DOT takes the lead in hosting Hot Air Balloon fest 2014

MANILA, Dec 25 (PNA) -- The Dept. of Tourism (DOT) is now set to

t!e chr"e in or"ni#in" the $ot-Air %&&oon 'iest nnu&&( he&)
in *&r!, Pmpn".
DOT si) it wi&& wor! in tn)em with *&r! De+e&opment
*orportion, *&r! Interntion& Airport *orportion n) PA' Air
Di+ision (,--th Air %se .in") in or"ni#in" the uni/ue
0&&oonin" e+ent.
The hot 1ir 0&&oon 2est, the DOT si), is sche)u&e) to 0e he&)
on Apri& 3- unti& 34 t the *&r! 'reeport 5one, Pmpn".
Tourism 6ecretr( 7mon 8imene# 8r. si) in sttement tht
since the e+ent hs 90ecome so hu"e n) wi)e: it ws ;ust 0out
time it 0e supporte) 0( 0oth the "o+ernment n) the pri+te
sector.
%se) on pre+ious (ers< recor), the on&( ir-sportin" e+ent in the
countr( )rws to *&r! more thn 3--,--- specttors from
Pmpn" n) ner0( towns inc&u)in" Metro Mni&.
=ch specttor, the DOT note), is estimte) to spen) )i&(
+er"e of P2,5-- for ccommo)tion, trnsporttion, foo) n)
sou+enir items or n e/ui+&ent of P5-- mi&&ion in &ost re+enues.
It wi&& 0e rec&&e) tht the 0&&oonin" e+ent, which is si) to 0e
the 2rst of its !in) mon" 6outh =st Asin ntions (A6=AN), ws
2rst initite) 0( the DOT in 3>>?.
The DOT note) tht support from L@As wi&& &so 0e re/ueste) to
contri0ute to cu&tur& performers n) street )ncin" contin"ents
for wht m( 0e c&&e) the 'esti+& of 6trs.
It si) tht st"e) performnces from poo& of &oc& n) ntion&
0n)s wi&& &so 0e feture) s sponsore) 0( 6n Mi"ue& *orp.
Lst&(, )i&( 2rewor!s )isp&( wi&& hi"h&i"ht the ni"ht cp
inc&u)in" coo!-oB competition courtes( of hote&s n) resturnts
in the pro+ince of Pmpn" n) *&r!, the DOT stte).
Prt of the procee)s from the e+ent wi&& 0e )onte) to +rious
chrities &i!e the reconstruction n) reh0i&ittion of Le(te n)
6mr, it ))e).
The e+ent wi&& 0e oBere) free entr( to the "ener& u)ience,
eCc&u)in" pr!in" fee, which wi&& 0e pe""e) t P5- for crs n)
P3-- for 0uses. (PNA)
'PDEANP
6OA7*=F httpFEEwww.pn."o+.phEin)eC.phpG
i)nH,Isi)HIni)H,Iri)H5>>JKJ
Fun but erratic year for tourism
Mni&, Phi&ippines 1 The Deprtment of Tourism (DOT) !ic!e) oB
2-34 on hi"h note 0( nnouncin" tht 2-32 (eren) +isitor
rri+&s crosse) the four-mi&&ion mr! with tot& of ?,2J2,K33
forei"n +isitors 1 2rst in Phi&ippine tourism histor(.
In 8nur(, Tourism 6ecretr( 7mon 7. 8imene# hum0&( si) tht
it<s "oin" to 0e incresin"&( ch&&en"in" to meet future tr"ets.
%ut the tourism chief<s con2)ence in the 'i&ipinos s stewr)s of
DOT<s hi"h&(-successfu& s&o"n, 9It<s more fun in the Phi&ippines,:
cese) to wi+er n) he inten)e) to 0ui&) on these positi+e
ener"ies, &on" with strte"ic mr!et )e+e&opment, to cross the
5-mi&&ion +isitor rri+& mi&estone in 2-34.
8imene# si) the thrust of DOT<s mr!etin" in 2-34 is mr!et
)e+e&opment, which enti&s eCpn)in" the potenti& mr!et for
new users n) new uses.
9.e wi&& &oo! into se"ments tht we h+e not thorou"h&(
eCp&ore). .e wi&& eCp&ore more creti+e eCecutions "ere)
towr)s sustinin" the fun we h+e strte). .e hope to h+e
stron"er representtion n) 0e prt of the future of tourism in
Asi,: he si).
