The Philippines tourism sector (www.experiencephilippines.ph) continues to surpass expectations, welcoming a record 3 million international visitors throughout 2007. Led by Secretary Joseph Durano, the Philippine Department of Tourism (PDOT) received kudos from the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), which rated the department’s tourism campaign as the best improved in Asia.
“Before last year, tourists in the country only numbered 1.7 to 1.9 million,†said Durano, whose niche marketing campaign is well on its way to achieving its goal of 5 million visitors by 2010.
Tourist arrivals from the North American market continue to lead in number, with steady growth from the U.S. and a sharp increase from Canada. The European market also performed very well for the Philippines in 2007, with visitors from Russia growing by 128 percent. Travelers from other Asian countries – most notably from Korea and Japan – have been flocking to the Philippines in record numbers as well.
In total, tourism revenue throughout 2007 is estimated to have brought nearly US$5 million to the Philippine economy, much of which has been reinvested into infrastructure developments that will continue to improve tourism.
New developments to the country’s tourism infrastructure include the addition of 20,000 hotel rooms with a focus on luxury resorts, and major improvements to international and secondary airports through the country, including two new airports in Central Philippines, declared the country’s “Super Tourism Region†by Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. Secretary Durano has been working with the president to develop the region, while at the same time protecting the pristine natural resources that make it such a rich eco-tourism destination.
One of the Philippines’ strengths is the diversity that exists across the 7,107 islands that make up the archipelagic nation. Boasting a wide range of ecology, the country sustains over 32 eco-tourism sites, including 27 protected areas such as Tubbataha Reef National Marine Park in Palawan, a Mecca for dive enthusiasts with two distinct reef systems separated by a four-mile channel.
Other hotspots, such as the legendary “White Beach†of Boracay and the “Chocolate Hills†of Bohol, remain a major draw for vacationers who continue to pour into the country in droves through international gateways in cosmopolitan Manila and the picturesque city-island of Cebu.
To learn more about the Philippines, visit www.experiencephilippines.ph or contact the Philippine Department of Tourism in New York at 212-575-7915; Chicago at 312-782-2475; Los Angeles at 213-487-4525 or San Francisco at 415-956-4060.
For travel to the Philippines, consult your local travel agent or contact an accredited tour operator in the U.S. or Canada, such as:
U.S.-based tour operators:
Orient Flexi-Pax Tours: 800-545-5540; www.isram.com/orient/index.htm
Pacific Asia Leisure: 212-661-3270; www.pacificasialeisure.com
Pacific Holidays: 800-355-8025; www.pacificholidaysinc.com
Rajah Tours: 800-392-3345; www.rajahtoursphilippines.com
Canada-based tour operators:
ATOURZ: 416-485-6375; www.atourz.ca
Goway Travel: 800-387-8850; www.goway.com
Jade Tours: 866-227-2125; www.jadetours.com
Royal Scenic: 888-302-8886 in Ontario/877-736-6028 in Vancouver; www.royalscenic.com
The Philippine Department Of Tourism
The Philippine Department of Tourism (PDOT) is one of the Executive Departments of the Government of the Republic of the Philippines responsible for the promotion of travel to the Philippines, tourism investments, and enhancement and preservation of tourism products in the country. Field offices in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago and San Francisco provide the following services free of charge on a selective basis: dissemination of tourism information, maps, brochures and posters; lending out of videos, CDs and other tourism-related materials; recommendations on places to visit; endorsement of relevant entities; and assistance to those traveling to the Philippines. These offices also engage in a number of promotional activities: presentations to travel organizations, travel trade shows, media inserts and joint marketing arrangements.
The Philippine Department of Tourism is headquartered in Manila, Philippines, with offices in New York, Chicago, San Francisco and Los Angeles. For more information, visit www.experiencephilippines.ph or www.wowphilippines.com.ph.
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[...] 2007 A RECORD YEAR FOR PHILIPPINE TOURISM The Philippines tourism sector (www.experiencephilippines.ph) continues to surpass expectations, welcoming a record 3 million international visitors throughout 2007. Led by Secretary Joseph Durano, the Philippine Department of Tourism (PDOT) received kudos from the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), which rated the departments tourism campaign as the best improved in Asia. Before last year, tourists in the country only numbered 1.7 to 1.9 million, said Durano, whose niche ma You can also bookmark this on del.icio.us or check the cosmos [...]
Philippines is another great country with wonderful placers worth to visit.
“The Philippines tourism sector (www.experiencephilippines.ph) continues to surpass expectations, welcoming a record 3 million international visitors …” — are you kidding?”In the Asian region, the Philippines ranked 16th just behind Indonesia despite its natural resources….Next: Brunei, Indonesia beat the Philippines in tourism ranking..”(what is Brunei or Indonesia compared to our natural resources?)–GMANews.TV..please do not tell us that we surpass expectatons..see the figures of our neighboring ASEAN countries..we are way behind when we have the most beautiful beaches in the world..nakakahiya tayo. if less than 3M is only our expectation..aim more pls.we’re already a laughing stock in the world bec of what we do to our race and our country..