33.tinypic.com/2agkljm.jpg
tourism map.

Climate seen to impact global tourism (http://www.businessmirror.com.ph/10072008/headlines09.html)


CLIMATE change, persistent poverty, wars and environmental protection are not just affecting the finances and governance of nations; they also have significant negative impacts on tourism all over the world, whether those of island-nations or continental countries.

These factors are thus expected to dominate discussions in the 6th United Nations International Tourism Forum for Parliamentarians and Local Authorities to be held in Cebu. Delegates from 157 countries will attend the forum from October 22 to 25.

Tourism Secretary Ace Durano said the forum will also tackle other issues like ethics in tourism and the economics of tourism. “These are pressing issues that the tourism industry is facing, and tourism professionals should address and prepare for these. This tourism forum is indeed of utmost significance, as it signals our responsiveness to the present and future challenges in tourism.”

Asian speakers in the forum include Dr. Sasithara Pichaichannarong, permanent secretary of the Thai Ministry of Tourism and Sports, who will talk on sustainable development; and Shahram Saber, regional director of the Philippine Asia Travel Association (Pata), who will discuss climate change.

Jose Ma. Lorenzo Tan, vice president of the World Wildlife Fund for Nature, will present a case study on the Coral Triangle and the efforts of concerned governments in Southeast Asia to promote initiatives and opportunities in tourism and travel that contribute to climate-change mitigation and adaptation. (Estrella Torres)

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/regions/view/20081007-165155/Arroyo-drops-in-on-fully-booked-Boracay

Arroyo drops in on fully booked Boracay
By Nestor P. Burgos Jr.
Philippine Daily Inquirer
10/07/2008

ILOILO CITY, Philippines -- Increasing tourist arrivals on Boracay Island have continued to keep hotels and resorts full that even the highest official of the land had difficulty finding rooms for her entourage.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s aides had to hop from one resort to another looking for a hotel to accommodate the presidential party, which arrived at the world-famous island-resort unannounced past midnight.

Real estate developer Steve Tajanlangit, owner of the Boracay Terraces Resort, said Arroyo stayed at the Punta Rosa Resort beside his hotel when her party arrived on the island around 12:30 a.m. after traveling by land from the capital town of Kalibo on the Aklan mainland.

Tajanlangit said his 30-room resort, one of those approached by the Arroyo's aides and security personnel, could not accommodate the President's entourage of around 30 persons because of an ongoing convention.

Orlando Sacay, owner of the Waling-Waling Resort, said the members of the Presidential Security Group (PSG) who went to his resort were offered four rooms including the premier suite, but apparently they were looking for more rooms.

Sacay said most hotels along Station 1 at the northern end of the island, where most of the posh resorts are, could not accommodate a big group on such short notice.

“We would have gladly found rooms for the President if we knew she was coming,” Sacay told the Philippine Daily Inquirer (parent company of INQUIRER.net) in a telephone interview.

Arroyo's trip to Boracay caught even Aklan officials by surprise.

“I only knew about it the next day and we did not meet with her because it was strictly a personal visit,” said Aklan Governor Carlito Marquez in a telephone interview.

Arroyo was in Bacolod City last Wednesday to open the city's Masskara Festival. She was expected to stay overnight in Bacolod but for unknown reasons left for Kalibo that night before proceeding to Boracay.

She left Boracay around 10:30 a.m. on Thursday on a chopper for the Kalibo airport and proceeded to Manila, according to Superintendent Arnold Argente, chief of the Boracay Special Tourist Police Office that provided security support to the PSG.

Tajanlangit, who was among those who had breakfast with Arroyo on Thursday, said the chief executive took the experience in stride and even had her picture taken with a Chinese couple staying at his resort.

“She was laughing and sharing that she walked along the beach to reach the resort,” said Tajanlangit in a telephone interview.

Tajanlangit said he kidded the President, saying she was like a back-packer in the ‘70s and ‘80s who went resort-hopping to find a room because she had no reservations.

He said Arroyo was even glad that resorts on the island were booked even on a low season. The peak season starts late this month until May.

“Nobody knew that the President's party was on the island at 1:30 in the morning looking for a room,” Tajanlangit said.

But he said the PSG and Arroyo's aides did not wake up resort owners to find a room for her party.

“They were like any other tourists who could not find a room at short notice,” he said.

The island, which has been cited as having one of the world's best beaches, continues to draw more tourists each year.

In 2007, 596,707 tourists went to the island (208,870 foreign and 359,433 domestic) as tourism earnings ballooned to P10.969 billion.

-double post-

BPO, tourism make up for weak RP growth (http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/infotech/view/20081008-165312/BPO-tourism-make-up-for-weak-RP-growth)


By Lawrence Casiraya
INQUIRER.net
First Posted 16:16:00 10/08/2008


MANILA, Philippines -- Business process outsourcing (BPO) and tourism are two "exciting" industries that can compensate for lowered economic forecasts for the Philippines, Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) said .

The economic outlook for the Philippines is deteriorating, with growth forecasted to fall from seven percent in 2007 to slightly above four percent in 2009.

The weaker outlook is due to present conditions in the US and Japan, two key markets for the Philippines.

"Double-digit inflation is eating into consumer spending where wages are failing to keep pace with rising living costs," according to the EIU report. "With the BSP (Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas) or Central Bank raising interest rates to fight inflation, investment plans are also being hit."

On the positive side, strong OFW remittances remain steady despite the global slowdown and this ensures that private consumption continues to be the key factor driving the economy, the report added.

BPO and tourism carry potential to lift otherwise sour economic forecasts, said Justin Wood, EIU corporate network director and Southeast Asia expert, in a statement.

"The recent expansion of the business process outsourcing industry shows strong potential to harness the country's large population of young, English-speaking and relatively well-educated workers," Wood said.

He added: "Tourism could play a much more significant role with the right level of investment, and with vast untapped mineral wealth the mining sector is attracting greater interest."

Charles Goddard, EIU Asia Pacific editorial director, also noted in a statement that country continues to face challenges such as poor infrastructure and a weak business and operating environment.

"The Philippines needs to raise its investment rate, which at just 14.8 percent of GDP (gross domestic product) is much lower than many neighboring Asian nations," Goddard said.

Some questions first.... Aren't the three largest malls in the Philippines the following- SM Mall of Asia, SM Megamall and SM North EDSA and arn't they all in NCR?

Mall-crazy Manila among Asia’s shopping meccas: poll (http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/lifestyle/10/08/08/mall-crazy-manila-among-asia%E2%80%99s-shopping-meccas-poll)

DAVID DIZON, abs-cbnNEWS.com | 10/08/2008 5:10 PM

Every Filipino knows that Manila is a good place as any to shop. Apparently, the rest of Asia thinks the same way after voting Manila as one of the top10 shopping destinations in the region.

Manila ranked fifth in the 2008 online poll conducted by Smart Travel Asia, edging out places such as Tokyo, Japan; Shanghai, China; Hanoi, Vietnam; Seoul, Korea; Dubai, United Arab Emirates and Shenzhen, China.

Hong Kong topped the poll with 25 percent of the vote followed closely by Bangkok, Thailand with 24 percent. Singapore trailed in third with 11.8 percent and Kuala Lumpur scrambled into fourth place with eight percent of the vote.

According to Smart Travel Asia, the poll results reflect the online voters' "substantial hands-on travel experience, word-of-mouth at dinnertime chats, as well as an idea of the brand drawn from advertising and editorial exposure in the media, which is mostly online." Smart Travel Asia is the region’s only dedicated online travel magazine with over one million readers worldwide.

Vijay Verghese, Smart Travel Asia editor, said voters in the annual travel poll took an average 15.5 annual air trips and earned $175,162 with roughly 60 percent based in Asia, 20 percent in UK/Europe and 20 percent in the United States.

The Philippines has three of the world's 10 largest shopping centers, two of them in the capital, Manila. SM Prime, the largest mall operator in the Philippines, said 2.5 million people still visit their 30 shopping centers across the country every week.

A study done by Nielsen Media Research said around 80 percent of the country's population go to shopping centers and around 36 million people visit shopping plazas once or twice a month.

Boracay, Palawan are top vacation spots

The same online poll also showed Boracay Island and Palawan province in the Philippines as among the best holiday destinations in Asia this year.

The 2008 online poll showed Boracay and Palawan ranking seventh and eighth respectively in the top 10 holiday destinations in Asia. Palawan shared eighth place with Chiang Mai, Thailand. Both Philippine destinations were jointly ranked seventh in the 2007 Smart Travel Asia poll.

Boracay is famous for its white sand beaches, which make it a popular tourist spot in the country. On the other hand, Palawan is rated by National Geographic Traveler magazine as the best island destination in East and Southeast Asia region in 2007, and the 13th best island in the world having "incredibly beautiful natural seascapes and landscapes." Some of the most famous tourist spots in Palawan are the Calauit Game Preserve and Wildlife Sanctuary, Coron Bay in Busuanga and the El Nido Marine Reserve Park.

The otherworldly Bali, Indonesia was chosen Asia's top holiday destination in the Smart Travel Asia poll for the third straight year followed by Phuket, Thailand; Kerala, India; the island republic of Maldives; shopping mecca Hong Kong and Bangkok, Thailand. Angkor, Cambodia ranked ninth place while Koh Samui, Thailand and Rajasthan, India both shared tenth place.

as of 10/08/2008 5:57 PM

Some questions first.... Aren't the three largest malls in the Philippines the following- SM Mall of Asia, SM Megamall and SM North EDSA and aren't they all in NCR?

Mall-crazy Manila among Asia’s shopping meccas: poll (http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/lifestyle/10/08/08/mall-crazy-manila-among-asia%E2%80%99s-shopping-meccas-poll)

The Philippines has three of the world's 10 largest shopping centers, two of them in the capital, Manila. SM Prime, the largest mall operator in the Philippines, said 2.5 million people still visit their 30 shopping centers across the country every week.

Actually, none of the three malls are in the capital. But all three are in NCR, yes. :)

Actually, none of the three malls are in the capital. But all three are in NCR, yes. :)

That's the more accurate picture. Hehe. Come to think of it, we may have more than 3 of the 10 biggest malls now. SM City Cebu, SM City-Fairview and Trinoma could be in the top 10 too. :cheers:

when they say manila, they are actually referring to the whole NCR.

That's the more accurate picture. Hehe. Come to think of it, we may have more than 3 of the 10 biggest malls now. SM City Cebu, SM City-Fairview and Trinoma could be in the top 10 too. :cheers:

according to an article before, SM Cebu is the world's 11th biggest mall.

That's the more accurate picture. Hehe. Come to think of it, we may have more than 3 of the 10 biggest malls now. SM City Cebu, SM City-Fairview and Trinoma could be in the top 10 too. :cheers:

I can't agree more. :okay: Even Glorietta can be in the list!

THE PHILIPPINE STAR
Cebu to host world tourism forum
By Rhia de Pablo
Thursday, September 11, 2008

Following the successful hosting of the 12th ASEAN Summit, Cebu will once again play host to another international event next month, which will be attended by members of the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO).

During the weekly 888 News Forum held at the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel and Casino, Tourism undersecretary Phineas Alburo announced that DOT is expecting 500 international and local delegates for the 6th UNWTO International Tourism Forum for Parliamentarians and Local Authorities come October 21 to 25 at the Shangri-La’s Mactan Island Resort and Spa.

With the theme “Tourism and Millennium Development Goals,” the forum will tackle timely and substantive issues that concerns all the delegates, said Alburo.

“With our success in hosting the ASEAN Summit, we are very confident that this kind of event will once again put the Philippines in the international tourism map as venue for big and relevant events,” he pointed out.

Without revealing the allocated budget for the hosting of this international event, Alburo said that right now all systems are being placed and they are calling for the local community's support in making it a successful event.

He said that as compared to the ASEAN Summit, the international forum will not be attended by heads of states, but officials and other representatives such as senators, which means there is no need to tighten security.

DOT has tapped six hotels as official accommodation for the delegates and this include: Shangri-La’s Mactan Island Resort and Spa, Maribago Bluewaters, Plantation Bay, Hilton, and two city hotels Waterfront Hotel and Marco Polo Plaza Hotel.

Alburo said that in partnership with the National Association of Independent Tour Operators- Cebu Chapter (NAITAS) as well as the Cebu Association of Tour Operators (CATO), they will be offering post event tours to the participants so that they can visit other tropical destinations within the country.

It will be the country's first to host UNWTO International Tourism Forum for Parliamentarians and Local Authorities as it was last held last year in Tunisia.

Speakers and special guests expected to attend the international forum include President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, Tourism Secretary Joseph “Ace” Durano, House Speaker Prospero Nograles and Secretary General Francisco Frangialli.

Out of the 135 member-countries of the World Tourism Organization (WTO), 29 have already confirmed to send around 81 delegates to the forum and Alburo said that this is almost 50 percent of their expected number of delegates.

But despite the fact that DOT will be spearheading the event, Alburo stressed that only food and shuttle services during the forum will be shouldered by their agency as hotel accommodations and travel fare will be paid by the delegates.

He said that the forum is for free and they will not be charging the delegates any registration fees.

Among relevant topics to be discussed in the forum are the development of a national system on tourism statistics, the alarming issue on climate change brought about by global warming, communication and ethics in tourism, and measuring employment in the industry, among others.

complete BIYAHE TAYO of the Dept. of Tourism and Smart, sung by Regine Velasquez
3-C6a6cyNAw&NR=1

i hope this will be shown abroad...:applause:

By Alcuin Papa
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 23:59:00 10/09/2008

MANILA, Philippines—Despite the global financial crisis, more foreigners entered the country in September of this year compared to the same period last year.

Immigrations Commissioner Marcelino Libanan said Thursday that there was an eight percent increase in the number of foreigners who arrived in the country this month.

Libanan said that a total of 384,948 foreigners arrived at the Ninoy Aquino International Airports and other ports of entry last month compared to the 356,760 who visited the country in September 2007.

Schools specializing in English 'lure' Taiwanese tourists (http://www.gmanews.tv/story/125331/Schools-specializing-in-English-lure-Taiwanese-tourists#)

Article posted October 07, 2008 - 01:35 AM
MANILA, Philippines - The country's representative office in Taiwan is promoting schools that specialize in teaching English, particularly in Cebu, in a bid to increase tourist arrivals.

Manila Economic and Cultural Office (MECO) said in a statement yesterday that it is promoting language centers in the Philippines alongside tourist attractions.

"MECO is...encouraging Taiwanese travel agencies to offer booking in the ESL learning programs in conjunction with sight-seeing, diving, and golf...to boost tourism activity in Cebu," the statement read, noting that the low cost of English classes in the Philippines is the country’s edge over language centers abroad.

The statement cited two Cebu-based language centers, namely: Cleverlearn English Language Institute and Cebu Pacific International Language School, as being such schools.

"ESL [English as second language] classes offered in the country...are comparable to the best in other parts of the world. At both schools, a four-week course costs just half of the tuition charged in North American language centers," the statement said. — BusinessWorld

More foreigners arriving in RP amid global crisis - BI (http://www.gmanews.tv/story/126083/More-foreigners-arriving-in-RP-amid-global-crisis---BI#)

Article posted October 09, 2008 - 07:18 PM
MANILA, Philippines - More foreigners arrived in the Philippines during the month of September amid the financial crunch that continues to rock the world markets, the immigration chief said Thursday.