'st-forwr) to Decem0er L in spite its 0u&&ish performnce from
8nur( to 6eptem0er with 4,5->,-3J forei"n +isitors n) the
count&ess cco&)es the Phi&ippine )estintions repe) in +rious
tr+e& e+ents, m"#ines, n) on&ine tr+e& sites L the tourism
sector cme to stn)sti&& when J.2 m"nitu)e erth/u!e n)
6uper T(phoon Mo&n) pr&(#e) tourism tr)e n) cti+ities in
*entr& Dis(s, Le(te, =stern 6mr, s we&& s few res in
P&wn.
An) whi&e the prospect of rechin" the 2+e-mi&&ion tr"et hs now
0ecome 0&e!, 8imene# is sti&& optimistic tht the Phi&ippines wi&&
c&ose the (er s si"ni2cnt p&(er in 6outhest Asi. In
recent inter+iew with Mni& %u&&etin<s 6tu)ent n) *mpuses
(6*%), 8imene# re+e&e) tht Phi&ippine tourism now ccounts
c&ose to ,.K percent of @DP (@ross Domestic Pro)uct) L fet in
itse&f "i+en the recent circumstnces.
9.e re stru""&in" )espite e+er(thin", to 0re! throu"h. I )on<t
thin! we<&& rech the 5.5-mi&&ion tr"et 0ecuse e+er(thin" (ou
cou&) thin! of hppene) this (er. %ut we wi&& ne+er "o 0c!
0e&ow three mi&&ion. The stn)r) is tht we recei+e n +er"e
of ?--,--- forei"n +isitors month. Tht is unher) of. If we<re
&uc!(, we wi&& sti&& push throu"h c&ose to 2+e mi&&ion this (er,:
8imene# to&) 6*%.
Moreo+er, 2-34 pro+e) to 0e fun &0eit errtic (er for tourism.
Mni& %u&&etin roun)e) up the top 2+e stories tht m)e
si"ni2cnt impct on the tr+e& in)ustr( n) tr+e&-&o+in" Pino(sF
O!"D#$ B%$T
This (er, the Phi&ippines ws on winnin" stre! in the "&o0&
tourism st"e, pro+in" tht more n) more stis2e) tr+e&ers re
prou)&( spre)in" the wor) 0out the countr(. The Phi&ippines
ws wr)e) s one of the 0est tourist )estintions for the
*hinese 0( the Orient& Mornin" Post, whi&e the 6hn"hi Mornin"
Post cite) it s The Most 7omntic Destintion.
The 'rm t 6n %enito in %tn"s ws );u)"e) the %est
Me)ic& .e&&ness 7esort wor&)wi)e t the Interntion& Tourismus
%orse (IT%) he&) er&( Mrch in %er&in, @ermn(. =& Ni)o 7esorts in
P&wn recei+e) the *ommunit( %ene2t Awr) )urin" the .or&)
Tr+e& n) Tourism *ounci&<s (.TT*<s) Tourism for Tomorrow
Awr)s ceremon( he&) in A0u Dh0i.
The fmous .hite %ech of %orc( toppe) the &ist of
TripA)+isor.com<s %est %eches in Asi 2-34. An) P&wn,
AN=6*O 0iosphere reser+e in the Phi&ippines, hs 0een nme)
the .or&)<s %est Is&n) 0( the New Mor!-0se) Tr+e& N Leisure
m"#ine.
!%&'O(A" )OO*%!AT'O(
In this (er<s A6=AN Tourism 'orum (AT') he&) in Dientine, Lo
PD7, tourism &e)ers "ree) to cce&erte the imp&ementtion of
the A6=AN Tourism 6trte"ic P&n (AT6P) towr)s 0ui&)in" n
A6=AN =conomic *ommunit( 0( 2-35.
The forum 0rou"ht to"ether o+er 3,K-- )e&e"tes inc&u)in"
tourism oOci&s from A6=AN n) its )i&o"ue prtners (*hin,
8pn, 6outh Pore, In)i, n) 7ussi), 0u(ers, se&&ers, n) me)i
representti+es from roun) the wor&).
