- Thursday, February 18, 2021
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This webinar is a collaboration between the Philippine Department of Tourism and UN World Travel Organization.
The discussion is about how to prepare for #TravelTomorrow.
- Tuesday, June 16, 2020
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Watch the first Tourism Congress of the Philippines Free Webinar gathering different stakeholders of the tourism industry. There are a lot of great insights that can help you in your organization.
- Sunday, April 26, 2020
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There is no doubt that local and international tourism is on the rise in the Philippines. This positive growth is driven by the low cost fares offered by airlines.
Just today on my way to Bohol I was met by a long queue in the departure entrance and an almost full lobby of NAIA 3.
This agreeable scenario will continue to rise and hopefully the infrastructure development spur it more to greater heights.
Just today on my way to Bohol I was met by a long queue in the departure entrance and an almost full lobby of NAIA 3.
This agreeable scenario will continue to rise and hopefully the infrastructure development spur it more to greater heights.
- Sunday, April 29, 2012
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Now that the global warming effects are being felt greatly. It is time to apply the iron hand in implementing the Green Economy.
In Tourism, it is always wrong to improve a site if you will destroy it's natural beauty. A wrong sense of tourism that will keep away tourists.
The point is to start and after that the rest becomes easy.
In Tourism, it is always wrong to improve a site if you will destroy it's natural beauty. A wrong sense of tourism that will keep away tourists.
The point is to start and after that the rest becomes easy.
- Friday, January 13, 2012
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I like so far what I am hearing from Department of Tourism Secretary Ramon Jimenez, Jr,; so far he is sending the right messages to ignite our tourism industry to a new level.
Recently, he said that “Tourism as a business needs momentum and that to make it successful we need to create a momentum”.
Well said and I am hoping that the soundness of the theory can be translated to actions and implementations.
For the beauty of theories and ideas have no value at all if we cannot see the concrete actualizations of such lofty ideas.
On the other hand, in as much as the idea presented about momentum is beautiful my only reservation about it is that it places the ball on the court of the private companies to build momentum alone and forget about the important role the government must play in stimulating our tourism industry.
Again, it remains to be seen. I agree about the momentum thing and that the momentum should be created by the government and the private sector.
- Tuesday, October 25, 2011
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There is good news to look forward to in our tourism landscape. The first one is the application of United Air Lines, a US based company; and Jet Airways, an India based company to have flights in our country.
This positive action happens despite complaints against our country for charging discriminatory tax policy favoring our local airlines. I only imagine how many airlines will seek application to have flights in our country if this tax is removed. Now that is an open skies policy that will push us at the center of tourism and no more the best kept secret of Asia.
Another is the planned casino and shopping mall to be opened this 2012 at the Subic Bay Freeport. This will boost the tourism that is already stronger at Subic.
Last but not the least, is the appointment of Secretary Ramon Jimenez, I think his character gels well with the needs of the industry. He is an advertising and marketing guy that is so capable of marketing the Philippines to the world.
So it seems things are looking-up to our tourism industry and if the tourism congress that is upcoming this September creates a united front then there is no doubt that we will again be on our way to claiming our lost glory in Asia.
- Monday, September 05, 2011
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I picked this up from a tweet and hopefully this is true for our tourism industry. The press release was from the Department of Tourism
MEDIA RELEASE
February 2011
The Department of Tourism (DOT) will heighten efforts to capture more of themeetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions (MICE) market in the next fiveyears by highlighting gains in business infrastructure and tour operations.“Securing a larger share of the valuable MICE market will be instrumental inbuilding on our record 3.5 million visitor arrivals in 2010,” said Tourism SecretaryAlberto A. Lim.
The country seeks to re-establish market presence by continuing itsparticipation in strategic MICE events, initially this year with the 19th Asia-PacificIncentives & Meetings Expo. Staged in Australia this February, the host country isthe Philippines’ fifth top foreign tourist generator last year with almost 150,000 in arrivals, also a record and a strong source market for MICE-related activities.In addition to Australia, India and ASEAN neighbours, Singapore, Malaysia and Vietnam, Pacific-rim countries Canada and the United States comprise the Philippines’ core MICE market.
Selling points include a wealth of post-event tour activities available for groups, as well as safe and well-equipped venues.The MICE sector received a significant boost in 2010 with the rise of several new large-scale accommodation facilities. The cities of Metro Manila and Cebu attracted the bulk of tourist accommodation projects green-lighted last year, all in all valued at Php 17 million. Additional convention venues such as the 15,000-seating-capacity SM Bay City Arena and the 200-hectare ASEANA Business Park, both in Manila, are in the pipeline.Meanwhile, the DOT will look to public-private partnership (PPP) initiatives in developing airports servicing key destinations such as Boracay (via Kalibo) and Cebu. These are to complement expected increases in the number of hotel and resort rooms there, with several projects scheduled for completion by 2013.An additional policy thrust in 2011 will be air liberalization, with the extension of a pocket skies agreement to secondary destinations awaiting an executive order.