At the same time, Bureau of Immigration data showed that the number of foreigners arriving from January to end of September this year is higher by eight percent compared to figures during the same period in 2007.

"The upsurge in foreign arrivals indicates that the Philippines is still an attractive tourism and investment destination amidst turmoil plaguing the world's financial markets," BI commissioner Marcelino Libanan said in a statement.

Records show that a total of 384,948 foreigners arrived at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) and other ports of entry last month compared to 356,760 in September last year.

The BI chief also noted that fewer foreigners - a total of 421, 208 - left the country last month.
Last year, the September figure for foreigners leaving was pegged at 471,638, a difference of 11 percent.

Americans were on top of the list of the 4.3 million foreign visitors to the Philippines this year.

About half of that figure - 2.041 million - were tourists while the rest were expatriates, businessmen and holders of other immigrant and non-immigrant visas such as investors and retirees.

BI records show that 524,339 Americans arrived in the country this year, followed by the Koreans with 479,830 and the Japanese with 293, 965. - GMANews.TV

BI records 8 percent hike in tourist arrivals for September
(http://www.philstar.com/index.php?Metro&p=49&type=2&sec=26&aid=20081011128)
Sunday, October 12, 2008

Immigration Commissioner Marcelino Libanan said there was an eight percent increase in the number of tourists who visited the country last month.

About 384,948 foreigners arrived in the country in September alone, compared to the 356,760 for the same period last year, he said.

“The upsurge in foreigner arrivals indicates that the Philippines is still an attractive tourism and investment destination amid the turmoil plaguing the world’s financial markets,” Libanan said.

“The continued influx of tourists and investors will help offset any adverse effects the world financial crisis may have on the Philippine economy,” he added.

Libanan also said more than 4.3 million foreigners visited the country from January to September, eight percent more than the first nine months last year.

According to BI immigration regulations chief Gary Mendoza and Ferdinand Sampol, NAIA operation chief said Americans totaling 524,339 topped the list of the foreign visitors, followed by 479,830 Koreans and 293,965 Japanese.

“Also in the top 10 list of foreigners who arrived are the Chinese, Australians, Britons, Canadians, Taiwanese, Malaysians, and Singaporeans,” they added.

Some 2.041 million tourists accounted for the bulk of the foreign visitors, while the rest were expatriates, businessmen and holders of other immigrant and non-immigrant visas such as investors and retirees. – Rudy Santos

^^ As per data from Dept. of Tourism, the Russians are the biggest spenders and they stay longer from 2 to 3 weeks. Not so many Russians yet due to limited flights.

More foreigners arriving in RP amid global crisis - BI (http://www.gmanews.tv/story/126083/More-foreigners-arriving-in-RP-amid-global-crisis---BI#)

Article posted October 09, 2008 - 07:18 PM
MANILA, Philippines - More foreigners arrived in the Philippines during the month of September amid the financial crunch that continues to rock the world markets, the immigration chief said Thursday.
.TV

Totoo? eh ayaw nga nila pag hindi native white english speaker ang teacher di ba? Sa taylan ganun din gusto white, kaya yung mga Pinoy titser nag pa bleach at nag pa tina ng buhok:D

Totoo? eh ayaw nga nila pag hindi native white english speaker ang teacher di ba? Sa taylan ganun din gusto white, kaya yung mga Pinoy titser nag pa bleach at nag pa tina ng buhok:D

There's a difference between what they want and what they can afford. :) Hehehe. There's also a difference between what they want and what they need first.

There's a difference between what they want and what they can afford. :) Hehehe. There's also a difference between what they want and what they need first.

iba pala na quote ko, :D pero naintindihan mo pa rin:D

complete BIYAHE TAYO of the Dept. of Tourism and Smart, sung by Regine Velasquez
3-C6a6cyNAw&NR=1

i hope this will be shown abroad...:applause:

but it's in filipino, baka di maintindihan ng mga foreigners

iba pala na quote ko, :D pero naintindihan mo pa rin:D

Kasi Pinoy tayo eh.. Madali tayong umintindi... :cheers:

Hotel Nikko returns to the Philippines

abs-cbnNEWS.com | 10/13/2008 7:04 PM

Japanese hotel management firm Hotel Nikko plans to return to the Philippines and manage deluxe accommodation facilities in the country, tourism secretary Ace Durano said Monday.

Hotel Nikko, which used to operate Dusit Hotel Nikko, a 5-star hotel in Makati City, until it was taken over by Dusit Thani Hotel and Resorts of Thailand, is now in talks with two unnamed hotels in Manila, Durano disclosed.

Benito Bengzon Jr, head of the tourism department's team in Japan, said the increasing number of high-end hotels in the Philippines is a welcome development, especially in light of the country’s efforts to lure back Japanese tourists.

The department expects the number of Japanese travelers, who tend to travel in groups, to increase to 400,000 this year.

“The increasing number of high-grade hotel rooms is crucial in our tourism efforts, to ensure that when Japanese guests decide to book their trips here, they will be accommodated even during peak season,” Bengzon said.

He also stressed there is still a gap in the number of high-grade hotel rooms in Manila, compared to other Asian destinations such as Hong Kong and Bangkok.

In 2007, the Philippine Travel Agencies Association reported that tour operators had to drive away at least half a million guests due to insufficient high grade rooms, leading to a potential revenue loss of $400 million.

The Tourism Department targets to attract five million guests by the year 2010, but this would require more infrastructure including rooms and additional air routes should be put in place.

The return of Hotel Nikko, which sought the assistance of the tourism office, and the expected completion of other new hotels, is a signal of more Japanese tourists looking for high grade hotel rooms, the tourism chief said.

“The increasing number of hotels in the Philippines, including those managed or operated by Japanese companies is a good indication that our efforts are paying off and that Philippine tourism is on the right track," Durano said.

He noted that another Japanese firm, Orix Corp. teamed up with Federal Land Inc, the real estate arm of the Metrobank Group for a two-tower high-end condominium project called “The Grand Midori” along Legazpi St in Makati. The P4 billion Grand Midori will have 622 units.

Japanese group Aruze, a leading manufacturer of pachinko, slot machines and other gaming products, has also expressed interest to invest $1 billion for a hotel at the Entertainment City in Manila Bay.

Aside from Japanese companies, the tourism chief said other high-end hotels are also rising in Metro Manila’s key destinations.

Shangri-La Asia Ltd. has just broken ground for its $250 million, 6-star luxury hotel in Fort Bonifacio, which will be completed by 2012.

Federal Land Inc, the real estate arm of banker George Ty, is building the tallest hotel also at Fort Bonifacio in Taguig City.

Not to be left behind, Ayala Hotels, the subsidiary of premier developer Ayala Land, partnered with Kingdom Hotels for a $153 million hotel complex within the Ayala Center in Makati City

“The confidence of these hotels in putting up their businesses in the country is a testament of the strengthening economy and tourism industry. This means that the business community also believes that there is still a lot of room for Philippine tourism to grow,” Durano said.

The tourism industry is on a roll!:banana:
Just wanna ask, if based on the rate were going, do you think we can achieve or even surpass the target of 3.5 million visitors this year?

Прекрасно! Excellent!

Are there any Russians living and/ or visiting Philippines?There are a lot of Chinese, Vietnameses and Koreans in my neighborhood here in Moscow. They speak русский язык well llike a real Russki.


Hi, yes but not many, 7,000 Russian tourists visited our country for the period Jan to Sept. 2008. See below the related news:

RP welcomes more Russian tourists

By Alex Vergara
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 01:22:00 10/12/2008

MANILA, Philippines - On the eve of the raging global financial turmoil, Philippine Department of Tourism officials recently opened a new frontier in the country’s efforts to woo more high-flying, seemingly recession-impervious Russian tourists. Fortunately with Russia, wallowing on Bilions of Petro€uro/Dollar$, economic recession is far from our minds.

Led by Tourism Undersecretary Edu Jarque, 24 of the country’s leading tour operators and resort establishments joined the tourism department’s first-ever sales mission to St. Petersburg, Russia’s second largest city and cultural capital. I have never seen any poster or advertisement about Philippines, and if this is the first -ever sales mission I hope there will be more to come.

The same group sans Jarque later flew to Moscow to participate in Leisure Moscow, an annual five-day travel fair and one of the biggest of its kind in Russia.

“Russians have always been drawn to our beaches,” said Jarque. “But once they get there, they discover that we offer a whole lot more. They go on wellness, grooming and shopping sprees like crazy.” :lol::nuts::lol:

Close to 70 percent of Russians still prefer Boracay to other beach destinations in the country, said Edward Grigoriev, DOT’s lone Russian marketing representative.

“Those who want some peace and quiet go to Bohol and Palawan,” he said. “Overall, the Boracay scene readily appeals to them.”

A typical two-week package includes a two-night stay in either Manila or Cebu for shopping. Tour operators have had to extend the six-hour shopping trip to one day, as Russians need more time to satisfy pent-up demand as they raid one store after another at Greenbelt and SM Mall of Asia. So the frist wave of Russian tourists are more like MARAUDERS?:ohno:

“Coming from such an expensive city as Moscow, they’re so amazed at how cheap our prices are,” said Jarque. “Some go to the spa and beauty parlor almost every day.”Yes, Москва́ is really expensive for the "ugly peasants.":cheers:

After the Philippines started granting Russians a 21-day visa-free travel to the country last year, tourist arrivals have been climbing steadily.

Per DOT records, nearly 7,000 Russians (excluding nationals from former Soviet republics) came to the Philippines during the first seven months of 2008, representing a 35-percent increase from the same period last year.

What’s more, Russians, apart from traveling in large groups, stay for an average of two to three weeks in the country.

In the last four years since the Philippines started actively promoting in Russia, its citizens have also gained a reputation as big spenders. Due to lack of connecting flights to the Philippines, Russians, especially those who hail from the Far East, fly here on chartered flights.:ohno:

If the average [foreign] tourist spends $89 per day, a typical Russian spends $110.”

Based on exit surveys DOT did, foreign tourists spent close to $4.8 billion last year, excluding plane fares and hotel stays, which they normally buy in their respective countries. Despite the dire global scenario, Durano is confident that the country would be able to meet its target of 3.5 million tourists by year’s end.

Russians have grown to appreciate the Filipinos’ genuine warmth and sincerity.” This I need to experience myself:):cheers:

“In all the years Russian tour operators have been sending Russians to various destinations,” he added, “only those that have gone to the Philippines bothered to fax or e-mail them a thank-you note.” ;) Well mannered marauders...

They find it funny yet heartwarming, Gregoriev added, because these seasoned tour operators have never elicited such open expressions of gratitude from customers before.

Clearly, there are certain things under the Philippine sun that not even money the size of a massive financial bailout can buy.

,,,

TOURISM

The Philippines boasts a coastline that is twice as long as that of the United States.


THE THIRD-LARGEST ENGLISH-SPEAKING COUNTRY IN THE WORLD, THE PHILIPPINES IS A CULTURAL MELTING POT AND THE BEACH CAPITAL OF ASIA

Once the world’s only American colony, the rich history of the Philippines is an exotic blend of Asian, European and American influences. Following independence in 1946, the Philippines has found fame as a tourist paradise and a colorful cultural destination, where every day of the year is an excuse for a fiesta and where the intrinsic warmheartedness of the Filipino people assures a cordial welcome.

A sprawling archipelago consisting of 7,107 tropical islands, The Philippines is home to what is regarded as the most beautiful beach in the world – the four-mile-long White Beach on the island of Boracay.

“We have all the ingredients to become a top tourist destination,” asserts Joseph Durano, Secretary of the Department of Tourism. “We have the natural beauty, we have the innate aptitude for tourism – the hospitality and the warmth of being an international society – and we also have the advantage of our proximity to the huge source markets of Asia. Tourism is the fastest growing industry in the world. We are developing eco-tourism and we are already the number one honeymoon destination in South East Asia.”

To tap into the huge tourism potential of the Philippines, the Department of Tourism recently launched its “WOW Philippines” marketing strategy, aimed at increasing international awareness of the Philippines as a complete tourism experience. “The Philippines has much more to offer than beaches alone,” says Undersecretary Eduardo Jarque, Jr., head of the department of tourism’s planning and promotions committee. “Discover the Philippines and open your mind. We guarantee that you will love it here.”

http://www.nytimes.com/global/philippines/twentytwo.html

Natutuwa talaga ako sa ating Department of Tourism Secretary... I think he is one of the dedicated officials in our government like Bayani Fernando... At wala akong nadidinig na mga namumulitika sa kanya...

Wednesday, October 22, 2008


Robinsons Land Corp. (RLC), the property arm of JG Summit Holdings and a major player in the industry, is set to introduce a new concept in the hospitality business that seeks to address concerns on affordable and value-for-money alternatives.

The group will establish a hotel chain to add to the company’s healthy portfolio of hotels that range from five stars to economy categories.

RLC said Go Hotel will become the preferred budget hotel choice of businessmen and backpackers alike. To create synergy, these hotels will be set in mixed-use complexes of Robinsons Land, usually beside a mall or within an office building. Depending on demand, some of these hotels will come in stand alone structures.

RLC expects its budget hotel chain to be the most sought after hotels in the areas where they operate. Incorporating the idea of clean, smart and fun, the hotels will boast of comfortable beds, clean bedroom and bathrooms, free WIFI access, flat-screen televisions, and other basic and practical room amenities. Go Hotel will engage a 24-hour convenience store in each of its site to sell basic toiletries, snacks, drinks, etc. that guests may need from time to time.

In line with JG Summit’s corporate value of providing value-for-money alternatives, Go Hotel will also tie up with its sister company, Cebu Pacific Air. The Go Hotel team envisions putting up sites where Cebu Pacific operates to create synergy among the two business units that is sure to provide its valued clients with fun and affordable packages from both industries.

As early as last year, the conceptual developments of these hotels were already done. Construction is underway for its pilot site in a major destination to serve the growing demand for budget hotel rooms by end 2009. The team has also started to procure some technical requirements to prepare for this new project.