The &test up)tes on the AT6P s reporte) )urin" the ministeri&
meetin"s &iste) )own the fo&&owin" !e( strte"iesF the time&(
imp&ementtion of the A6=AN connecti+it( wor! p&n to spur
sem&ess ccess within n) 0e(on) A6=ANQ the Mutu&
7eco"nition A"reement (M7A) to fci&itte mo0i&it( of tourism
profession&sQ the "en) on ensurin" the /u&it( of tourism
throu"h impro+e) ser+ices, est0&ishment of securit( n) sfet(
of on&ine resources, stn)r)i#tion, n) wor!shopsQ
imp&ementtion of the A6=AN Tourism Mr!etin" 6trte"( n)
9A6=AN for A6=AN cti+ities:Q n) the )e+e&opment of n A6=AN
=cotourism 6trte"ic P&n.
%+,+ BA( "'FT%D
.ith the =uropen Anion (=A) &iftin" its +ition sfet( 0n on the
Phi&ippines which now &&ows Phi&ippine Air&ines (PAL) to operte
Ri"hts to the 2K-ntion 0&oc. DOT si) source mr!ets from this
re"ion re eCpecte) to (ie&) hi"her +o&umes s PAL &re)(
resume) its Ri"hts to Lon)on.
The )eprtment &so eCpects "reter mo+ements from the =A s
the *i+i& Aeronutics %or) mo+es to strt ne"otitions for new
ir ser+ice "reements with other =uropen countries.
The &iftin" of the =A 0n cme on the hee&s of the Interntion&
*i+i& A+ition Or"ni#tion (I*AO)<s recent &iftin" of si"ni2cnt
sfet( concerns in the Phi&ippine +ition s(stem n) the
rtion&i#tion of the *ommon *rrier TC, which re 0oth
eCpecte) to he&p re"in the con2)ence of forei"n crriers to
reinst&& )irect ser+ices in the countr(.
-.+1/ ADB0 )'DA &!A(T
DOT recei+e) SJ.3 mi&&ion technic& ssistnce "rnt inten)e)
to he&p 0oost in)ustr( competiti+eness from 2-34 to 2-3, from
the @o+ernment of *n), throu"h the *n)in Interntion&
De+e&opment A"enc( (*IDA), with the Asin De+e&opment %n!
(AD%) s the )ministerin" "enc(.
Amon" the pro;ects propose) un)er the "rnt re s!i&&s trinin"
pro"rms for the pri+te sector, &oc& "o+ernment units, ci+i&
societ(, n) DOT "encies. A&so inc&u)e) is the pi&ot
imp&ementtion of the new s(stem of ccre)ittion n) the
)e+e&opment of stn)r)s for ser+ice /u&it(. The technic&
ssistnce wi&& 0e pi&ote) in *e0u, %oho&, P&wn, n) D+o.
The AD%-*IDA pro"rm ws en+isione) to crete more
emp&o(ment opportunities n) )+ncement for the &oc&
wor!force, s we&& s pro+i)e &oc& "o+ernment units with 0etter
cpcit( to impro+e their re"u&tions in ttrctin" more
in+estments n) tourism cti+ities.
BOHO" BO,()%$ BA)1
The %oho&nos stoun)e) the ntion n) the who&e wor&) when
mere&( two wee!s fter J.2 erth/u!e roc!e) the is&n) n)
other pro+inces in *entr& Dis(s, tourism ws 0c! in 0usiness
most not0&( the fmous Lo0oc 7i+er *ruise n) the *hoco&te
$i&&s A)+enture Pr!.
Menwhi&e, Anite) 6ttes A"enc( for Interntion& De+e&opment
(A6AID) *ountr( Mission Director @&ori D. 6tee&e committe)
A6AID<s support 0( eCten)in" technic& ssistnce to DOT n)
%oho& st!eho&)ers in the preprtion of reco+er( p&n for the
*e0u-%oho& Tourism De+e&opment Ares (TDAs).
A A6AID-ssiste) pro"rm ws &so presente) to the =Cecuti+e
*ommittee of the Pro+inci& Tourism *ounci&, OOce of the
@o+ernor, n) &oc& "o+ernment units (L@As). The reco+er( p&n
inc&u)es communiction strte"( to 0rin" 0c! the con2)ence
of )omestic n) interntion& tr+e&&ers n) of the communitiesQ
the ssessment of tourism infrstructure n) ssets to 0e
prioriti#e) for reh0i&ittion 0( "encies concerne), interntion&
)onors, )e+e&opment prtners, ntion& n) &oc& "o+ernment
"encies, n) pri+te sector.
It &so inc&u)es pro)uct )e+e&opment for new tourism circuits,
"o+ernnce pro"rms, n) &on"-term inititi+es to sustin
"rowth, miti"te ris!s of crises, n) increse prepre)ness of
tourism )estintions.
