Photos courtesy of Anton Sheker
Sinulog organizers see few out-of-town contingents joining this month’s grand parade, but they won’t let it dampen the festive mood and ongoing preparations for the religious festival’s 30th anniversary of one of the biggest cultural event in the country.
Sinulog Foundation Inc. (SFI) executive director Ricky Ballesteros said they are now 80 percent done with the preparations for the Jan. 17 grand parade and other Sinulog activities, which will cost P25 million to stage.
Ballesteros promised Cebuanos and foreign visitors a whole day of fun and surprises, since they will go all-out in the production numbers during the grand parade.
Excellent musicality and creativity will give the parade and the finale a high entertainment value, he said, especially for those who will watch from the Cebu City Sports Center. Continue reading →
Posted in: Island Festivals and Only in the Philippines.
Tagged: sinulog 2010 · sinulog contingents 2010 · Sinulog Festival 2010
The Philippines has recently welcomed top travel agents from France, all set to sell promotional packages to the country for year 2010.
French travel agents at the Wellness workshop, checking the banana leaves used for traditional 'hilot' massage.
With travel prospects looking brighter ahead, the Department of Tourism (DOT) expands its marketing efforts through a series of seminars and experiential tours during their visit. Continue reading →
Posted in: Travel News Update.
Tagged: french massage · french tourists philippines
The private sector eyes a more vibrant tourism industry for year 2010 with the Tourism Congress already paving the way for further developments.
A result of the execution of Republic Act 9593, otherwise known as the Tourism Act, the Tourism Congress was convened on November 25, 2009, at Marriott Hotel in Newport City. This has allowed participating members of the tourism industry to start the process of organizing themselves in time for the implementation of other provisions in the Tourism Act for the coming year ahead.
“Tourism is the key economic driver of the country. High tourism also means high production; a robust tourism industry translates to a robust economy. The Act is a tool to make sure that infrastructure support is put in place, and to identify priority areas of development,” former Tourism Secretary Mina Gabor emphasized. Continue reading →
Posted in: Destinations.
Tagged: philippine travel news
Forty-four (44) tourism organizations representing primary and secondary tourism enterprises as well as allied and relevant enterprises in the tourism sector throughout the country, including former tourism secretaries Mina T. Gabor and Jose Antonio Gonzalez, gathered for the Tourism Congress held on November 25, 2009 at the Marriott Hotel Manila in Newport City.
Convened by Tourism Secretary Ace Durano in pursuant to Republic Act 9593 (Tourism Act of 2009), the pioneer members of the Tourism Congress included, among others, the Hotel and Restaurant Association of the Philippines (HRAP), the Philippine Travel Agencies Association (PTAA), the National Association of Independent Travel Agencies (NAITAS), the Philippine Tour Operators Association (PhilTOA), the Board of Airline Representative (BAR), the Movement of Incentive Travel Executives (MITE), the Hotel Sales and Marketing Association (HSMA), Spa Association of the Philippines (SAPI), the Philippine Association of Health Organizations in Medical Tourism (PhilAsHOMe), Philippine Retailers Association (PRA), Philippine Retirement, Inc. (PRI), Chamber of Real Estate and Builders Association (CREBA), Davao Tourism Association (DATA), Hotel Resort and Restaurant Association of Cebu (HRRAC), Boracay Foundation, Cagayan de Oro Hotel and Restaurant Association (COHARA), and other travel agencies, hotels, resorts and restaurant associations from all over the country. Continue reading →
Posted in: Adventure Travel.
Tagged: philippine tourism congress · republic act 9593 · tourism act of 2009
The Farm, the country’s own holistic healing and wellness centre in San Benito, Barangay Tipakan, Batangas, was named “Spa Cuisine of the Year,” while Mandala Spa and Villas in Boracay took home the “Spa Treatment of the Year” award for its “Hilot trilogy”, at the recently concluded 2009 AsiaSpa Awards held at Armani Bar, Hong Kong.
Tourism Secretary Ace Durano acknowledged the awards, “These recognitions are continued testimony to the excellence of our Philippine spas. The winners and all nominees serve as an inspiration to the entire tourism industry.”
Presented by AsiaSpa magazine, the region’s most recognized spa and wellness publication, AsiaSpa Awards gave out commendations in 27 categories, including spa personalities, resorts, associations and products that set the benchmarks in the region. The winners were voted on by 28 independent judges. Continue reading →
Posted in: Day Spa, Health and Wellness and Medical Tourism.
Tagged: best asian spa · best holistic spa · best spa asia
Following the successful first two parts of the Philippine Kayaking Series 2009, Kayak Explore Hundred Islands and Kayak Explore Cavite-Corregidor-Bataan, the Department of Tourism (DOT) is urging all kayak enthusiasts and novices to join the 3rd leg of the series which will be held in Cebu and Bohol on December 4-6, 2009.
Philippine Kayak Marathon
Entitled Kayak Explore Cebu-Bohol crossing, the 3rd run will follow the route of Mactan Island to Bohol, where paddlers will cross the 125-km scenic route passing through a motley of islets, coves, mangroves and river deltas. The DOT together with the Philippine Convention and Visitors Corporation (PCVC) is supporting the event. Continue reading →
Posted in: Adventure Travel and Destinations.
Tagged: kayaking philippines · kayaking tour