Robinsons Land will directly manage this budget hotels chain. The company has a portfolio of 23 malls, 26 residential condominiums, 32 housing subdivisions, and four hotels.

http://philstar.com/index.php?Business&p=49&type=2&sec=27&aid=2008102153

^^ i like the concept :okay:

want some interesting facts like:

1. Top 10 Most Populous Barangays in the Philippines?
2. Top 10 Longest Serving Senator (As of 2008)
3. Top 10 Provinces with the Highest Density
4. Top 10 Senatorial Candidates with the Highest Garnered Votes in Philippine Election 5. 5. Top 10 Richest Senator of the 14th Congress (2007)
6. Top 10 Passenger Airlines in the Philippines (Total Seating Capacity of All Aircraft)
7. Top 10 Largest Malls (Gross Floor Area)
8. Top 10 Most Populous Province in the Philippines (2007)
9. Top 10 Largest Province in the Philippines
10. Top 10 Largest Province in the Philippines
11. Top 10 Busiest Seaport (Passenger Traffic) 2007 - By Port District
12. Top 10 Airports with the Longest Runway
13. Top 10 Busiest Airport in the Philippines in 2005

and many more...

visit: www.alvinrexlucero.wordpress.com

help me to expand it..you can contribute

Update:

http://business.inquirer.net/money/topstories/view/20081023-167916/Waterfront-loses-rights-over-Mimosa (http://business.inquirer.net/money/topstories/view/20081023-167916/Waterfront-loses-rights-over-Mimosa)


Waterfront loses rights over Mimosa

By Elizabeth Sanchez-Lacson, Tonette Orejas
Philippine Daily Inquirer
10/23/2008

State-owned Clark Development Corp. (CDC), overseer of the Clark Special Economic Zone north of Manila, has canceled a claim of Waterfront Philippines Inc. to operate the 206-hectare Mimosa Leisure Estate in Clark.

In a disclosure to the stock exchange Wednesday, Waterfront, the hotel chain of plastics magnate William Gachalian, said it had received a letter from CDC confirming that the CDC board had canceled the bidding process for the Mimosa estate because of a “supervening event that materially affected the terms of the project.”

CDC said it had not extended the deadline for Waterfront Philippines to comply with its obligations under a memorandum of agreement with CDC.
CDC reached the decision at a board meeting on Oct. 17, citing a condition imposed by the government’s casino franchising firm Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor) on Waterfront, CDC president Benigno Ricafort said.

Pagcor wanted Waterfront to pay P350 million in debts of Mondragon Leisure Resorts Corp., the estate’s previous operator, before it issued a casino license.

Pagcor vice president for corporate communications, Edward King said a casino license would not be automatically granted to the entity that would acquire Mimosa. “Whoever the buyer is has to apply separately for a license,” he said.

CDC took over the Mimosa in 1998 as Mondragon’s debt reached more than P1 billion in land lease and taxes.

CDC and Waterfront signed on July 14 a memorandum of agreement in which Waterfront committed to pay P930 million by before Oct. 11.

Waterfront did not pay that amount, but it made a security deposit of P54 million. It asked for a 60-day extension, “or until such time that a ... binding solution can be worked out” to settle the gaming license issue.

Waterfront wanted to operate the casino, saying in a Sept. 30 letter to CDC that the “heart of the estate’s operations lies in the gaming industry.”

“Without clear right to obtain a license ..., the financial viability of the whole project is greatly imperiled,” it said.

This is the fourth time the bidding for Clark’s tourism crown jewel has failed.

http://i38.tinypic.com/15qdk5e.jpg

The Philippines' new tourism campaign goes with the new tagline "Live Your Dreams". Print ads can already be seen in some October issues of Time Magazine and The Economist. The ads were nice but we're all illustrations. None showed a real photo of the Philippines. But it's nice anyway.

Here's the website of the new campaign: http://www.liveyourdreams.ph/

wow I like that very nice, live your dreams. it is paradise once everything is put to order and in place.

CHERYL M. ARCIBAL (http://www.gmanews.tv/story/128422/Shortage-of-hotel-rooms-will-force-Manila-to-turn-away-foreign-tourists/_/1/), GMANews.TV
10/21/2008 | 11:16 PM

MANILA, Philippines - Lack of hotel rooms will force the Philippines to turn away tourists in the medium-term, a senior Tourism official on Tuesday said.

Besides resulting in lost revenues and opportunities, the capacity lack will make it more difficult for the country to meet its 5 million tourist target by 2010, Tourism Undersecretary Oscar Palabyab said.

“We cannot meet the target of 5 million foreign visitors by 2010...We don’t have the room for them anymore. We lack the capacity," Palabyab told reporters while at the sidelines of the 34th Philippine Business Conference & Expo at the Manila Hotel.

Although the Philippines has 15,000 rooms for tourists, it needs 20,000 more for 5 million foreign visitors, he said.

“We will need huge investments for this requirement," he said.

One option being explored is to improve the existing “mom and pops’ rooms and accommodations" all over the country. However, these facilities may only be able to supply a fourth of the additional lodging requirements needed by 2010.

Owing to the lodging lack, Palabyab added that the DOT is projecting that by 2010 only about 4.3 million visitors will be accommodated in the Philippines. Bulk of the country’s tourists will come from Korea, Japan, and China.

Last year, the Philippines attracted about 3.1 million tourists leading to tourism receipts of $4.885 billion. For the first six months this year, the Philippines attracted about 1.5 million tourists.

However, the Philippines is seen as among the least competitive countries in the region, placing sixth out of ten nations in terms of attracting tourists.

Room shortages make RP less attractive, more expensive

“The lack of rooms will also mean that the rates here in the country will be more expensive compared to the other countries in the region," Palabyab said. “Another thing is that because we have higher rates for air transport. Those are the two things that we would have to address."

Tourists may be inclined to choose either Malaysia, Thailand, and Indonesia over the Philippines as favored vacation spot.

In a phone interview, Jose Clemente 3rd, Philippine Travel Agencies Association (PTAA) president, said the country's prime tourist destinations—such as Manila, Boracay, Palawan and Cebu—are the areas which usually have room shortages.

"There are certain seasons in which these areas needed more accommodations for tourists," he said.

Clemente added that the government must find ways to make it easier for foreigners to invest in the country’s tourism industry.

Besides allowing foreign tour operators to enjoy tax holidays, the government should also consider liberalizing foreign ownership to encourage them to invest in the Philippines.

Currently, rooms in prime destinations need 30 percent more to take in all tourists, Clemente said.

Tourism sector has yet to feel impact of US crisis

Moreover, Palabyab said that the country has yet to feel the impact of the US crisis. Besides being a major trading partner, the US is also the Philippines’ second-largest source of foreign visitors.

“Our core market in the US are Filipino-Americans. Regardless of the economy, they will come home and visit their relatives here," he said.

Currently, the DOT is focusing its marketing on Japan, China, Korea, and the Filipino-Americans.

Strategic markets include Australia, Russia, Germany and India.

Investments markets or those that need to be further developed were Hongkong, Taiwan and Singapore while “low-hanging fruits" or those which may be easier to penetrate are the UK, Italy, Spain, France and Scandinavian countries.

Experts have projected that world tourism will continue to grow with 1.5 billion people traveling by 2020.

In 2006, the top tourist destinations were France, Spain, US, China, Italy, United Kingdom, Germany, Mexico, Austria and the Russian Federation, respectively.

In the Southeast Asian region, the top tourist-generating countries were Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand, and Malaysia. - GMANews.TV

The Philippines' new tourism campaign goes with the new tagline "Live Your Dreams". Print ads can already be seen in some October issues of Time Magazine and The Economist. The ads were nice but we're all illustrations. None showed a real photo of the Philippines. But it's nice anyway.

Here's the website of the new campaign: http://www.liveyourdreams.ph/

I like it because its colourful. It looks like a Grade school project! :lol: The tagline reminds me of a Nike ad or an Olympic one actually. :D

^^
Building permits for 200 resorts, hotels issued

BUILDING officials have issued permits for the construction of 200 new hotels and resorts with a combined value of P6.65 billion in the second quarter of 2008 alone, a survey by the National Statistics Office shows.

The new buildings will add 235,179 square meters of floor area to existing hotels and resorts, the latest data show.

Twenty-one hotels or motels have applied for building permits in Metro Manila.

Two large hotels in Makati and Taguig, with a combined floor space of 134,279 square meters, will cost P5.45 billion while another hotel, also in Metro Manila, will take up 38,607 square meters and cost P672.5 million.

Some 35 of the new tourist facilities will be built in Palawan.

The Tourism Department earlier said it had endorsed P9.1 billion worth of new investments in hotels and resorts in the first half of the year.

The amount represented new tourism projects and expansion projects endorsed by the department to the Board of Investments and the Philippine Economic Zone Authority.

The Philippine Travel Agencies Association had earlier complained about the lack of rooms to accommodate the growing number of foreign tourists looking for high-end hotels and resorts.

But the statistics office said the private construction statistics referred to those proposed to be built during the reference period, and not to construction work completed during the reference period. Roderick T. dela Cruz
http://www.manilastandardtoday.com/?page=news2_oct24_2008

Travel sector cited for resilience in tough times (http://www.gmanews.tv/story/128788/Travel-sector-cited-for-resilience-in-tough-times#)

Article posted October 23, 2008 - 02:55 AM
MACTAN ISLAND, Philippines — President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo on Wednesday urged parliamentarians and tourism officials to remain hopeful amid tough global economic conditions.

Ms. Arroyo echoed the optimism of UN World Tourism Organization Secretary General Francesco Frangialli, who observed that the tourism industry has shown strong resilience in the face of external shocks such as the 1997 Asian financial crisis, terrorist attacks and natural calamities.

"We must stay hopeful. Let’s keep the faith in tourism as a powerful instrument to alleviate poverty," Ms. Arroyo said at the opening of the 6th International Tourism Forum for Parliamentarians and Local Authorities Wednesday afternoon.

She noted that, under the government’s Grassroots Entrepreneurship in Eco-Tourism program, some 4,000 households in 15 destinations across the country have reaped economic benefits by providing tourism services.

Marco Protacio, president of the Hotels, Resorts and Restaurants Association of Cebu, said, "We are very hopeful that this is only a hiccup. People will always travel despite the tough economic conditions."

But Mr. Protacio, who is also the area general manager for the Visayas and Mindanao of Waterfront Hotels, said September and October used to be very strong months.

Since last month, however, there has been a decrease in occupancy rate by five to 10 percentage points to about 60%, he added.

"We normally increase rates by 5% to 10% annually just to accommodate inflation. But in 2009, we will have to think twice," he said. — Marites S. Villamor, BusinessWorld
All Rights Reserved. 2006 © GMA Network Inc.

DOT: Visa lifting to lure tourists (http://www.businessmirror.com.ph/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=962:dot-visa-lifting-to-lure-tourists&catid=23:topnews)
Top News
Written by Willy Rodolfo III / Reporter
Friday, 24 October 2008 04:19


THE Philippines made a fairly large step toward encouraging and increasing
tourist arrivals with its “visa-upon-arrival” program for every foreigner scheduled to start next year.

“This single act is more than P500 million in additional promotions budget for the DOT [Departmen of Tourism],” said Tourism Secretary Joseph Ace Durano. “This has been in the works for many years and is very important because the first things tourists ask us is about their visas.”

The system will allow nationalities from nonvisa countries to fly to the Philippines through tourism department-and immigration bureau-accredited tour operators and get their visa on arrival. Nonvisa visitors are citizens of Association of Southeast Asian Nations member-countries, Korea, Japan, the United States and western European countries.

Durano anticipates that with the new program, arrivals from such visa countries as the former Soviet Union states, Russia and other countries in Asia and new members of the European Union would be encouraged to visit. He hopes the department would then hit easily, if not overshoot, its target visitors for next year.

“Countries like Poland, the Czech Republic and Slovenia are the emerging markets with a lot of money for travel,” said Durano. “Most of our growth is from emerging markets that are former communist countries.”

He said the program makes it much more convenient for many prospective tourists to get Philippine visitor visas, noting that in some countries, the Philippine embassy or consulate is too far from many prospective tourists’ towns and cities.

Libanan said, however, that arrivals under the program must still be cleared by immigration upon arrival before they are allowed out of airports or seaports.

The program was formally inaugurated with the signing of an agreement between the Department of Tourism and the Bureau of Immigration at the sidelines of the 6th International Tourism Forum for Parliamentarians and Local Authorities, organized by the United Nations World Tourism Organization in Mactan, Cebu.

Aside from the MOA, Durano and Commissioner Marcelino Libanan of Immigration also signed a joint memorandum circular instructing their respective offices to implement the program from January 1, 2009.

Libanan also announced the launch of their Interpol database next month to give the bureau timely data on internationally wanted criminals that airport officers can readily tap to check any arriving visitor.

RP tourism industry to fall due to financial crisis (http://www.manilatimes.net/national/2008/oct/26/yehey/metro/20081026met5.html)
By Francis Earl A. Cueto, Reporter

THE global financial meltdown will have dire consequences on tourism and the industry should prepare for it this early, Tourism insiders said yesterday.

More emphasis should be given on local tourism as the top two markets for tourist arrivals—Japan and South Korea—would be affected by the financial crunch, said Tourism Secretary Joseph Durano.

Local tourism and travel industries will feel the pinch in the first quarter of 2009 as people worldwide have started to put travel and vacations down the list of spending priorities, said Robert Lim Joseph, chairman emeritus of the National Association of Independent Travel Agencies.

Travel agents, airlines, hotels and resorts should make the necessary adjustments this early because foreigners have started skipping the country as a tourist destination, said Jojo Clemente, president of the Philippine Travel Agencies Association.

According to Durano, the country could build on its competitive edge as a value-for-money destination while exploring opportunities like education and medical tourism.

Already, major carriers like the Philippine Airlines and Cebu Pacific have reduced fuel surcharge and fares to stimulate travel and are coming up with attractive tour packages to promote the country.

Joseph said all these marketing programs are being consolidated into an over-all action plan under the Department of Tourism (DOT).

Strategic planning are now being made for the aggressive promotion of Metro Manila, Cebu, Bohol, Dumaguete, Palawan, Boracay, Bicol and Siargao Island.

New markets, such as incentive travel, meetings, conventions, exhibitions and trade fairs are being targeted by the DOT’s Philippine Convention and Visitors Corp.

The Philippines' new tourism campaign goes with the new tagline "Live Your Dreams". Print ads can already be seen in some October issues of Time Magazine and The Economist. The ads were nice but we're all illustrations. None showed a real photo of the Philippines. But it's nice anyway.

Here's the website of the new campaign: http://www.liveyourdreams.ph/

Shockingly bad website with a navigation system that could best be described as "random".

RP tourism industry to fall due to financial crisis (http://www.manilatimes.net/national/2008/oct/26/yehey/metro/20081026met5.html)
By Francis Earl A. Cueto, Reporter

THE global financial meltdown will have dire consequences on tourism and the industry should prepare for it this early, Tourism insiders said yesterday.

More emphasis should be given on local tourism as the top two markets for tourist arrivals—Japan and South Korea—would be affected by the financial crunch, said Tourism Secretary Joseph Durano.

Local tourism and travel industries will feel the pinch in the first quarter of 2009 as people worldwide have started to put travel and vacations down the list of spending priorities, said Robert Lim Joseph, chairman emeritus of the National Association of Independent Travel Agencies.

Travel agents, airlines, hotels and resorts should make the necessary adjustments this early because foreigners have started skipping the country as a tourist destination, said Jojo Clemente, president of the Philippine Travel Agencies Association.

According to Durano, the country could build on its competitive edge as a value-for-money destination while exploring opportunities like education and medical tourism.

Already, major carriers like the Philippine Airlines and Cebu Pacific have reduced fuel surcharge and fares to stimulate travel and are coming up with attractive tour packages to promote the country.

Joseph said all these marketing programs are being consolidated into an over-all action plan under the Department of Tourism (DOT).