SOURCE: httpFEEwww.m0.com.phEfun-0ut-errtic-(er-for-tourismE
by 2acky "ynne A+ Oiga
December 24, 2013
&en$an air3ort 3uts u3 tourism desk
@=N.6ANTO6 *ITM, Phi&ippines - The irport here hs 2n&&( put
up tourism informtion )es! to ssist e+er( pssen"er comin"
to *entr& Min)no throu"h this cit(, the "tew( to the re"ion.
The tourism )es! ws &unche) 0( &oc& oOci&s n) thethe
Deprtment of Tourism in 7e"ion 32 &st Mon)(, ccor)in" to
Ne&&( Di&&er, re"ion& tourism )irector.
The e+ent ws cppe) 0( cu&tur& )nce performnces of the
*entr& Min)no<s $inu"(w )nce troupe.
The irport tourism )es! wi&& 0e mnne) 0( stu)ents of the
@o&)en 6tte *o&&e"e (@6*) here, n) emp&o(ees of DOT-32 n)
&oc& personne& of the *i+i& A+ition 6ecurit( Authorit( of the
Phi&ippines.
Di&&er si) @6*<s tourism stu)ents wi&& he&p o+ersee the tourism
)es! s prt of their 2e&) eCposure, 0se) on memorn)um of
"reement for"e) 0( DOT-32 n) the schoo& )ministrtion.
9=+er( pssen"er who &i"hts from ech p&ne tht wi&& &n) on
@en. 6ntos *it( Airport sh&& 0e trete) s +er( importnt
"uest 0( this ser+ice )es!,: Di&&er si).
The )es! wi&& &so pro+i)e tourists with informtion on the eco-
tourism sites of *entr& Min)no, s prt of the eBort to
showcse the re"ion n) its in+estment potenti&s, ccor)in" to
Di&&er.
@en. 6ntos is now consi)ere) s the min "tew( to *entr&
Min)no, owin" to the )rmtic rise in its 0usiness n) tourism
sttures in recent (ers. - 2ohn ,nson
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htt3455666+3hilstar+com5nation52017512528512.19285ge
nsan:air3ort:3uts:tourism:desk
(phi&str.com) T Ap)te) Decem0er 25, 2-34 - 33F4Jm
Did you kno64 2an+:$e3t+ tourist arri;als
There were roun) 4.5 mi&&ion tourists in the Phi&ippines from
8nur( to 6eptem0er this (er, or 0out 33.? percent hi"her
thn the 4.3 mi&&ion poste) &st (er for the sme perio),
ccor)in" to the Deprtment of Tourism. Of the tot&, more
thn >--,--- were +isitors were from 6outh Pore, the
countr( tht ho&)s the &r"est shre of interntion& tourist
trOc in the countr(.LMarielle Medina, Inquirer Research
6OA7*=F httpFEEnewsinfo.in/uirer.netE5?>?J3E)i)-(ou-!now-;n-
sept-tourist-rri+&s
Phi&ippine Di&( In/uirer
4F22 m T 'ri)(, Decem0er 2-th, 2-34
Tra;eling to the *hili33ines< Here#s a guide to disaster:hit
tourist sites
The )ust h) hr)&( sett&e) from the )estructi+e erth/u!e in
%oho& &st Octo0er when super t(phoon Mo&n) struc! the
fo&&owin" month, cuttin" wi)e swthe of )e+sttion from
6mr to northern P&wn. .ith the twin )issters && o+er the
forei"n me)i, it<s un)erstn)0&e tht mn(+isitors h+e
cnce&e) their sche)u&e) trips to the Phi&ippines.
Their fers re most&( unfoun)e), howe+er, s mn( of the
tourist ttrctions in popu&r )estintions were hr)&( touche)
whi&e others h+e reopene) for 0usiness. $ere<s roun)up of
tr+e& hotspots, with up)tes on how the(Ure )oin" this ho&i)(
seson.
*ala6an
Mo&n), or T(phoon $i(n s it<s !nown o+erses, r+"e) the
northern prt of this mini-rchipe&"o of 3,J-- is&n)s 0ut &eft
much of the min&n) unscthe).
This mens tht +isitors re sti&& rri+in" in )ro+es t the Puerto
Princes An)er"roun) 7i+er, &octe) in the centr& section of the
min&n). The pr! on&( eCperience) )rop in tourist rri+&s on
the )( Mo&n) hit the Phi&ippines, when mn( tourists cnce&e)
their trips.
