06 January 2004
WOW Philippines 'Best of the Regions' in Intramuros to continue
Following the big success of WOW Philippines, the Best of the Regions will
continue until 2004 in Intramuros, the DOT said.
Since its opening last February 2003, Intramuros has already created 2,188 direct jobs consisting of exhibitors, waiters, masseuse, retailers, artists and vendors. In addition, 285 indirect jobs were created as a result of tourism development in the area ranging from performers to street sweepers, parking attendants, security guards and janitorial services.
The DoT cited major accomplishments that perked tourism industry in 2003, the Visit Philippines Year had boost international travel to the Philippines when the World Tourism Organization declared the 2003 as Visit Philippines Year. With the declaration, the Dot refurbished strategic areas in Intramuros such as the Old Ateneo site, Baluarte Plano de Sta. Isabel, Plaza de Sta. Lucia and the PC Barracks to become the site of yearlong activities featuring the "best of the best" attractions from the country's 16 regions.
The choice of Intramuros as the venue for VPY2003 was based on its proximity from the country's major international gateway and to a large volume of diverse market.
Gordon has opened to the public the Bagumbayan Light and Sound Museum in Intramuros to show the significance of the history of the Philippines as well as the life of Dr. Jose Rizal. The museum aims to enlighten the Filipinos of our historical past and the struggles of the Katipunan to win freedom from Spanish colonizers. To date, it has become one of the newest attractions in Intramuros.
In San Fernando City, Pampanga , Gordon has renovated the Paskuhan Village to become the WOW Northern Philippines Hilaga, a venue for showcasing the best of culinary, cultures, agricultural products, artworks, handicrafts, food items, and attractions of Ilocos, Cagayan, Central Luzon, and Cordillera Administrative Region.
Likewise, in Imus, Cavite, the DOT has opened the Victories of the
Revolution Light and Sound Museum to depict the Filipino's victory over the Spanish colonizers and to educate the Filipino people of the struggles of the Katipuneros in Cavite.
Last year, the DOT has aggressively pursued the policy of holiday economics by adjusting observance of national holidays in order to provide for longer weekends to further spur domestic tourism. It has allowed Filipino families to have additional time to travel to local destinations. As a result, demand for overnight room-stays in the countryside had increased to significant levels during Araw ng Kagitingan from 50% in 2001 to 57% in 2003, and Holy Week from 48% in 2001 to 61% in 2003. On the other hand occupancy rates also increased during All Saints Day and Christmas Day at 38 percent and 20
percent, respectively.
Last June 16-20, the DOT has successfully hosted the Ministerial Summit on Crisis Management, the 18th Joint Meeting of the WTO Commission for East Asia and the Pacific and the WTO Commission for South Asia and the 39th Meeting of the WTO Commission for East Asia and the Pacific which was participated in by 214 foreign and local delegates from Asia and the Pacific to come up with a collective strategy to cope with the threats on tourism in the region especially SARS. Gordon underscored the need for aggressive information drive to eliminate the stigmatization of Asia as a safe destination.
The Tourism Volunteer 12 has been expanded by Dot to include local
government units and volunteer groups abroad or in the Philippines where overseas tourism volunteer can win big prizes ranging from US$1,000 to US$10,000 for worldwide top producers and US$2,000 to US$10,000 in each of 16 overseas markets, while Philippine based volunteers can look forward to national prizes of P200,000 to P1,000,000 and P30,000 to P100,000 at the regional level.
The DoT has also embarked on projects which are envisioned to attract more tourists to the Philippines when completed. These include the Sustainable Environmental management Project in Northern Palawan, Puerto Princesa Subterranean National Park Cultural Tourism Program, and Tabon Caves Product Development. The Dot has also undertaken projects in Calumpit, Bulacan ; San Juan, Batangas ; Ifugao Rice Terraces, and Mt. Pinatubo.
Last year, the DoT has spearheaded the establishment of identification and accountability system for the taxis and taxi drivers so that they can be easily located, identified, and apprehended when crimes are committed against the tourists. Under this system all taxis are required to indicate their body number at its sides, front and back which can be identified even at a distance.
An on-line complaint system was also developed by DoT and Land
Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) wherein tourists and ordinary commuters can log their complaint through the internet to identify and apprehend erring taxi drivers even when they are already back to their respective countries. To date, the DoT had already accredited 597 taxis and 655 taxi drivers to ensure compliance to the said system.
The DOT was awarded the 12th Gawad Oscar Florendo Outstanding Award for the Outstanding Information Program for Tourism's WOW Philippines recently at the AFP Officers Club in Camp Aguinaldo.
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