Strategic planning are now being made for the aggressive promotion of Metro Manila, Cebu, Bohol, Dumaguete, Palawan, Boracay, Bicol and Siargao Island.

New markets, such as incentive travel, meetings, conventions, exhibitions and trade fairs are being targeted by the DOT’s Philippine Convention and Visitors Corp.they should lower their rates and offer promos as incentives to entice tourists

Shockingly bad website with a navigation system that could best be described as "random".

I agree the website is ghastly..but the slogan is nice.

actually the liveyourdreams website is cute. :) but yeah, the website is confusing to navigate.

Davao City
Queen of the south


http://img75.imageshack.us/img75/5454/img9907rw0dp2.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
One of the Philippines most laid-back cities is your base for exploring the country's highest peak and plenty more besides
Chip Childers & Steve White



PRACTICALITIES

When to go
The temperature and rainfall vary only a little through the year, meaning hot sun or showers are possible on any given day. the city is also far enough south to be outside the usual typhoon belt.

How to get there
There are numerous daily flights from Manila and Cebu, as well as direct international routes to Singapore and Manado.

Where to stay
the most luxurious hotel in town is the Marco polo, davao.marcopolohotels.com on Samal Island, perfectly sited for divers, there are the pearl Farm Beach Resort, www.pearlfarmresort.com and the paradise Island park and Beach Resort, www.paradiseislanddavao.com You can also pick up a Small hotels Association of Davao (ShAD) leaflet for more accommodation choices.

Contacts

* Davao Wildwater Adventure, tel: (63-82) 301 2020
* Edge (gear shop and rentals), tel: (082) 300 0384; edge_outdoors@yahoo.com
* Davao Scuba, tel: (082) 305 5080; www.davaoscubadive.com
* Wind and Wave Davao, tel: (082) 300 3483; www.windandwavedavao.com

Even on a short stay in Davao you can feel it. It’s a city with an optimistic swagger in its stride. Some overcautious outsiders still like to ask about security whenever anywhere on the Philippines’ southern island of Mindanao is mentioned, but the locals and migrants from around the country and across the globe who call this easy-paced city home are better informed than that.

Size is perhaps part of the secret behind the quiet confidence: it is officially one of the largest cities in the world. But there’s also the
fact that business is booming. While the city’s exports were once upon a time all about the fruit that grows so easily in the fertile volcanic soils of the hinterland, today the economy has diversified and that includes getting into tourism of all types.

Better flight connections to domestic and international destinations have helped, along with the advent of more sophisticated resorts
and the growth of a local adventure scene that has spawned operators to take you out and show you around the coasts, cones, cliffs
and caves of a region finally getting some long-overdue attention.

Diving
Islands in the stream

Just off the coast lie Samal Island and its smaller neighbour Talicud and many divers choose to base themselves out there where sites are just a short boat ride away.

Both islands are ringed with sites – more than 20 are commonly visited – and between them they offer a wide cross-section of
conditions and attractions. There are the walls of the north coast of Talicud, a couple of WWII cargo ship wrecks, several caves, drift dives and shallow hunt-the-critter ambles at little more than snorkel depth.

Punta del Sol is a popular starting point for many novice divers with a highly accessible car wreck only 6m down, just one focal point. Close by is Allen’s Rock which gives the more experienced something to relish, dropping you down past 30m.

There’s also a cluster of dive spots halfway down Samal’s west coast and this is where those two shipwrecks are located, down at
around 40m. The other sites here are also worth diving for they offer neatly contrasting views of the local marine life. If you are lucky you may discover a pygmy seahorse on a seafan at Beng’s Corner, while Marissa 1, 2 and 3 are pelagic territory, with hawksbill turtles sometimes showing up along with various deepwater fish species.

Rafting
Davao descents

Whitewater aficionados have a habit of looking at maps, going straight to any visible mountain ranges and excitedly tracing watersheds through canyons with their fingers. Do this with the island of Mindanao and you’re going to get tired hands – the island has some serious kayaking and rafting potential.

While it was Cagayan de Oro, in the north of the island, that led the way, more recently the rivers of Davao have come in for scrutiny, resulting in commercial operations on a threehour, 14km stretch of the Davao River.

Water levels, fed by an extensive watershed, can fluctuate impressively, offering huge haystack waves and monster holes in high water. Even in low water, the run generates Class III river running and plans are afoot to offer runs of various levels of difficulty.

Further afield, the rio incognitos in the Apo watershed and the wilds of Bukidnon look very tempting, though those remain the preserve of expedition-level boaters for the time being.


Zip-lining
Trip wires

Zip lines are all the rage at the moment and at Camp Sabros, close to the checkpoint on the road that leads to Mt Apo, there’s a pair that the operator claims are among the longest single lines in Asia.

Each is over 300m long, with the first a more gentle ride across a forested valley. The thrill can be heightened though by making the trip in a sling which means you are in a lying position, head forward, and so moving faster.

Then, once across the valley, you can return on a simple cableway or you can head uphill to the jump-off for a longer and faster run that sends you screaming through a hole in the trees and back to your start point. You work up a fair bit of speed on this one so there’s even a small parachute to be deployed by those unnerved by the speed.

Trekking and caving
Beyond Apo

The main event for keen trekkers is definitely the climb on Apo (see box on previous page), but there are numerous other options including day hikes to waterfalls or to Puting Bato, the highest viewpoint on Samal Island. Mountain lovers will also enjoy the jungle hike up Mt Matutum (2,293m), a conical peak to the west of Apo, that sees far less traffic.

Many of the same areas are also venues for troglodytes who like to do their exploring underground. While there is not yet any commercial caving, the limestone in the area is riddled with chambers.

If you fancy getting deep down and dirty in any of them, contact any of the main gear shops in the city, all of whom can connect you with local cavers.

Thanks go to Sonny Dizon and Rhonson Ng for their help in the production of this article.

Action Asia (http://www.actionasia.com/actionasia/Articles/index.jsp?aid=3576)

^^ IMO, Davao should forge an identity separate from Cebu so I wouldn't want the city and the province using the word "Queen"... Why not a male persona? Isn't "Apo", masculine?

RP, Malaysia to review air agreement to boost trade, tourism (http://www.gmanews.tv/story/129821/RP-Malaysia-to-review-air-agreement-to-boost-trade-tourism)
10/28/2008 | 10:56 AM

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine air panel is holding talks with counterparts from Malaysia starting Wednesday in a bid to boost flights and increase trade and tourism between both countries.

Clark International Airport Corp. president and chief executive Victor Jose I Luciano is hopeful more flights will be allocated to the Diosdado Macapagal International Airport (DMIA).

"This is another opportunity in the development of DMIA as a premier gateway because separate entitlements for Clark spells more international flights and this would benefit our people, especially overseas Filipino workers," Luciano said in a statement issued on Tuesday.

Malaysian carrier AirAsia is currently flying twice daily to Kuala Lumpur and Kota Kinabalu from the Clark airport.

DMIA is also serviced by Tiger Airways for flights between the Philippines and Singapore.

Philippine carriers Cebu Pacific, Southeast Asian Airlines and Zest Air are also scheduled to start flying to international destinations from Clark starting next month.

The DMIA is being groomed as a major international gateway to decongest the old Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Manila.

It is also geared to serve tourists and overseas Filipinos flying from Northern and Central Luzon. - GMANews.TV

Tourism, ICT spur Central Visayas’s economy (http://businessmirror.com.ph/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1091:tourism-ict-spur-central-visayass-economy&catid=33:economy)
Economy
Written by Willy Rodolfo III / Reporter
Monday, 27 October 2008 22:58

TOURISM and information-communication technology (ICT) sectors continue to lead the way in boosting Central Visayas’s economy even as construction, fishing and shipping slipped and inflation soared in the first half of 2008.

Exports also posted a huge 57.8- percent increase in April to June 2008, compared with the same period in 2007, hitting the $1.547-billion mark despite the strong peso dampening the performance of small export furniture companies.

The regional economic situationer report indicated that ICT and ICT-enabled sectors have continued to grow as evidenced by the increase in employment generated by the two sectors.

According to the report, Asiatown IT Park in Cebu City alone currently employs an estimated 12,755 as of the first three months of 2008, significantly up from the 11,637 figure as of year-end 2007.

The report also identified small- and medium-scale software companies which have started to thrive in Metro Cebu as the demand for highly skilled programmers and engineers continues to increase.

“The ICT industry remained to be a formidable economic driver of Central Visayas. It continued to draw in investors and create jobs,” the report indicated.

Information technology (IT) and electronics led the region’s exports, with the port of Cebu leading with a 76-percent increase in export values for $1.252 billion.

Tourism also continued to perform remarkably well, with the number of foreign tourists increasing by 13.8 percent compared with the same period in 2007 and domestic tourists increasing by 11 percent despite the worsening global economic situation.

Some 356,947 local tourists and 177,144 foreign travelers arrived in the region between April and June as the region hit the 1-million-arrivals mark in the first six months of the year.

Cebu continued to lead the region with 401,636 combined arrivals, or 812,233 in the first six months of the year.

“Although the region was able to achieve a double-digit growth in visitor arrivals in second quarter 2008, it failed to surpass or even match the 16.5-percent growth recorded in the same period of 2007,” the report said.

“This could be a result of the decision of some travelers to postpone trips until the global economic situation improves.”

Negros Oriental posted the highest growth in terms of arrivals with 25.1 percent in the second quarter of 2008 compared with the same period in 2007.

The increase was significantly higher than its 10.7-percent growth over the same period in 2007.

Bohol also posted promising numbers with a 14.7-percent increase in its arrivals.

“Improved performance of the province’s tourism industry during the period could be attributed to, among others, the continued promotion of Bohol to its target market and the collaboration between government and private sector in the implementation of tourism laws and policies,” the report said.

Koreans remain to be the top foreign visitors to Central Visayas, but their share of the pie shrank from 34 percent to 28 percent.

The number of Taiwanese tourists increased by 240 percent in the first half of 2008.

Construction led the slowdown in Central Visayas amid the surging prices of steel and cement, although several international investors are still pushing with their plans to invest in hotels, residences and retirement facilities in the region.

Prices of steel went up by 80 percent in a span of four to six months, while cement prices rose by 18 percent.

“Most of the huge construction projects that were realized in the region were for tourism facilities and office spaces,” the report added.

Although flights posted strong growth by up to 15,953 flights, including close to 2,000 international flights from the region, ship calls dipped compared with 2007 levels.

“Shipping activities in the region generally dropped from years-ago level due to the high cost of fuel which prompted shipping companies to increase fare rates and freight charges,” the report said.

There were a total of 31,992 ship calls in the region in the second three months of 2008, 205 of which were from foreign vessels.

“Foreign ship calls and cargo increased due to the increase in importation or rice and steel products. This was because of the speculation that prices of steel would continue to go up along with the rising demand in China,” the report said.

Inflation rates in the region hit 11.1 percent, higher than the national average of 9.7 percent led by increased in the food as well as the fuel, light and water group.

Tourism stakeholders preparing to cushion impact of travel slowdown
Economy
Written by Claudette Mocon / Correspondent
WEDNESDAY, 29 OCTOBER 2008 23:49
The Business Mirror

IN a bid to check a slowdown in the tourism industry, tourism players urged colleagues in the travel-and-tourism sector to do their best to prevent a sharp decline of the industry.

Tourism Secretary Joseph Ace Durano earlier said more emphasis should be given to local advertising and local tourism as the top two markets for tourist arrivals—Japan and South Korea—are expected to be affected by the global financial meltdown.

Robert Lim Joseph, chairman emeritus of the National Association of Independent Travel Agencies (Naitas), lauded Durano for taking the cudgels to diversify and intensify marketing efforts to maintain tourist-arrival targets.

“Together we are implementing practical measures and not just come up with unfair open skies as a solution because it has been proven to be a failure in bringing in tourists,” Joseph said.

He said the local tourism and travel industry expects to feel the pinch as people around the world start to scrimp and save by forgoing travel and cutting down on spending on luxuries like going on vacations by the first quarter of 2009.

Jojo Clemente, president of the Philippine Travel Agencies Association, echoes Joseph’s call, saying that travel agents, airlines, hotels and resorts should make the necessary adjustments this early because foreigners have started skipping the country as a tourist destination.

Durano suggested that the country can build on its competitive edge as a value-for-money destination while exploring other opportunities like education and medical tourism.

While Philippine Airlines and Cebu Pacific have reduced fuel surcharge and fares to stimulate travel, they are coming up with attractive tour packages to promote the country.

Joseph said all these marketing programs are being consolidated into an overall action plan under the office of the tourism secretary.

Tie-ups among all these sectors are being sped up like tour packages involving airlines, resorts, hotels and restaurants, he said.

Strategic planning in the mapping operations are now being made for aggressive promotions.

Aside from Metro Manila, the focus is on Cebu, Bohol, Dumaguete, Palawan, Boracay, Bicol and Siargao Island.

New markets such as incentive travel, meetings, conventions, exhibitions and trade fairs are being targeted with the private sector and the Philippine Convention and Visitors Corp. under the Department of Tourism.

“What we should be on the lookout for are opportunists who are willing to give free traffic entitlements to foreign carriers who have no commitment to bring tourist to our country. This is the reason we have to review Executive Order 500A because of the expected downturn in tourist arrivals,” Joseph said.

No more room in Boracay in 2 years--DENR

By Nestor P. Burgos Jr.
Visayas Bureau
First Posted 18:31:00 11/02/2008

BORACAY ISLAND, Philippines--Development on Boracay Island is on the brink of breaching its tourism-carrying capacity, according to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.

DENR undersecretary Manuel Gerochi said ensuring sustainable development on the world famous island-resort became more urgent as more tourists were flocking to the island.

In a speech at the Boracay media summit here that ended Friday, Gerochi said the island was host to an average of 9,361 visitors per day based on records of the Department of Tourism covering 2007 and this year.

This is still below the tourism-carrying capacity of the island as shown by a DENR study conducted in May 2008.

The study shows that the island has a capacity of 10,116 swimmers, 16,703 sunbathers/users and 14,674 diners along coconut groves.

"It can be surmised that there is still enough room for authorities to promote and invite tourists to come to the paradise island. But, they should be warned that very soon, these capacity thresholds will be reached, most likely in the next two to three years," said Gerochi.

Gerochi said that with the findings, "it is evident that we cannot go on our 'business-as-usual' attitude. We have to do something to address all these findings."

The DENR has completed an environmental master plan to comprehensively address the environmental degradation of the island that threatens the P8-billion tourism industry of the country's premier tourist destination.

The DOT has also completed a Comprehensive Land Use Plan (CLUP) to guide and regulate development projects on the island.

But the municipal government of Malay last month lifted the moratorium on construction projects even before the implementation of the CLUP and environmental master plan.

Gerochi said the DENR would take the lead in restoring forests where these have been cleared for development.

The high court upheld Proclamation 1064, issued by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on May 22, 2006, that categorized around 60 percent of the 1,032-hectare island as alienable and disposable and the rest as forestland and protected areas.

"It may be noted that the environmental enclave is modest in relation to the alienable and disposable area. That is already a big concession. Less than 39 percent of the island remains a forest reserve. You cannot have a forest in a flower pot," said Gerochi.