Airports n) seports in the entire pro+ince re opertion&,
Vuichon si).
6uper t(phoon Mo&n) cuse) mssi+e power out"es in the
pro+ince, which "ets its e&ectricit( from Le(te, 0ut ener"( hs
since 0een restore), %oho& @o+. =)"r *htto to&) me)i
)e&e"tion &st wee!.
A %n"on Tour inititi+e wi&& 0e hi"h&i"htin" some of the
restortion eBorts in ruine) churches, Pro;ect Pisme he) 8oe&
A&)or to&) @MA News On&ine. 9The re0ui&)in" of the churches cn
&so 0e m)e tourist ttrction in n) of itse&f, s the re0ui&)in"
m( t!e three to 2+e (ers,: he si).
As for the popu&r wi)e-e(e) mscot of %oho&, Pro"rm Mn"er
8onnie Mr( *0i&&o of the Phi&ippine Trsier 'oun)tion si) in
teCt mess"e to @MA News On&ineF 9The t(phoon ws not +er(
stron" in *ore&&. %ut we h) tremen)ous )rop in +isitor count
ri"ht fter the storm. Thn!fu&&(, the foun)tionUs opertions re
0c! to norm&, so we hope 00&i! n" m" 0isit.:
9N0ot nmin po (un" >-- peop&e crr(in" cpcit( rw-
rw,: pr! superinten)ent %eth Mc&n" si) in phone
inter+iew.
Pro+inci& Tourism OOcer Mri0e& %uWi &so to&) @MA News
On&ine, 9$in)i nmn n"sr (un" irport n) seports s
P&wn, m&i0n s *oron, n n"-c&ose for two )(s fter
Mo&n) t opertion& n u&it noon" No+em0er 33.:
Disitors to *oron, the ur0n center in %usun" is&n), wou&)
nee) to chec! the sttus of the hote&s where the( m)e
0oo!in", s mn( suBere) eCtensi+e t(phoon )m"e n) re
runnin" on "enertor power. In terms of ttrctions, howe+er, the
"oo) news is tht popu&r &!es n) 0eches in *oron h+e
reopene).
The hi"h-en) Amnpu&o 7esort in Pm&icn is&n), &so in
northern P&wn, suBere) )irect hit n) h) to c&ose )own
fter Mo&n) struc! &st No+em0er K. %ut it hs since reopene),
n) poste) this sttement on its we0siteF 9Amnpu&o wi&& re-open
on Decem0er 35th with && its fci&ities, inc&u)in" the %ech *&u0,
fu&&( opertion&. .e were +er( fortunte in tht the propert(
sustine) minim& )m"e.
9Our "retest ch&&en"e hs 0een restorin" &n)&ines, internet
n) mo0i&e reception to the sme &e+e& s prior to the t(phoon.
.e )o not h+e )e2nite )te when this wi&& resume, n)
therefore h+e inst&&e) ste&&ite 0ro)0n).:
Another upsc&e chin, =& Ni)o 7esorts, &so reporte) minim&
)m"e. Their 0i""est ch&&en"e ws c&enin" the )e0ris fter
the powerfu& storm, which fortunte&( &eft the &"oons, white sn)
0eches, n) &imestone c&iBs unhrme).
)ebu
Northern *e0u suBere) the 0runt of t(phoon Mo&n), especi&&(
the is&n)s of %nt(n n) M&pscu where mn( of the
resorts suBere) eCtensi+e )m"e.
%ut ccor)in" to post on tr+e& "enc( 6cu0 Tr+e&Us 'ce0oo!
p"e, M&pscu =Cotic Is&n) Di+e 7esortUs opertions re 0c!
to norm&, n) the thresher shr!s h+e returne). The re is
fmous for the shr!s, s seen in this &0um.
In n e-mi& inter+iew with @MA News On&ine, the resortUs 6&es
n) Mr!etin" Mn"er $ro&) 'e&icino si), 9As of the moment
we re rushin" the reconstruction of the )m"e we h) )urin"
the t(phoon ... At the resort we re sti&& opertin" e+en fter the
t(phoon n) we h+e 2? hours e&ectricit(.
9.e &ost K-X of our 0oo!in"s for this month n) 8nur( fter our
c&ients sw how terri0&e the sitution ws, 0ut we wou&) &i!e to
t!e this opportunit( to te&& the wor&) tht M&pscu is sti&& here
n) if the( wou&) &i!e to he&p the is&n), the( cn come n) p(
us +isit.:
$e si) K- per cent of their stB re &oc& is&n)ers who h+e to
meet the nee)s of their fmi&( fter the stron" t(phoon. 9If there
re no +isitors, there wi&& 0e no wor! for the &oc&s s we&&,: he
))e).