A new National Tourism Development Plan to detail strategies in tourism investment, access, product development and promotion, among others, is expected to roll out by May this year. The plan, which covers the years 2011-2016, will serveas a strategic framework for national and local initiatives in tourism, and follows the previous 20-year tourism master plan for 1991-2010.“We expect the new plan, particularly its infrastructure, investment andmarketing components, to aid us in repositioning the Philippines as a preferred MICE destination,” said the Secretary.
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CONTACT: EVELYN A. MACAYAYONG
Office of Tourism Information
(0632) 525-18-05eamacayayong@tourism.gov.ph
- Monday, February 14, 2011
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The increased arrival of foreigners in our ports and international flights last 2010 augurs well for our 2011.
It means there is confidence in our country. Now that simple but essential steps are being taken by the government, the outside world is taking notice.
The 3.45 Million foreigners that enter our main ports and the 6.4% or 3.59 Million passengers in our International Flights are indicative of a rosy year for us in 2011.
So what now?
I think that speaking in the exhibition and convention industry; we must make well and increase our events this year. Also, I read some interesting new products created by new organizers in the exhibition and convention industry; I pray that they become successful.
In our office, busyness is very prevalent. The skills of the members are also up a notch. Therefore we are ready to grab the opportunities and even create opportunities out of the positive things that are slowly taking shape in our country.
- Tuesday, January 11, 2011
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The recent Boracay controversy where a foreign couple was videotaped copulating in the beach is something that we should all be alarmed.
Yes, we wanted to increase our tourist visitors. We also acknowledge that Boracay is the most famous tourism spot in our country that it generates 650,000 tourists a year or about 22 percent of the total visitor traffic of the country. However, the disrespect to public sensibilities and moral values that our country upholds must be over economics. I fear the day that we have achieved economic progress but lost our souls.
In the theory of broken windows, practiced and made famous by then New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani. A small wrongdoing not corrected will become a monster as time goes by. What Guiliani did was correct it immediately like repairing and apprehending people who broke window glass in an area in New York. When the public saw that there is police enforcement and broken windows are repaired immediately, the perpetrators suddenly disappeared and peace and order was restored in that particular area.
I say we do the same in this Boracay incident, act quickly and make strict enforcement of no sex on the beach rule. There are more important things that economic growth that is living decently.
- Friday, January 07, 2011
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It is good news that the “Pocket Open Skies” Policy is on full swing. The policy will most probably take place in NAIA in Pasay City, Laoag International Airport (Ilocos) , Diosdado Macapagal International Airport (Clark, Pampanga), Puerto Princesa International Airport (Palawan), Subic Bay International Airport, Kalibo International Airport (Aklan), Mactan International Airport (Cebu), Davao, General Santos, and Zamboanga.
The effect as said by the proponents is more direct flights from International Carriers straight to those above mentioned local airports.
This action will hopefully increased tourists arrival, lower airfares (not that it has not gone down through the years) and improvement on services offered by airlines to the passengers (this I am keeping my fingers crossed).
- Thursday, January 06, 2011
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A packed exhibition |
The government plans to attract 3.3 Million tourist visitors in the country this year. Compared to Thailand, Singapore and Malaysia the target we set is small. However, since we are starting with a new administration and the issue of continuity is always a problem in our government I can say that the target is a decent one.
Now, if we are to focus on the 3.3 Million visitors I would suggest that we go for businessmen and investors to be the large chunk of this pie. These two segments can greatly benefit our economy because they have the spending power.
If all of us agree on this, the question now is how do we achieve it?
I say we must do big changes in our peace and order and promote to the world that it is safe here. Second, we must support our MICE industry. Let us create mega learning conventions and mega expositions. Last but not the least; let us focus on the first A in the 5As of Tourism that is ACCESS. We must open NAIA 3 for International Travel and eliminate all unnecessary taxes that make travelling in our country more expensive than going out of than going out of the country. Our secretary of tourism promotes Open Skies and hopefully the positive things about this policy will redound immediately.
3.3 Million Tourists for this year will be meaningful to our country they are quality tourists. It is time for a fresh start; let us cross our fingers for our country.
- Tuesday, January 04, 2011
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