The court decision will also allow the DENR to proceed with the titling of areas classified as alienable and disposable.

Gerochi said in an interview that a survey on lots on the island could start by March 2009, which would be completed in four months. The agency is expected to process applications for titling by July.

Environment Secretary Jose "Lito" Atienza has allayed the fears of stakeholders especially land occupants and property owners in the light of the court ruling. He assured them that the government would discuss with them the implications of the court ruling on their occupancy.

In a phone patch to Boracay stakeholders and summit participants on Thursday evening, Atienza said the court ruling would not affect land titleholders on the island.

He said the situation of long-time occupants would also be carefully studied and considered.

"I know this is causing a lot of anxiety. No less than President Arroyo is concerned with your welfare," said Atienza.

^^ That should be a cue that it's high time development be focused on the main island where land is plentiful. Panay has many beaches comparable to Boracay.

Why not develop Carabao Island? There's been many press releases about that, but nothing has materialized. They should develop that island more and have ferry services between the two islands so they can alleviate the stress on Boracay Island. Carabao Island has tons of potential.

^^ With a land area more than twice that of Boracay, Carabao Island seems to be a good choice as an alternative to Boracay. I think however that more people would benefit and there would be less impact on the environment if developments would veer away from the islets and into the big island with an infinitely bigger carrying capacity. If I'm not mistaken, there is a proposal from a Korean private entity to put up an airport on Carabao Island. I'm not aware of its current status. Aklan alone already has 2 existing airports, Kalibo and Caticlan. The one in Iloilo is already world-class. If the fame of Boracay rubbed more on the main island, we could perhaps have Malay, Aklan akin to Waikiki in Honolulu since high-rises would be possible to build on the main island.

^^ yes, i always wondered why they have not yet started the commercialization of carabao island.. since imho, they are comparable in pristine beauty (boracay and carabao)... but i do hope, they design greener structures in carabao..

^^ With a land area more than twice that of Boracay, Carabao Island seems to be a good choice as an alternative to Boracay. I think however that more people would benefit and there would be less impact on the environment if developments would veer away from the islets and into the big island with an infinitely bigger carrying capacity. If I'm not mistaken, there is a proposal from a Korean private entity to put up an airport on Carabao Island. I'm not aware of its current status. Aklan alone already has 2 existing airports, Kalibo and Caticlan. The one in Iloilo is already world-class. If the fame of Boracay rubbed more on the main island, we could perhaps have Malay, Aklan akin to Waikiki in Honolulu since high-rises would be possible to build on the main island.

You may have a point. When we went to Boracay earlier this year, we arrived at Kalibo Airport and had to drive through Aklan to Caticlan. The drive through Aklan was so beautiful, beautiful rolling terrain, green flatlands, and lush jungles. Lots of traditional Bahay Kubo on the road. Perhaps they can develop a part of Aklan for tourism and make it develope/investor friendly.

according sa news, by 2010, ready na ang airport sa carabao island. i think mas grand ang plano nila sa carabao island because of its size. they are planning to build golf courses and casinos there.

Is carabao island bigger than boracay? and how do you get there from Boracay?

according sa news, by 2010, ready na ang airport sa carabao island. i think mas grand ang plano nila sa carabao island because of its size. they are planning to build golf courses and casinos there.

A golf course and a casino??? Are golf courses environmentally viable for small islands given the amount of land it takes up?? Considering the amount of foliage that needs to be felled for golf courses won't runoff and flooding become a problem? Add to that an airport. It all just seems too impractical.

Ugh, no golf courses and casinos please! Maybe they can market Carabao Island as a more upscale Boracay and have high end resorts there. They certainly have the space to build huge masterplanned resorts there unlike Boracay.

Boracay is about 1100 hectares. Carabao is 2870 hectares.

It's a must see place here in Luzon. I used Sigma 10-20mm lens

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3296/3006949083_8ec08e17be.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3229/3006950201_c7d6b6670e.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3062/3007786904_0c77506f92.jpg

more photos here: http://wynngd.blogspot.com/

^^ You have such talent with photography. Great work. Im going on vacation this jan4 and would love to visit this place, may i ask how to get there?

Just checked out your blog. The photo set, "life on track" as well as others documenting impoverished children were heart wrenching.

Anawangin Cove is so beautiful. It's quite surreal.

yeah, beautiful shots and stunning Anawangin! :cheers:

A golf course and a casino??? Are golf courses environmentally viable for small islands given the amount of land it takes up?? Considering the amount of foliage that needs to be felled for golf courses won't runoff and flooding become a problem? Add to that an airport. It all just seems too impractical.

sa boracay nga may golf course eh! but it looks so out of place there.

^^ You have such talent with photography. Great work. Im going on vacation this jan4 and would love to visit this place, may i ask how to get there?

Just checked out your blog. The photo set, "life on track" as well as others documenting impoverished children were heart wrenching.

Maraming Salamat! We rented a coaster kasi to get in one of the ports of San Antonio, Zambales. Inde ko sure ang pagcommute pero ang asa isip ko, merong bus from Manila to Iba Zambales. Now from Iba Zambales to San Antonio, di ko gaanong alam kung paano. We rented a boat for 800 pesos papunta sa anawangin cove. Kung medyo extreme ang gusto mo, pwede mong akyatin ung bundok then baba mo sa anawangin cove na.

Ung place eh walang cottages, you need to bring your own tent, pero dun sa may left side ng cove may bayad na 150 per head, pwede kang gumamit ng CR, at poso nila. You need to bring your own food and drinking water kasi wala tindahan dyan at higit sa lahat walang kuryente. you need to bring extra batteries and flash light....

Top 10 Emerging Food Destinations (from expedia.com.au):

1. The Philippines - Most dishes use chillies sparingly unlike neighbouring Asian countries. The Malay, Spanish and Chinese influence is obvious in many dishes and the unique and often surprising combinations of flavours make Filipino food striking and interesting. Fresh seafood is a prominent ingredient, often served uncooked, in vinaigrette. Coconut is also regularly used to create exotic savoury and sweet dishes, ranging from meat and vegetable dishes to luscious rice puddings.

Dish not to miss: Sinigang - soup dish made with stewed fish, pork, chicken, shrimp or beef and combined with rice.

2. Mauritius - Mauritian food stems from a combination of African, Indian, French and Chinese cuisines, complemented by its own unique Mauritian Creole touch. The variety of dishes range from slowly braised meats, curries, stir fries, seafood and pickles and a healthy selection of French-influenced sweet tarts.

Dish not to miss: Vindaye Ourite - a zesty octopus vindaloo curry with a strong Indian influence; made with octopus, saffron, onions and green pepper.

3. Sri Lanka - Sri Lankan food is just as unique and expansive as its rich and colourful culture. Local dishes include a mix of hot and spicy curries, delicious fresh prawns, crabs, and even fish and chips with a twist. Sri Lanka is the biggest producer of tea in the world so a cuppa is a must.

Dish not to miss: Pittu - a mixture of roasted rice flour and freshly grated coconut steamed in a bamboo mould.

4. Laos - Laotian cuisine is typically very hot and spicy. Influenced by its Thai neighbours, dishes are often quite dry with explosive flavours and accompanied by sticky rice. The French colonial influence in some areas of Laos is surprising and provides an enjoyable alternative to the fiery nature of most Laotian food. In the larger towns, travellers can pick up a French baguette with pate for breakfast, or for what must certainly be unique to Laos, baguettes dunked in coffee.

Dish not to miss: Barbecued Son Moo - made with transparent rice paper, thin noodles, vegetables and lettuce, it is a fun dish to enjoy preparing with the locals.

5. Cambodia - Cambodia is the perfect location to try plenty of unusual foods such as bugs, betal nuts that turn your teeth a dark shade of grey, and prahok, a traditional fish paste made from rotten fish that is left to ferment. For less courageous travellers, there is a whole range of tasty dishes, with most Cambodian meals made up of at least three or four separate dishes that may be sweet, sour, salty or bitter. Fruit is everywhere, often used to create sweet deserts.

Dish not to miss: Kuay Namuan - an incredibly sweet dessert made from simmered coconut milk and sugar poured piping hot over banana.

6. Croatia - With all the sea around, it is not surprising Croatian cuisine is predominantly seafood influenced. Croatians know how to turn simple grilled fish into a masterpiece. Similarly, spit roasts of lamb and pork are also regularly enjoyed and cooked to perfection. The desserts are made from local and exotic fruits.

Dish not to miss: Janjetina - a hearty, creamed soup made with meaty lamb bones, green peppers, onions and tomatoes. It is regularly the first course of a hearty Easter lunch banquet.

7. Poland - Substantial is one of the best ways to describe traditional Polish food. With many recipes from Jewish origin, some of the main ingredients used in Polish food are sauerkraut, beetroot, gherkins, sour cream, kohlrabi, mushrooms, sausages and smoked sausage. They are served as a three-course meal and predominantly made up of hearty meats and carbohydrates.

Dish not to miss: Zrazy zawijane - succulent beef rolls stuffed with sizzling strips of bacon, gherkin, and onion served with a spicy, sour cream sauce.

8. Nepal - Nepalese food is renowned for its nutritional value and distinctive tastes, with lots of spices and flavours in a great variety of dishes. Lentils, rice and vegetable curry are some of the key ingredients in local cuisine with plenty of relishes, pickles, garlic and spices to liven up wholesome dishes.

Dish not to miss: Daal Bhaat - core ingredients are lentils and rice livened up with a variety of different spices and prepared in a myriad of ways. It is most often eaten with the fingers.

9. Jamaica - With explosive flavours and some key ingredients indigenous to the country, most food is unprocessed. Smaller portions of meats and an abundance of seafood make Jamaican food wholesome and succulent. There are a variety of sweet, hot and savoury dishes and some of the most regularly used herbal remedies like garlic, ginger, all spice and hot peppers form the basis of flavoursome dishes.

Dish not to miss: Jerk seasoning - the fiery flavours of a unique, yet simple spice mix forms a marinade for pork, chicken, fish or tofu. Served with rice and peas.

10. Morocco - The hustle and bustle of the local markets and the colourful, local produce is overwhelming. Smell the raw scent of spices that waft from a Moroccan tagine pot. Mixed flavours season lamb or chicken alongside a plate of couscous, Morocco's staple food.

Dish not to miss: Bisteeya - a savoury filo pastry, layered with chicken, eggs and a lemon and onion sauce, topped with crushed almonds, cinnamon and sugar.

http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2008/11/13/1226318795692.html?page=fullpage#contentSwap1

Top 10 Emerging Food Destinations (from expedia.com.au):

1. The Philippines - Most dishes use chillies sparingly unlike neighbouring Asian countries. The Malay, Spanish and Chinese influence is obvious in many dishes and the unique and often surprising combinations of flavours make Filipino food striking and interesting. Fresh seafood is a prominent ingredient, often served uncooked, in vinaigrette. Coconut is also regularly used to create exotic savoury and sweet dishes, ranging from meat and vegetable dishes to luscious rice puddings.

Dish not to miss: Sinigang - soup dish made with stewed fish, pork, chicken, shrimp or beef and combined with rice.

2. Mauritius - Mauritian food stems from a combination of African, Indian, French and Chinese cuisines, complemented by its own unique Mauritian Creole touch. The variety of dishes range from slowly braised meats, curries, stir fries, seafood and pickles and a healthy selection of French-influenced sweet tarts.

Dish not to miss: Vindaye Ourite - a zesty octopus vindaloo curry with a strong Indian influence; made with octopus, saffron, onions and green pepper.

3. Sri Lanka - Sri Lankan food is just as unique and expansive as its rich and colourful culture. Local dishes include a mix of hot and spicy curries, delicious fresh prawns, crabs, and even fish and chips with a twist. Sri Lanka is the biggest producer of tea in the world so a cuppa is a must.

Dish not to miss: Pittu - a mixture of roasted rice flour and freshly grated coconut steamed in a bamboo mould.

4. Laos - Laotian cuisine is typically very hot and spicy. Influenced by its Thai neighbours, dishes are often quite dry with explosive flavours and accompanied by sticky rice. The French colonial influence in some areas of Laos is surprising and provides an enjoyable alternative to the fiery nature of most Laotian food. In the larger towns, travellers can pick up a French baguette with pate for breakfast, or for what must certainly be unique to Laos, baguettes dunked in coffee.

Dish not to miss: Barbecued Son Moo - made with transparent rice paper, thin noodles, vegetables and lettuce, it is a fun dish to enjoy preparing with the locals.

5. Cambodia - Cambodia is the perfect location to try plenty of unusual foods such as bugs, betal nuts that turn your teeth a dark shade of grey, and prahok, a traditional fish paste made from rotten fish that is left to ferment. For less courageous travellers, there is a whole range of tasty dishes, with most Cambodian meals made up of at least three or four separate dishes that may be sweet, sour, salty or bitter. Fruit is everywhere, often used to create sweet deserts.

Dish not to miss: Kuay Namuan - an incredibly sweet dessert made from simmered coconut milk and sugar poured piping hot over banana.

6. Croatia - With all the sea around, it is not surprising Croatian cuisine is predominantly seafood influenced. Croatians know how to turn simple grilled fish into a masterpiece. Similarly, spit roasts of lamb and pork are also regularly enjoyed and cooked to perfection. The desserts are made from local and exotic fruits.

Dish not to miss: Janjetina - a hearty, creamed soup made with meaty lamb bones, green peppers, onions and tomatoes. It is regularly the first course of a hearty Easter lunch banquet.

7. Poland - Substantial is one of the best ways to describe traditional Polish food. With many recipes from Jewish origin, some of the main ingredients used in Polish food are sauerkraut, beetroot, gherkins, sour cream, kohlrabi, mushrooms, sausages and smoked sausage. They are served as a three-course meal and predominantly made up of hearty meats and carbohydrates.

Dish not to miss: Zrazy zawijane - succulent beef rolls stuffed with sizzling strips of bacon, gherkin, and onion served with a spicy, sour cream sauce.

8. Nepal - Nepalese food is renowned for its nutritional value and distinctive tastes, with lots of spices and flavours in a great variety of dishes. Lentils, rice and vegetable curry are some of the key ingredients in local cuisine with plenty of relishes, pickles, garlic and spices to liven up wholesome dishes.

Dish not to miss: Daal Bhaat - core ingredients are lentils and rice livened up with a variety of different spices and prepared in a myriad of ways. It is most often eaten with the fingers.

9. Jamaica - With explosive flavours and some key ingredients indigenous to the country, most food is unprocessed. Smaller portions of meats and an abundance of seafood make Jamaican food wholesome and succulent. There are a variety of sweet, hot and savoury dishes and some of the most regularly used herbal remedies like garlic, ginger, all spice and hot peppers form the basis of flavoursome dishes.

Dish not to miss: Jerk seasoning - the fiery flavours of a unique, yet simple spice mix forms a marinade for pork, chicken, fish or tofu. Served with rice and peas.

10. Morocco - The hustle and bustle of the local markets and the colourful, local produce is overwhelming. Smell the raw scent of spices that waft from a Moroccan tagine pot. Mixed flavours season lamb or chicken alongside a plate of couscous, Morocco's staple food.