9*e0u, s )estintion, is &so Becte) 0( the eBects of im"es
of )estruction current&( )epicte) of the Phi&ippines,: 6enior
Tourism OOcer for 7e"ion J 8u)i&(n Vuichon con2rme) in n e-
mi& inter+iew with @MA News On&ine.
Bohol
Pn"&o Is&n), the min 0ech )estintion in the pro+ince, ws
hr)&( Becte) 0( the Octo0er 35 erth/u!e tht )estro(e)
mn( 6pnish-er churches. A&& ccre)ite) est0&ishments re
open for 0usiness, Vuichon reporte).
9A hn)fu& of *hoco&te $i&&s sustine) crc!s or erosion from the
erth/u!e. The *hoco&te $i&&s *omp&eC +iew )ec! sti&& nee)s to
0e reh0i&itte), 0ut nother +iew)ec! is +i&0&eLthe
*hoco&te $i&&s A)+enture Pr! (*$AP),: she continue).
$amar
Popu&r sur2n" )estintion @uiun, where the super t(phoon 2rst
m)e &n)f&& &st No+. K, is stru""&in" to re"in its reputtion s
tourist-frien)&( town on the e)"e of the Pci2c Ocen.
Anfortunte&(, Mo&n) )m"e) mn( of the resorts, inc&u)in"
the +enue of n interntion& sur2n" competition to 0e he&) neCt
(er tht hs now 0een postpone).
Other Becte) res re the )i+in" spot Per& Is&n), se+er&
historic cthe)r&s, n) the *&icon 6urf *mp tht si) on its
we0site the resort is current&( un)er construction.
Mr!etin" =Cecuti+e 7ichr) O&&i of L Lun %ech resort &so
si) in teCt mess"e to @MA News On&ineF 9.& n n" L
Lun, s) to s( wshe) out n.: $owe+er, he ))e) tht the(
wou&) strt re0ui&)in" the resort in two months.
96o0rn" m&!i t&" n" nw& s min,: si) @uin
municip& tourism oOcer Auror )e&os 7e(es in report on @MA
NewsU 92? Ors.: 9Ns ts n n" !mi, 0i"& !min"
&um"p!.:
OOci&s cou&) not s( when the reh0i&ittion of )m"e)
cu&tur& sites n) tourist )estintions wou&) 0e comp&ete).
9P&non" ""win (humin"i n") tu&on" from ntion& "o+ernment
to restore historic& sites,: si) =stern 6mr 7ep. %en
=+r)one.
'loilo
Mrio L#rito, &icense) tour "ui)e from the Deprtment of
TourismUs I&oi&o oOce, to&) @MA News On&ine in phone inter+iew
tht tours )roppe) the wee! fter Mo&n) 0ut much of the
pro+ince hs re0oun)e).
9ItUs 0usiness s usu& in I&oi&o *it( n) other res, eCcept for
Northern I&oi&o, which too! month to "et 0c! on its feet,: he
shre). 6m&&er est0&ishments re s&ow&( "oin" 0c! to
0usiness, he note).
Is& )e @i"ntes, "roup of is&ets oB the cost of *r&es n)
=stnci n) mrine 0io)i+ersit( hotspot, is seein" the return of
0oth &oc& n) forei"n tourists. $umnitrin wor!ers re st(in"
in the re, n) resort opertors h+e reporte) tht +er( few
"uests cnce&&e) their reser+tions.
Boracay
A&thou"h the popu&r 0ech )estintion ws not )irect&( hit 0(
the super t(phoon, &oss of e&ectricit( n) internet fci&ities
)isrupte) tourist ser+ices, resort owner Nennette @rf si) in n
inter+iew with @MA News On&ine.
Im"es of the )e+sttion fter the t(phoon &so prompte) some
forei"n +isitors to cnce& their trips, 0ut tourism is strtin" to pic!
up from No+em0er<s )e+sttion, she ))e).
9Lst No+em0er, YtourismZ in %orc( )roppe) 0( 2- percent
compre) to &st (er,: she si). 9'or Decem0er cnce&&tions Yof
forei"nersZ were 0out 3- to 35 percent, pero m( pump&it
nmn. .& nmn" n"0"o s )omestic.:
The *tic&n 8ett( Port is opertion&, n) ir&ines h+e resume)
re"u&r Ri"hts.