Dish not to miss: Bisteeya - a savoury filo pastry, layered with chicken, eggs and a lemon and onion sauce, topped with crushed almonds, cinnamon and sugar.

http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2008/11/13/1226318795692.html?page=fullpage#contentSwap1
:):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):)

^^ IMO, Davao should forge an identity separate from Cebu so I wouldn't want the city and the province using the word "Queen"... Why not a male persona? Isn't "Apo", masculine?



sorry for the late reply Igan , that was written by 2 Australian adventurers who travelled in Mindanao :)

Here's the new Philippine tourism ad which I saw earlier on CNBC. Good thing someone posted it on Youtube.
cJcfQyTcssY

^^ im so proud of our animators! awesome ad!!! :banana:

ako din!

^ hehe, finally! a tourism endorsement by our very own Tarsier. :lol: im sure tourists especially the japanese will be drawn by this, or any cute little creature really. hehe! awesome animation!

ang ganda nung ad!

wow! awesome ad!

dapat gawing character cartoon yung tarsier para maging icon siya. tulad ni hello kitty ng japan!

http://img204.imageshack.us/img204/7048/travel6lk4.jpg

If there is one person who never tires of talking about just how great the Philippines is he is tourism Secretary Ace Durano.

“There is always something new to discover in the country,” says Durano. “And that is what makes my work exciting, knowing that we are always moving forward.”

It is this passion for the country that has Sec. Durano continuously looking for newer and better ways to get the Philippines back on the world map.

PHILIPPINE STAR: How do the French view the Philippines?

SECRETARY ACE DURANO: The difference is that we are in demand in France now.

How did this happen?

It is interesting to see just how the Philippines has built its presence here over the last three years. It even makes me happier to know that there has been a 29 percent growth for the first three months of this year.

Because of the growth and the renewed interest of France in the Philippines, we have had to get a bigger space here in Top Resa. This is the biggest we have ever invested at Top Resa.

Why?

The investment we make always depends on how many private sector partners from the Philippines join. This year, we have the biggest delegation from the private sector here. There are 14 companies with us. That alone tells us how the market is developing.

Have the French tour operators taken notice?

Yes, as a matter of fact, the two biggest tour operators in France are carrying the Philippines for the first time. These are Jetours and Vacances Transat. These operators have never offered the Philippines as a destination in their travel brochures, but now, they are.

What was the big break?

The break for us was Koh Lanta (Survivor) Palawan. This year marks the first time in the show’s history that they have shot two consecutive seasons in the same country. Last year Koh Lanta-Palawan was shot. And this year, there is Koh Lanta-Caramoan.

Does Koh Lanta have a big viewership?

Koh Lanta has about 7.5 million viewers who watch the show every week. We are not only talking about France, but also other French-speaking countries in Europe.

Really?

All of a sudden we are the ones being courted.

What makes our presence here different from last year?

For me it is different being here now. At least four years ago we had negative growth coming from this market, because we were just starting to make a comeback. It was difficult, we were a nobody. And now we are big in France, in just a matter of three years. For me, Koh Lanta was the break for us. The show strengthened and solidified our presence here.

Does France really set travel trends?

Yes, France is a trendsetter, and when a country becomes a trend destination for France, the rest of the neighboring countries follow suit.

The fact that we have been able to penetrate this market is opening up other markets for us as well — like Italy and Spain.

What is the most important thing that you discovered after four years?

Now four years later I know that nature will play a major role in how people, especially Europeans will perceive a destination. This will also determine where people will opt to go.

Have you changed your plans?

Four years ago, I was more on let’s just build as many hotels as we can. Now, I believe that to ensure the sustainability of the Philippines as a tourist destination and to continue to build our presence globally we have to focus on eco-tourism. This means that we have to preserve and restore the ecological resources of some of our destinations. This should be our priority.

Do you see ecotourism as the way to go?

For me, in the next 20 years, I foresee that our ecotourism destinations will command premium prices. And that is where we should be. With the quality and beauty of our natural endowments, I believe that the Philippines can be a bench mark for ecotourism.

Ecotourism is one product segment where we should give focus and invest on.

What are your plans for the next two years?

One is to grow the ecotourism segment of the Philippines. In order to achieve this, we have to open up more destinations. For some reason there is still no formula where mass tourism can coexist with preserving ecology. In order to sustain the growth momentum in terms of volume we have to spread the footprint around the country. We have to open up more interesting natural attractions.

How do you propose we do this?

In areas where there is an anchor destination, we should develop the corridor. For example in Bohol we should open up the corridor which spans Camiguin, Negros Oriental and Siquijor. In Bicol, we already have Donsol as an anchor, so developing the rest of Sorsogon should follow. Where there is an anchor ecotourism product already, we need to further develop that corridor to spread the tourism activity. In this manner, we allow the benefits of tourism to trickle down to the countryside. We will be busy with this in the next two years.

What is one thing about the Philippines that you discovered this year?

In the places I have been as the Secretary of Tourism and looking at the products we have and the products others have I believe that it is really our natural heritage that is one of our top assets. It is our natural heritage that will play a very important role starting today and for the next 20 years.

Any other?

Our natural heritage comes second only to our first asset, which is of course the Filipino. This is one of the reasons that we have a very high percentage of repeat visitors — the warmth and friendliness of our people.

Favorite destination for this year?

Donsol and Bohol. These are the two destinations that should serve as development models to be replicated in other parts of the country.

Why Donsol?

Tourism there has developed because of the communities in the area. This is really what ecotourism is about. Part of sustainability is to make sure that the livelihood of the people that live there are tied to tourism. It is tied to preserving the ecology otherwise it can’t be sustained. The same goes for Bohol where the communities are very much involved. These are models that should be replicated in other ecotourism sites in the country.

http://beta.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=413758

^^ great job DOT!..lets french kiss and makeup:lol::lol::nuts:

Here's the new Philippine tourism ad which I saw earlier on CNBC. Good thing someone posted it on Youtube.
cJcfQyTcssY

Up85wzXclLY

Boracay is about 1100 hectares. Carabao is 2870 hectares.

Carabao or San Jose is part of the hometown of my Mom.

We are putting up a resort in carabao. It is perfect paradise Island.

Hope that the governement will not spoil the Island and put up too much mega development.

We suggest that the development must be in accordance of preserving the beauty of the nature.

they said that International airport wil raise soon.

Getting to carabao is a bit pain at the moment for a toursit as the local government does not provide better infrastructure.

There is no direct ro-ro trip on the island. You need to take the small wooden ferry.

From Tablas island or Boracay.

Saan itatayo ang international airport na yan?

I prefer mega developments in Boracay and other nearby islands. Those small time resorts were the ones who destroyed the whole island of Boracay.

Saan itatayo ang international airport na yan?

I prefer mega developments in Boracay and other nearby islands. Those small time resorts were the ones who destroyed the whole island of Boracay.

yeah. yung mga established resorts kasi may mga sinusunod na guidelines and all unlike yung mga small time bara-bara lang sa pagtatayo ng establishments. saka basta makamura kahit substandard na materyales sa pagpapatayo pati na sub-standard na service. im glad magkakaroon na ng shangrila sa boracay. mga ganung klaseng developments ang kelangan ng island. i dont think boracay is already over developed, wala lang talagang proper zoning pati guidelines/rules na sinusunod.

http://www.businessmirror.com.ph/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2034:mice-industry-still-a-priority-&catid=23:topnews&Itemid=58

'MICE' industry still a priority
Miguel R. Camus
BusinessMirror
November 16, 2008


HONG KONG—The global financial crisis is widely expected to usher in a period of more prudent spending by corporations that will cause, among others, cuts in business travel, but from all indications, the MICE(meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions) industry is simply too lucrative to ignore.

Just last week, the Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) announced a new initiative: the Meetings and Exhibitions Hong Kong (MEHK) office, which will provide “one-stop” professional support to MICE organizers, and is seen to boost the special administrative region in the multibillion-dollar MICE industry.

Research by the International Congress and Convention Association (Icca), a global community for the meetings industry, indicated that every year, a total of 400,000 conferences and exhibitions are held around the world, with a total outlay of $280 billion.

The HKTB’s move was in line with the Hong Kong government’s 2008 to 2009 budget—which contained a HK$150-million support for the HKTB to allow it to further develop and market its MICE initiatives over the next five years.

“We believe this is the time we must ramp up our effort to maintain our market share and keep our business strong,” declared James Tien, chairman of the HKTB, at the recent official launching of the MEHK. “When the global financial crisis is over, we will be one of the first to take advantage of this recovery,” he added.

Later that day, Anthony Lau, HKTB’s executive director, told the BusinessMirror at the sidelines of a press event that given the current economic situation, they have adopted a longer-term view in their expectations within the vicinity of “three to four years.”

In the meantime, he said he “would be happy” if Hong Kong can maintain the numbers in 2007, when the city generated roughly $1.4 billion from tourism spending from hosting 1,300 MICE events attended by 1.7 million people. He admitted that number may be “slightly” less in 2009.

He noted the former British colony’s advantage from its vicinity to China, both culturally and geographically. Mainland Chinese visitors composed almost 38 percent of the total for conventions and exhibitions in Hong Kong last year. “We are the door for the China business,” Lau said, adding that they will also be looking to other emerging economies such as India as areas of growth.

This follows the pessimistic outlook for the region in terms of leisure travelers and aggressive competition from Southeast Asian neighbors in the MICE industry, which is seeing more government support across the region.

Singapore recently pledged S$170 million from 2006 to 2010 for its MICE industry and a Tourism Malaysia official said last month they will be focusing on nice products, “especially on the MICE industry.”

The Thailand Convention & Exhibition Bureau recently joined the Bangkok Metropolitan Authority to launch a 100-million baht campaign to promote the Thai capital as a MICE destination of choice, while the Philippine Department of Tourism hosted the Philippine Asian MICE Forum in August.

The cities of China are also set to cash in on this trend. Rapid infrastructure development is occurring in cities like Beijing and even Macau, where the massive Venetian Hotel, for instance, comes with almost 2 million square feet (185,000 square meters) of meeting and convention space.

All countries mentioned—except for the Philippines—have at least one or several cities included in the Icca ranking for top 20 cities in the world in terms of number of meetings organized in 2007.

This was due to “safety” issues in the Philippines, an “important” consideration for organizers, according to sources in the MICE industry who declined to be identified.

:lol: Only in the Philippines....where they love to "acronized" words. MICE? WTF! :doh:

^^ get rid of those small time resorts na ubber panget na parang cheap beach resort lang ang sa kanila at kung maningil kala mo 5-star hotel.

^^If there are M.I.C.E., there should be C.A.T.S. (Coordination, Awareness, Trainings, and Seminars)! :nuts::lol::nuts::lol:

:lol: Only in the Philippines....where they love to "acronized" words. MICE? WTF! :doh:

M.I.C.E. -- "Welcome to the Rat Race."

^^ get rid of those small time resorts na ubber panget na parang cheap beach resort lang ang sa kanila at kung maningil kala mo 5-star hotel.

huwag kawawa naman, comply na lang sa standards kung hindi isarado na lang

:lol: Only in the Philippines....where they love to "acronized" words. MICE? WTF! :doh:

Haha. :lol: But nope the acronym M.I.C.E. is not a Pinoy invention. Sorry it's not tatak Proudly Pinoy.

Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meetings,_Incentives,_Conferencing,_Exhibitions

--------------------------------------------------

http://business.inquirer.net/money/announcements/view/20080814-154560/Destination-Philippines

Destination Philippines

Philippine Daily Inquirer
08/14/2008

Philippines poised to attract more tourists through exhibits, conventions

Building on the Philippine reputation as an ideal meeting point in the Asia Pacific, the Philippines plays host to the Philippine Asian MICE Forum (August 27-28), an international gathering of international players from the meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions (MICE) industry.

Tourism Secretary Ace Durano said, “More Asian locations are attracting the attention of international conference and exhibition organizers. This has changed the dynamics of the market and the Philippines is well positioned to niche itself as a strategic meeting place in Southeast Asia because of our close proximity to key Asian cities as well as the eco-tourism destinations we offer.”

The MICE industry plays an integral role in economic development and in creating attractive images of places. “We want to stimulate the economy and strive to create a positive image of the Philippine exhibition industry through the forum,” Durano added.

The Philippine Asian MICE Forum is organized by the Philippine Association of Convention/Exhibition Organizers and Suppliers, Inc. (PACEOS) together with the Department of Tourism (DOT), Philippine Convention and Visitors Corporation (PCVC), and the Hotel Sales and Marketing Association (HSMA). PACEOS is a group of leading professional event and exhibition organizers in the Philippines established in 1981.

The promotion of the Philippines as a meeting/convention venue, particularly in the Asia/Pacific Region, according to Durano, will help boost economic benefits across the entire tourism industry including accommodation, transport, retail, and hospitality sectors. “The MICE Forum is also a venue to engage the private sector in promoting the country as a meeting destination and leveraging on our competitive advantage in tourism such as accessibility, first-class facilities, and conducive business tourism environment.”

An international gathering of who’s who in the global exhibit industry

The conference will be attended by senior government officials, industry associations, venue and attraction managers, and event managers and suppliers. Speakers and panelists include some of the world's foremost authorities on the MICE industry. A key feature of the meeting will be moderated discussions on the competitiveness of Asian MICE hubs, and how to improve the region's attractiveness to the global MICE market.

The forum will examine country-specific MICE industries. It will focus on successful MICE venues in the region and how they are addressing increased competition from emerging competitors that are offering increasingly attractive incentive packages.

The event will likewise tackle the state of local MICE industries in Asian countries in terms of infrastructure, government incentives and compelling value propositions that draw worldwide attention to the growing Asian MICE market.

Panel discussions will feature MICE industry suppliers and venue providers, who will discuss challenges in providing the best value for their clients.

Prospective clients will also be on hand to present their own requirements that critically influence where they will hold events and who will run them.

A whole-day discussion on marketing Asian MICE venues has also been integrated into the agenda to offer insights into costs and pricing, bidding for international events, customer care, safety and security, and ethical standards that will assist industry players in developing effective competitive strategies.

For information on the Philippine Asian MICE Forum, visit www.philippineasianmiceforum.com (http://business.inquirer.net/money/announcements/view/20080814-154560/www.philippineasianmiceforum.com)


Philippine Asian MICE Forum

http://www.philippineasianmiceforum.com/images/about_theevent_02.jpg

With Singapore, Hong Kong and Seoul among the top ten convention centers in the world, Asia continues to be a prime venue for the global Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions (MICE) industry.

Shanghai has also become a major MICE hub, achieving significant market growth in the last decade. More Asian locations, such as Thailand, Macau, and Malaysia are attracting the attention of international conference and exhibition organizers, changing the dynamics of the market as new niches in incentive tourism and meetings evolve. The Philippines and Vietnam are emerging as potentially formidable players in the regional and global MICE industry, exploring new and increasing opportunities to capture a share of this lucrative market. All of these locations have developed strategic plans to attract and accommodate lucrative conference and exhibition delegates - which on average spend 10 times as much during international visits as leisure tourists - and enhance Asia's position as a premiere global MICE destination.

Because MICE plays an integral role in economic development and in creating attractive images of places, it is important to understand trends, challenges, and strategies that will shape the future of the industry in Asia and the Philippines. For this purpose, the Philippine Association of Convention/Exhibition Organizers and Suppliers, Inc. (PACEOS) is organizing the Philippine Asian MICE Forum - a two-day conference that will serve as a venue for identifying MICE opportunities and threats.

The conference will be attended by senior government officials, industry associations, venue and attraction managers, and event managers and suppliers. Speakers and panelists include some of the world's foremost authorities on the MICE industry. A key feature of the meeting will be moderated discussions on the competitiveness of Asian MICE hubs, and how to improve the region's attractiveness to the global MICE market.

Philippine Association of Convention/Exhibition Organizers and Suppliers, Inc. (PACEOS)

The Philippine Association of Convention/Exhibition Organizers and Suppliers, Inc. (PACEOS) is a non-stock, non-profit organization composed of leading professional event and exhibition organizers in the country and their business partners, which include chambers and councils, government agencies, venue owners, designers and stand contractors, freight forwarders, hotels, and airlines.

The association is promoting the Philippines as a premier Meetings, Incentives, Conventions, and Exhibitions (MICE) destination in Southeast Asia.

Since its inception in 1981, PACEOS, which was then known as the Association of Professional Congress Organizers of the Philippines, has gradually established itself as the representative body of the local MICE industry.

PACEOS has also worked closely with the government and private sectors to further boost its programs promoting the local MICE industry.

The group has likewise done its share to benefit peripheral industries such as hospitality, transportation, retail, entertainment and printing when it organized several conventions and exhibits through the years.

Through its activities aimed at developing the country's MICE industry, PACEOS has helped in creating job opportunities and bringing in revenue to the country. The association has made this possible through the promotion of trade, tourism and continuing education in its various events, which have provided a platform for exhibitors and buyers from around the world to do business in the Philippines and an opportunity for convention
delegates to visit the country for education and technology transfer.

The organization continues to uphold its mission of advocating professionalism, growth, and excellence among all industry players. At present, PACEOS hopes to further expand its member base while pushing for the expansion and sustained growth of the local MICE industry.

PACEOS Members

Airline
Philippine Airlines, Inc. (PAL)

Chambers and Councils
Cebu Furniture Industries Foundation, Inc. (CFIF)
European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (ECCP)

Convention Organizers/ Exhibition Organizers
Creatif Foire Pro
Cut Unlimited Inc.
Ex-Link Management & Marketing Services (Ex-Link Corp)
Fairs & More, Inc.
Global-Link Marketing & Management Services, Inc.
Hamlin - Iturralde Corp. (TeamAsia)
Media G8way Corporation
Philippines Congress Organizing Center (PCOC)
Philippine Exhibits & Theme Parks Corp. (PETCO)
Premier Events Plus Group, Inc.
Primetrade Asia, Inc.
Trade Advertising Exhibitions & Conventions Int'l, Inc. (Tradecon, Inc.)
World Exhibitions & Conventions, Inc. (WORLDEXCO)

Designers and Stand Contractors
Centrex Corporation
Cityneon Philippines, Inc.
Danex Signs, Inc.
SEComp Inc.

Freight Forwarders
Agility Fairs & Events
Asian Tigers Lane Moving and Storage
Coltrans Cargo Philippines
Crown Worldwide Movers, Inc.
STAMM International Inc.

Government Agency
Center for International Trade Expositions & Missions (CITEM)

Venues (Center)
Araneta Center, Incorporated
Manila Exposition Complex, Inc. (World Trade Center Metro Manila)
Philippine International Convention Center (PICC)
Philippine Amusement & Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR)
SMX Convention Center

Venues (Hotel)
Bayview Park Hotel Manila
Edsa Shangri-La Hotel
Marco Polo Plaza Cebu
Sofitel Philippine Plaza
The Heritage Hotel
The Legend Hotel Palawan
The Manor (formerly Camp John Hay Manor)
Traders Hotel Manila
Waterfront Hotels & Casinos

If there are M.I.C.E., there should be C.A.T.S. (Coordination, Awareness, Trainings, and Seminars)! :nuts::lol::nuts::lol:

I'd love to see the corporate competition between those two. :lol:

^^It might not be a "Tom & Jerry" thing, but it could be quite interesting... :lol:

ang ganda nung ad!

i agree, maganda nga !

i think this is it na tlga !

pero question, why dont we stick to one ad ? like Malaysia Truly Asia or Amazing Thailand?

$2-M dino theme park to open next week at Mall of Asia
Written by Louise M. Francisco / Senior Researcher
Tuesday, 18 November 2008 00:14

http://businessmirror.com.ph/images/stories/Daily_Images/11182008/eco-pic01.jpg
AFTER the successful tours of Max Entertainment’s Dinos Alive in Thailand and Indonesia, it has brought its $2-million theme park to the Philippines, which will open on November 28 until January 11 at the Block 5 of SM Mall of Asia (MOA).

The 12,000-sq-m venue will house the largest known collection of over 31 robotic (interactive) dinosaurs set up in Cretaceous and Jurassic Periods, a 3,000-sq-m food-court area, small train and simulator rides, photo and souvenir shops, sand-box fossil hunt and other fun activities.

“Dinos Alive will be a source of entertainment and education for the Filipino families,” assured James White, vice president for sales and marketing of Max Entertainment, in a media presentation and tour.

“We have made the park’s atmosphere the same as 65 million years ago by putting a 30-foot waterfall, smoke, roaring sounds and LED- changing colors of wash lights.”

At the park entrance, visitors can see bone-like relics of different dinosaurs on the wall made of resin, while dinosaur figures, some as high as a 2-story building inside, were made of latex, resin and silicon to give visitors same feel and resemblance of the genuine ones.

Some featured dinosaurs intended for educational trips and excursions include tyrannosaurus, triceratops, velociraptor, brachiosaurus, stegosaurus and megalosaurus.

The company is confident to recoup its investment in the country after gaining positive results in two previous tours in Asia and welcomed more than 360,000 visitors.

“In Bangkok we extended for a week to accept more visitors. I think in the Philippines, we can do the same if we see numbers of park-goers,” explained White.

Tickets are available are Ticket World, selected National Book Store outlets and in three booths on site.

On weekdays ticket prices for adults are P500, P400 for children below a meter and P1,600 for family package, which includes five tickets.

Weekend ticket prices vary, P600 for adult, P450 for children and P1,750 for family package.

Visitors who will purchase a package ticket can avail themselves of the three supplementary tickets at P200 each.

Banco de Oro credit-card payers will be given 10-percent discount if tickets are bought using BDO, Equitable and American Express.

The park will be open from 12 noon to 10 p.m. on weekdays, and 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. on weekends.

“Dinos Alive will tour next in China, Korea, Taiwan, Vietnam and Singapore,” said White.
source (http://businessmirror.com.ph/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2088:2-m-dino-theme-park-to-open-next-week-at-mall-of-asia&catid=33:economy&Itemid=60)

I am going to develop my own industry event called D.O.G.S. (Development, Organization, Governance and Systems). :colgate:

MICE industry,...well uh,...that sound hygienic....

does anyone like CRABS? (Conventions, Receptions, Assemblies, Booths, and Seminars) :D
or SCABIES? (Seminars, Conferences, Agendas, Boards, Incentives, Expositions, and Systems) :D

Funny acronyms. :lol:

SPECIAL HIGH INTENSITY TRAINING

In order to assure the highest levels of quality work and productivity from employees, it will be our policy to keep all employees well trained through our program of SPECIAL HIGH INTENSITY TRAINING (SH*T). We are trying to give employees more SH*T than anyone else.

If you feel that you do not receive your share of SH*T on the job, please see your manager. You will be immediately placed at the top of the SH*T list, and our managers are especially skilled at seeing that you get all the SH*T you can handle. Employees who don't take their SHIT will be placed in DEPARTMENTAL EMPLOYEE EVALUATION PROGRAMS (DEEP SH*T). Those who fail to take DEEP SH*T seriously will have to go to EMPLOYEE ATTITUDE TRAINING (EAT SH*T). Since our managers took SH*T before they were promoted, they don't have to do SH*T anymore, and are all full of SH*T already.

If you are full of SH*T, you may be interested in a job training others. We can add your name to our BASIC UNDERSTANDING LECTURE LIST (BULL SH*T). Those who are full of BULL SH*T will get the SH*T jobs, and can apply for promotion to DIRECTOR OF INTENSITY PROGRAMMING (DIP SH*T).

If you have further questions, please direct them to our HEAD OF TRAINING, SPECIAL HIGH INTENSITY TRAINING (HOT SH*T).

Thank you

BOSS IN GENERAL
SPECIAL HIGH INTENSITY TRAINING
(BIG SH*T)

^ :D

I am going to develop my own industry event called D.O.G.S. (Development, Organization, Governance and Systems). :colgate:

One program on Women Self-empowerment is called B.I.T.C.H. - Babe In Total Control of Herself.

umm.. have we forgotten about the youth?

P.U.P.P.I.E.S. (Planning, Unions, Powwows <woof! woof!>, Parliaments, Incentives, Exhibitions and Seminars) :D

^ woof! woof! :lol:

Magagalit na si TC (Tactical Coordinator/ Top Chihuahua) of M.I.C.E.

or

Truly Cornified of Maize, Innuendoes and Corny Examples.

Written by Max V. de Leon / Reporter (http://businessmirror.com.ph/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2225:spain-still-viable-tourism-market-for-rp-despite-slowdown&catid=33:economy&Itemid=60)
Thursday, 20 November 2008 00:05

DESPITE the economic slowdown affecting European countries today, Spain remains a viable tourism market for the Philippines particularly on the high-spending segment, according to the Spanish mission here.

Jose Primo Santos Jr., economic and commercial analyst of the Spanish Embassy in Manila, said promotional efforts by the Philippine government should focus on a select segment of the Spanish community to get results.

He said those who will continue to have the capability and interest to travel abroad despite the financial crunch are the young executives who would be going on scuba diving and spend time in luxury destinations.

Also, Santos said the continued expansion of the Spanish-firm operated Fuego Hotels in the country would make the Philippines a strong candidate for travelers in Spain who are looking for a destination in Asia.

“It’s always an advantage to have something familiar to them like food. Fuego has a Spanish chef,” he told reporters at the sidelines of the Joint Foreign Chambers SME Trade Fair at the SM Megatrade Hall.

Fuego Hotels is opening soon the 7 Stones Boracay Suites, and Santos said this will attract more Spanish tourists to the island resort.

Fuego Hotels’ other facilities in the country are the Taal Vista in Tagaytay, Pearl Farm in Davao, Punta Fuego in Batangas, and the Hotel Vista in Clark.

“We foresee the arrivals from Spain to continue growing because of the presence of the Fuego Hotels in different parts of the Philippines,” Santos said.

From January to July, visitor arrivals from Spain totaled 7,612 individuals, up from 6,237 in the same period last year.

Santos said Spain will be among the economies in Europe that will remain resilient in the face of the crisis because of its well-regulated and -managed banking sector.

He said the Philippines, through the efforts of the Department of Tourism, is known in Spain as a value-for-money destination with hospitable people.

By Lynda B. Valencia (http://balita.ph/2008/11/20/philippines-makes-a-splash-in-uk-dive-show/)

MANILA, Nov. 20 — "The Philippines has more than 7,100 islands for diving," so said Joseph "Ace" Durano, Secretary of the Department of Tourism (DOT) during the recently concluded Birmingham Dive Show held at United Kingdom's (UK) second largest city.

Top two on the most anticipated dive exhibitions in the world, the dive show attracts more than 50,000 visitors each year, and 60 exhibitors from the UK and all throughout Europe.

"Beyond tapping the market, our participation in this event also drives big dive operators to partner with us as they witness our huge marketing efforts and strong appeal to the UK divers," said Durano.

The Philippine booth occupied a 50 square-meter space, positioned right at the entrance of the hall.

Private sectors which joined DOT include Atlantis Dive Resort, Expedition Fleet, Go Dive Philippines, Bahura Resort, Kansai Village, Marco Vincent, Sampaguita Dive Resort, Seaquest Dive Center, Ananyana Resort and Skylord Travel.

Covering the diving regions of Puerto Galera, Dumaguete, Verde Island, Maricaban Island, MoalBoal, Batangas, Subic Bay, Donsol, Sorsogon, Bohol, and Palawan, the private sectors presented the country's varied sites that cater to all levels of divers.

"Our warm deep waters range from 22-31C, so divers may stay longer to enjoy wrecks, reefs, coral gardens, mile long walls, huge pelagic fishes, macro fishes, rare groupers, and other exotic marine life," added Durano.

Aside from the private partners in the Philippine booth, 15 UK dive operators in the event also offered liveaboards, family tours, corporate packages, and adventure tours at their own individual booths dotting the entire venue.

The dive operators were Coral Cay Conservation, Dive Tours, Explorers, Geo Dive, Oxygene, Philippine Adventure Diving, Regal Dive, Scuba Discovery, Snooba Travel, Symbiosis, Tony Backhurst, Sea Butterfly, Ultimate Diving and Worldwide Dive and Sail and Dive Worldwide.

According to DOT Undersecretary for Planning and Promotions, Eduardo Jarque, Jr., "Our partner for four years, and one of the world's biggest operators, Dive Worldwide, is even bringing their videographer to the country to feature our underwater paradise."

Dive Worldwide will send its videographer along with sales agents to a six-week familiarization trip to Cebu, Malapascua, Boracay, Puerto Galera, Apo Reef, Coron Busuanga and Manila, Jarque explained.

Scuba Tours Worldwide, on the other hand, discussed plans with the DOT to hold familiarization trips to the Philippines for the company's travel agents.

"More and more European operators want to get a chunk of our growing dive market," said Jarque.

A huge video wall featuring a majestic audio-visual show of the country's underwater paradise welcomed visitors in the venue.

Domingo Ramon Enerio, Tourism Attaché to London, said "Internationally-acclaimed Spanish videographer Sebastian Hernandis shot those scenes. It's scheduled to air in Discovery Channel in Spain, and eventually to other global networks."

Enerio acknowledged the country's popularity in the market, as several speaker presentations mention the local dive sites in their talk.

Dive Birmingham Show featured high-profile speakers such as BBC TV celebrity host Monty Halls who discussed his great ocean adventures and Mark Elyatt who talked about the deep wreck.

"Our sites are already familiar to the dive market in UK and Europe as we are always mentioned in these seminars, which have standing room only even with 500 available seats," Enerio said.

Enerio also welcomed award-winning diver, author, photographer and videographer, Jack Jackson to the Philippine booth. Jackson talked about his new book on adventure diving.

Known for his worldwide bestseller work "Globetrotter Dive Guide: The Philippines" which won the Kalakbay Award, Jackson is a fanatic and spokesperson for the underwater sites in the country. His book is a definitive guide that details more than 200 dive and snorkel sites around the Philippines.