(egros island
9Dum"uete wsnUt touche) t &&, fortunte&(. I thin! initi&&( it
ws in the pth of the t(phoon, n) peop&e were prepre)Lthe(
&erne) &ot from P0&o n) 6en)on"L0ut somehow it +eere)
w(,: si) 6usn Lr, writer n) )irector of the 6i&&imn
Ani+ersit( Ntion& .riters .or!shop.
In %co&o) *it(, the storm h) 9no 0i" eBect: in the &oc&it(
fmous for its o&) houses, si) 6n)r 6(cip, who hn)&es the
sttistics reports for the tourism oOce.
In 6i/ui;or, tourism oOce stB =&0ie %oron"n note) tht
&thou"h there ws not much )m"e in the is&n), the( sti&&
eCperience) )rop in tourist rri+&s fter the storm.
9N"-report (un" m" resorts n m)min" n"-cnce&,:
eCp&ine) %oron"n. 9At m( pro0&em )in s trnsporttion 1
[(un" Ocen 8ets n) fst crft nmin ( "in"mit s Tc&o0n.:
Bicol
In n e-mi&, Le"#pi *it( Dice M(or Dittorio 7oces n) wife
M(&ene note) tht, 9If n(thin" weU+e recei+e) more peop&e here
fter Mo&n) since Le"#pi hs the c&osest irport to Mtno", the
port to Dis(s. .eU+e seen numerous truc!s crr(in" re&ief "oo)s
pss throu"h Le"#pi.:
The( si) there were no reports of ne"ti+e impct on tourism in
the cit(, which is fmous for the M(on Do&cno. 9An) since the
0utn)in"s re 0c!, more peop&e h+e 0een comin" throu"h
Le"#pi to "et to 6orso"on,: the( ))e).
If the Le"#pi *it( 'ce0oo! p"eUs Rurr( of cti+it( promotin"
ce&e0rtions n) ntur& ttrctions is n( in)iction, it seems
tht tourism there is showin" no si"ns of s&owin" )own. In fct,
the 2rst interntion& inu"ur& Ri"ht from \imen, *hin, is sti&&
sche)u&e) for rri+& on 8nur( 4-. - 6ith a re3ort
from !ouchelle Dinglasan5=A0 &/A (e6s
$O,!)%4
httpFEEwww."mnetwor!.comEnewsEstor(E4?33J>E&ifest(&eEtr+e&Etr
+e&in"-to-the-phi&ippines-here-s--"ui)e-to-)isster-hit-tourist-
sites
%( DIDA *7A5, @MA NewsDecem0er 2?, 2-34 JF-5pm
Total =uletide e>3erience at (ayong *ili3ino in )lark
MANILA, Phi&ippines - .here in the wor&) cn one 2n) p&ce to
eCperience the ho&i)(s t their 0est n) fu&&estG
The nswer cn 0e foun) in the *&r! 'reeport tht hosts the
Phi&ippines< on&( cu&tur& pr! L N(on" Pi&ipino, which &ures
roun) 4--,--- +isitors (er&(.
'rom the orchi)rium, &r"e "o&)en ti&pi 0ree)in" pon)s n)
nture-inspire) picnic "ro+es to the pr! )]cor, *hristms &i"hts,
historic& structures, sou+enir shops, eChi0its, festi+&s n)
fmous cu&tur& repertoire, N(on" Pi&ipino cptures the spirit of
*hristms in its tot&it( for mu&ti-sensor( n) memor0&e
eCperience.
9The NP'<s orchi)rium &so ))s nture-inspire) )imension to
the *hristms tmosphere in N(on" Pi&ipino, which oBers
Mu&eti)e eCperience t its 2nest n) fu&&est,: si) NP' eCecuti+e
)irector Apo&onio Anot 8r.
9The orchi)rium &one is showcse of the wor&)<s on&( orchi)
+rieties 0re) n) prop"te) 0( the NP' to en"u&f +isitors in &&
the "&or( n) m"ni2cence of 0&oomin" Ror& en+ironment,:
Anot si).
9Met, these re ;ust the 2rst four NP'-crete) orchi)s L
Ph&enopsis N(on" Pi&ipino I n) II, n) Den)ro0ium III n) IDL
which re one of its !in) n) cn 0e seen on&( in *&r!. These
were )e+e&ope) 0( N(on" Pi&ipino throu"h (ers of )i&i"ent
cross-po&&intion n) prop"tion,: Anot si). Nonethe&ess,
there re &so the ctt&e( n) +n) +rieties.