The UK market posted a record growth of 18.2 percent tourist arrivals from January – July this year, and is seen to breach the 90,000 mark by end of the year. (PNA)

^ woof! woof! :lol:

Magagalit na si TC (Tactical Coordinator/ Top Chihuahua) of M.I.C.E.

or

Truly Cornified of Maize, Innuendoes and Corny Examples.


:lol:

M.I.C.E. -- "Welcome to the Rat Race."



OT: hahah I remember that movie...rat race...with mr. bean aka atkinson..funny movie.

Diving to keep RP tourism afloat

http://images.inquirer.net/media/showbizandstyle/lifestyle/lifestyle/images/pic-11230803470243.jpg

By Cheche Moral
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 05:45:00 11/23/2008

MANILA, Philippines - It’s like owning a Ferrari and never driving it.

That’s how Dave Allen likened the majority of Filipinos who don’t scuba-dive. Allen is an American marine videographer and president and publisher of www.ScubaMagazine.net, an online forum for the international diving community. He has taken a special interest in the Philippine dive sites since his first visit three years ago.

“Do you realize that you’re in paradise and you’ve never been able to experience what Americans and Europeans will pay thousands of dollars for the privilege of going to see?” he asked rhetorically at the Dema (Diving Equipment and Marketing Association) Show 2008 held recently at the Las Vegas Convention Center in Nevada, USA.

Allen is just one of 6.9 million scuba divers in North America whom the Philippine Department of Tourism (DOT) hopes will buoy the country’s tourism industry through the global economic crisis.

The DOT bolstered its bid with its biggest participation yet in the Dema this year, targeting one of the “least affected” markets, according to Mary Anne Cuevas, Philippine tourism attaché in the US Southwestern State and Latin America.

Full story (http://showbizandstyle.inquirer.net/lifestyle/lifestyle/view/20081123-173855/Diving-to-keep-RP-tourism-afloat)

^^ lang pera eh...:lol::lol:

kung libre ba why not? pang-mayaman lang talaga ang scuba.. except na lang kung yung parang sa muro-ami.

PGMA on the right track to endorse ASEAN Open Skies

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is on the right track to endorse the ratification of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Open Skies by the ASEAN governing body during the ASEAN Summit Meeting in Chang Mai, Thailand on Dec. 22.

In a letter to President Arroyo, the Federation of Tourism Industries of the Philippines (FTIP) -- an umbrella organization of major associations in the tourism industry -- told the Chief Executive that she is in the right direction to support the ASEAN Open Skies, “an important component of the overall economic integration of ASEAN, since transport links are critical to bringing down barriers to trade and facilitating change.”

The FTIP – which is headed by Atty. Alejandra C. Clemente -- is composed of all the major associations in the tourism industry, namely: Philippine Travel Agencies Association (PTAA); Philippine Tour Operators Association (PHILTOA); Hotel Sales & Marketing Association (HSMA); Hotel & Restaurant Association of the Philippines (HRAP); Philippine Tourism Business Club (PTBC); Board of Airline Representatives (BAR); Philippine Association of Convention Exhibition Organizers & Suppliers (PACEOS); Association of Car Rental Companies, Inc. (ACRCI); Manila Japanese Travel Agents and Hoteliers Association (MJTAHA); Freedom to Fly Coalition (FFC); and the Southern Tagalog Tourism Council (STTC) headed by Clemente.

Mrs. Clemente said that under the ASEAN Open Skies, ASEAN airlines can fly unlimited third, fourth and fifth freedom traffic rights among any cities within the ASEAN region. For example, Philippine carriers will be able to fly unlimited flights from Manila to Singapore to Bangkok, or from Cebu to Penang to Phuket.

She explained that from December 2008 until 2010, only capital cities will be opened. This means that ASEAN airlines like PAL and Cebu Pacific can fly unlimited 3rd, 4th and 5th freedom traffic rights between Manila and the other capital cities of ASEAN.

“This unified aviation market by 2015 will be the result of the 22-year liberalization process in ASEAN aviation, embodied in the ASEAN Roadmap for the Integration of ASEAN: Competitive Air Services Policy based on the implementation timeframe,” Clemente said.

“President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo is on the right track in pushing this open-skies charter agreement as this will open up travel and the free flow of goods within the Region and will increase export as well as import between and among the ASEAN member countries,” the FTIP president said.

“One of the most important provisions of the ASEAN Open Skies Agreement is the 5th freedom of an airline from one country to land in a second country, to then pick up passengers and fly on to a third country where the passengers then deplane,” she added.

She said the signing of this agreement among the ASEAN members will bring in the leisure market and will bring in more tourists, thus increasing foreign exchange receipts from the $3.5B to $10B by 2010 which will increase tourist arrivals to five million.

Clemente also said that the ASEAN Open Skies is very timely with the passage of the Tourism Act by both the Senate and the House which hopefully will be signed into law before the end of 2008.

“At the same time, this will boost the Entertainment City known as Bagong Nayong Pilipino, the $15-billion project of PAGCOR and will bring in foreign as well as local investors who will build the much needed hotels and resorts. This will enable the country to accommodate more than 5M to 7M tourists yearly. Travel from and within the ASEAN countries will boost the tourist arrival figure and Tourism Secretary Ace Durano’s promotion and marketing thrust in emerging markets like China and India will definitely add to the tourist arrival statistics.”

The ASEAN Open Skies will therefore open the doors for the growth of tourism in the Philippines which will contribute to the economic stability and also cushion the impact of the global economic meltdown with new hotels and resorts which are expected to be ready by 2010.

An additional 20,000 will be added to 14,000 rooms that are presently available. It is further expected that 250,000 jobs will be available in two to three years time.

http://globalnation.inquirer.net/news/news/view/20081123-173847/DoT-targets-the-adventurous-traveler

DoT targets the adventurous traveler
By Kristine L. Alave
Philippine Daily Inquirer
11/23/2008

MANILA, Philippines—After your typical tourist, the Department of Tourism is setting its sights on adventure travelers by offering new tour packages aimed at introducing and highlighting the country’s great outdoors and climate.

Tourism Secretary Ace Durano said the new adventure tours were presented at a recent tourism exposition in Seattle, Washington.

“Our exhilarating adventure packages coupled with our sunny clime complement the high experiential travel population in the US,” Durano said in a statement.

He said the new campaign features such Philippine destinations such as Subic, Cagayan de Oro City, Mt. Pinatubo, Camiguin Island, Cebu, Nueva Vizcaya and Palawan.

Subic, for instance, prides itself on the jungle survival course taught by native Filipinos. Adventure travelers could also try rappelling via zip lines between tree canopies and suspended bridges, Durano said.

“For the more unusual experiential travelers, Mount Pinatubo has that authentic spa element with hot springs, volcanic ash and organic mineral stones used for treatments,” he said.

The new tour packages also highlight the various activities on water the Philippines has to offer, Durano said.

Water lovers can go white-water rafting and rappelling on Camiguin island or try the underground caves and rivers in Nueva Vizcaya and Palawan, he said.

In Palawan, tourists can dive to the wrecks of World War II Japanese ships and explore the limestone cliffs of Coron. The province also offers safari tours and mangrove kayaking, the tourism chief said.

http://showbizandstyle.inquirer.net/lifestyle/lifestyle/view/20081123-173854/Flying--tourism-to-new-heights

'Flying' tourism to new heights
By Alex Vergara
Philippine Daily Inquirer
11/23/2008

MANILA, Philippines - If the Philippines has the highest concentration of bird species per square kilometer, the UK probably has the highest concentration of bird watchers per square kilometer.”

Joseph Ace Durano, secretary of the Department of Tourism, wasn’t exaggerating when he recently addressed a small crowd of British and Filipino bird watchers at the Wetland Centre in London.

He repeated his pitch to a bigger crowd, which included Philippine Ambassador to the Court of St. James Eduardo Espiritu and several prominent British businessmen and diplomats, in a keynote speech over dinner the next day at the London Marriott Hotel.

DOT’s latest thrust to promote the Philippines to “birders” is deemed by many in the tourism industry as a timely one. As major economies in the West continue to contract, Durano and his team are looking for new tourism activities, apart from diving, that the DOT can sell to foreigners.

“If tourism is the country’s sunrise industry in the next 20 years, then ecotourism is the industry’s sunrise product,” he said.

The earlier affair, one of several events related to the country’s recent participation at the World Travel Market in London, coincided with the formal signing of DOT’s substantial donation to the Wetland Centre, a nonprofit organization tasked primarily to generate interest in birds and their conservation.

The move might raise not a few eyebrows in a country perennially strapped for cash, but Durano insisted that the contribution is money well spent as DOT tries to lure more tourists to visit the Philippines.

“I believe it’s worth it considering the returns,” he said. “For one, it raises awareness about possibilities of bird watching in the Philippines. We can also have direct access to their members’ e-mails, their databank.”

Serious bird watchers

After all, no one takes bird watching as seriously as the British do (the United Kingdom is RP’s biggest source of tourists from Europe).

It’s in the UK, after all, where bird watching started in the 18th century and eventually became not only a favorite pastime among enthusiasts, but also an art form.

The Wetland Centre alone, a manmade urban haven for wild birds that has been replicated in other parts of Great Britain and Ireland, boasts of 200,000 members. Close to 50,000 Britons are said to be hardcore birders, who have no qualms flying to the ends of the earth just to see and add a rare bird or two to their checklist.

And the Philippines, thanks to its rich yet perpetually threatened biodiversity, is a perfect fit for them. British birders have been coming to the country in trickles for more than three decades now.

In fact, a British ornithologist named Jeffery Whitehead discovered the Philippine eagle in 1896, more than a century before the now endangered specie was declared the country’s national bird. This explains the etymology of its scientific name pithecophaga jefferyi.

With DOT’s latest promotional thrust, tourism officials hope to draw attention to bird watching in the Philippines and add it to the country’s growing list of mainstream draws designed to appeal to long-staying and high-spending Britons.

“The British, like most Europeans, love to travel regularly,” said Domingo Ramon Enerio, the country’s tourism attaché in London.

“They’re likely to become more selective, but won’t forego traveling even in an economic crisis. Bird watching is simply a new product, which reaffirms our country’s diverse attractions.”

Arrivals from the UK increased by 18.2 percent during the first seven months of 2008 compared to the same period last year, Enerio added. Despite the expected slowdown, DOT hopes to end the year with a record 90,000 British tourists visiting the country.

Apart from WTM, considered by DOT as the biggest travel fair of its kind in Europe, the country has been joining Dive Birmingham for almost a decade now. Unlike WTM, the annual Birmingham show, as its name implies, mainly appeals to divers.

Although diving remains a major draw among Britons, tourism officials feel the need to launch new products if the country is to sustain, even surpass, previous visitor arrivals. Bird watching could very well be the next big thing.

13 sites

“Of the 600 species of birds found in the Philippines, 200 are endemic to the country,” Durano said. “Together with the private sector and members of the Wild Bird Club of the Philippines, we have initially identified 13 bird-watching sites in the country.”

These 13 sites, which include a number of towns in Pangasinan, Bataan, Pampanga, Cavite, Cebu, Palawan and Davao, home to the iconic Philippine eagle, are chronicled in a recently released book titled “Birdwatching in the Philippines.”

“They’re not the only sites we have, but they’re so far the most accessible,” said veteran tour operator and neophyte birder Cesar Cruz, GM of T.R.I.P.S. Travel Inc. “We’ll be introducing more sights with the release of a second volume sometime next year.”

Cruz, also the president of the Philippine Tour Operators Association, belongs to a consortium of tour operators, which includes Annset Holidays, Rajah Tours and Southeast Travels, specializing in bird-watching packages.

“We developed the packages fairly recently,” said Cruz. “Each package is built around a specific bird or birds found in a particular area. It also includes some R&R like shopping and wellness for those who want to make the most out of their trip.”

For the longest time, British birders have relied mostly on their Filipino counterparts to help them get to their desired birding site.

One of their chief sources of information is Briton Tim Fisher, who came to the country some 30 years ago in search of birds. He decided to stay here for good.

“I’m sure any intrepid birder can find his way around the Philippines,” said Cruz. “What they usually miss out on, which we can provide, are knowledge and access to the country’s other attractions that would complete any holiday.”

For his part, Enerio has been working on intensifying awareness among Londoners of DOT’s newest campaign literally on the ground.

He recently had 25 double-decker buses plying such popular London streets as Oxford Circus, Hyde Park Corner, Knightsbridge and High Street Kensington with identical billboards promoting bird watching in the Philippines. To get its message across, each billboard features an imposing image of the Philippine eagle.

“Although we have hundreds of birds to choose from, we picked the Philippine eagle because no creature can quite match its power to draw attention,” said Enerio. “At the same time, we’ve also been placing ads in national newspapers and doing e-mail campaigns. We’ll be sending an initial batch of British tour operators on a trip to the country early next year.”

He also appealed to the private sector as well as local governments in the 13 sites to respond by developing infrastructures such as roads, parking spaces and visitors’ centers to entice more people, including, of course, Filipinos, to go bird watching.

Despite the world’s bleak economic landscape, Durano is quite optimistic that the country’s efforts to promote bird watching among foreigners will, in keeping with the product’s nature, soon take wing.

“These are not just hopes,” he said. “After all, we have something unique to offer them. I’m pretty sure this (thrust) will fly and bring Philippine tourism to new heights.”

This ASEAN Open Skies is a big boost to tourism industry. panget man pakingan pero sa ngayon kelangan nating "maki-ride" sa tourism ng Malaysia, Thailand at Singapore. Those three countries are big time players in the tourism industry. because of open sky policy magkakaroon ng madaming flights to Manila from their capitals thus cheaper fare. Mas gaganahan yung mga tourist ng mga bansang to na dumaan sa Pinas since malapit na lang din naman at mura ang pamasahe. Yung Malaysia more than 15 million ang tourists nila every year, kahit 1/5 lang nun ang mahikayat bumisita dito, 3million na yun. dodoble na ang tourist visits natin because of that. The next step is to improve the infrastructure and build more hotel rooms!

Sunday, 23 November 2008 (http://www.macaudailytimesnews.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=19400&Itemid=28)

The Philippine Department of Tourism (PDOT) will participate in this year's World Heritage Travel Expo which will be held between November 26 and November 28 in Macau.

Apart from showcasing the latest destinations featuring world cultural heritage in the Philippines and giving away the newest travel information to participants, PDOT will invite the "Lucban Rondalla" which is the Filipino orchestra of plucked string instrument demonstrating a mix of Philippines and Spanish music.

There are five properties and locations in the Philippines recognised by the UNESCO as a world heritage site.

They include the landscape of the Rice Terraces of the cordilleras, scenic areas of Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park and Tubbataha Reef National Marine Park, and also the structures of San Agustin Church in Intramuros, Manila.

As one of the world destinations with world heritage sites, the Philippines is aware of the importance to pay attention on education, maintenance and conservation of heritage in order to maintain a sustainable development of the country.

In addition to luxury hotels and shopping, tourists can explore the Philippines' treasure of rich history, culture as well as natural wonders.

Cagayan de Oro's Night Café

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photos by Rina Mendoza-Apostol