Their spectcu&r 0eut( re mtche) on&( 0( the e/u&&( uni/ue
n) co&orfu& music& eCtr+"n# of the N(on" Pi&ipino Dnce
Troupe n) 7on)&& who wi&& perform the Pstores 6uite, set of
'i&ipino )nces with *hristms theme. There wi&& 0e speci&
shows on Dec. 25 n) 8n. 3, 0oth t 33 .m.
Di0rnt tri0& )nce performnces tht "o with me&o)ious
Phi&ippine music &so m!e the N(on" Pi&ipino Performin" Arts
mon" the countr(<s most &i+e&(. The performers wer ctu&
ethnic costumes n) perform uthentic 'i&ipino )nces.
The performnces re he&) e+er( .e)nes)( to 6un)(, t >
.m., 33 .m. n) 2 p.m.
There re &so nnu& cu&tur& festi+ities such s the 6ntcru#n
feturin" pr)e of Phi&ippine 0eut( /ueens n) the '&ores )e
M(o showcsin" m&e n) fem&e mo)e&s n) the fshion
cretions of fmous 'i&ipino )esi"ners.
8ust s co&orfu& n) uni/ue re the "ifts t the sou+enir shops,
with such hr)-to-2n) items s in)i"enous we+es, woo)cr+in"s
n) pintin"s rr(e) in surprisin" 0un)nce.
An) s if the +isitors h+e not seen enou"h of the Mu&eti)e
seson, the( "et trete) to 0ri&&int *hristms )ecors hi"h&i"hte)
0( the 90e&en: or Nti+it( 6cene m)e with in)i"enous mteri&s
n) spectcu&r&( her&)in" the cu&tur& )i+ersit( of the &oc&
*hristen)om.
6ti&&, the re&Cin" (et historic&&( fithfu& n) hn)some&(
&n)scpe) fci&ities t the pr! m!e it the perfect +enue for
*hristms prties n) (u&eti)e we))in"s, mon" others.
Another ttrction is the 9trm+i,: which t!es the "uests on
ri)e 0c! to histor(. The trm+i once )ominte) the streets for
mss trnsport. On&( few of these remin, n) N(on" Pi&ipino
hs one for 0oth ri)e n) eChi0it. The pr! &so hs Reet of
;eepne(s in their ori"in& )esi"ns.
The ri)e co+ers the siC-hectre sprw& of &n)scpe) picnic
"roun)s n) "reener( )otte) 0( wi)e rr( of wor&)-renowne)
Phi&ippine scener( n) historic& &n)mr!s L from north to south
n) from the pre-co&oni& pst to the &i0ertion er.
The historic& tour &so 0rin"s +isitors to the eChi0its of P&in"
we+es n) music& instruments, Ifu"o woo)cr+in"s n) )(-
to-)( imp&ements && the w( to the fmous wor!s of ntion&
hero Dr. 8ose 7i#&, mon" others.
The 0i""est of such tri0& eChi0its re the houses of the Ifu"os
n) the P&in"s themse&+es, which re 0ui&t without ni&s n)
resistnt to erth/u!es n) t(phoons. The structures withstoo)
T(phoon 6nti.
The +isitors m( &so 0on) with nture 0( fee)in" the "o&)en
ti&pi, of which N(on" Pi&ipino is one of the &r"est 0ree)ers.
After && the m#in" si"hts n) soun)s come the scent n) tste
of one of the countr(<s most-toute) cu&inr( )e&i"hts, the
Ppmpn"n cuisine, in the pr!<s foo) hu0.
The N(on" Pi&ipino is &octe) t the *entenni& 7o), *&r!
'reeport 5one, Pmpn". Disitors comin" from the NL=\ m(
t!e the Du eCit n) turn &eft to McArthur $i"hw(, then turn
ri"ht to the *&r! min "te. The pr! is open from K .m. to 5
p.m. )i&(. Tic!et rtes re P3-- for )u&ts n) P5- for chi&)ren.
6OA7*=F httpFEEwww.phi&str.comEtr+e&-n)-
tourismE2-34E32E2JE32J23>JEtot&-(u&eti)e-eCperience-n(on"-
pi&ipino-c&r!
(The Phi&ippine 6tr) T Ap)te) Decem0er 2J, 2-34 - 32F--m