Travel and Tourism

'Tis the season to visit Sorsogon

'Tis the season to visit Sorsogon

December 18, 2023, 4:23 pm

DARAGA, Albay – Sorsogon City in Bicol has been adjudged the top local holiday destination for Filipinos in 2023. It beats out more popular tourist spots such as Palawan and Boracay, according to Airbnb, a home-sharing platform. To unravel the allure of Sorsogon, three urban dwellers explain why… Read More

PH sets near pre-pandemic 7.7M arrival target for 2024

PH sets near pre-pandemic 7.7M arrival target for 2024

December 13, 2023, 8:53 am

MANILA – The Philippines targets to attract 7.7 million foreign visitors next year after exceeding its arrival goals for 2023, the Department of Tourism (DOT) said Tuesday. "I understand that this is not yet our pre-pandemic numbers of 2019 at over 8.2 million international arrivals but what I… Read More

PH bags 4 major tourism awards in Dubai

PH bags 4 major tourism awards in Dubai

December 6, 2023, 8:39 am

MANILA – The Philippines bagged four major recognitions at the prestigious 2023 World Travel Awards (WTA) in Dubai, United Arab Emirates last week, the Department of Tourism (DOT) said. For the first time, the country received the Global Tourism Resilience Award for demonstrating “global… Read More

DOT inaugurates first Tourist Rest Area in Bohol

DOT inaugurates first Tourist Rest Area in Bohol

December 4, 2023, 2:38 pm

PANGLAO ISLAND, Bohol – The province of Bohol now has its own Tourist Rest Area (TRA), formally turned over by the Department of Tourism (DOT) over the weekend. The TRA will cater to tourists passing through the town of Dauis, which serves as a gateway to multiple tourist destinations in the… Read More

DOT taps Michelle Dee as new tourism ambassador

DOT taps Michelle Dee as new tourism ambassador

December 1, 2023, 1:37 pm

MANILA – The Department of Tourism (DOT) has tapped Miss Universe Philippines 2023 Michelle Dee to become the country’s newest tourism ambassador. The announcement was made during Dee’s courtesy call on Tourism chief Christina Frasco at the DOT office in Makati City on Friday. In an… Read More

Nueva Ecija eyes becoming farm tourism destination

Nueva Ecija eyes becoming farm tourism destination

November 28, 2023, 8:28 pm

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga – The province of Nueva Ecija is setting its sights on becoming a farm tourism destination. Nueva Ecija provincial tourism officer Jose Maria Caesar San Pedro said on Tuesday that the provincial board council has approved the request of Governor Aurelio Umali to… Read More

PH announces plan to develop golf tourism

PH announces plan to develop golf tourism

November 28, 2023, 8:07 pm

MANILA – The government seeks to position the Philippines as the next premier destination for golfers, the Department of Tourism (DOT) said as it announced its plan to develop and tap on the multibillion golf tourism industry. “With our stunning scenery, our favorable climates, our world-class… Read More

PH breaches target, records over 4.82M foreign arrivals

PH breaches target, records over 4.82M foreign arrivals

November 28, 2023, 4:16 pm

MANILA – The Philippines has recorded more than 4.82 million foreign visitor arrivals, including Filipinos based overseas, breaching its target even before year end, Department of Tourism (DOT) Secretary Christina Frasco said Tuesday.  DOT data show that as of Nov. 28, a huge chunk of foreign… Read More

Marcos admin prioritizes tourism, results in billions of earnings

Marcos admin prioritizes tourism, results in billions of earnings

November 25, 2023, 8:29 pm

BAGUIO CITY – The tourism sector is the second highest driver for economic growth during the first half of the year, a result of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s focus on the industry. Department of Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco said on Saturday that tourism has so far contributed… Read More

PH introduces Mindanao, halal cuisine to foreign market

PH introduces Mindanao, halal cuisine to foreign market

November 22, 2023, 8:51 am

MANILA – The Philippine government is ramping up its promotion of halal cuisine by inviting Muslims and non-Muslims to visit Mindanao and get a fill of its best food offerings. In a continuation of its halal tourism campaign, the Department of Tourism (DOT) on Tuesday night hosted the Bismillah:… Read More

48 new hotels eyed across PH before 2028: PHOA

48 new hotels eyed across PH before 2028: PHOA

November 21, 2023, 9:31 pm

MANILA – A total of 48 new hotels will soon rise across the Philippines, reflecting the strong investor confidence in the country, a hotels group reported Tuesday. At a year-end briefing in Quezon City, Philippine Hotel Owners Association (PHOA) Executive Director Benito Bengzon Jr. said the… Read More

Bacolod to showcase best of local food in DOT’s PH Experience Program

Bacolod to showcase best of local food in DOT’s PH Experience Program

November 21, 2023, 7:50 pm

BACOLOD CITY – This city will highlight the best of its local cuisine during the launch of The Philippine Experience: Culture, Heritage, and Arts Program (PEP) of the Department of Tourism (DOT) here with Secretary Christina Frasco on Nov. 29. Councilor Jason Villarosa, chairman of the committee… Read More

PH wins Destination of the Year in TripZilla Awards

PH wins Destination of the Year in TripZilla Awards

November 14, 2023, 9:29 pm

MANILA – The Philippines is Destination of the Year in the 2023 TripZilla Travel Excellence Awards. The online travel platform also awarded the Tourism Promotions Board (TPB), an attached agency of the Department of Tourism in charge of marketing and promoting the country, the Sustainability… Read More

Biliran to host international adventure race from Nov. 20-24

Biliran to host international adventure race from Nov. 20-24

November 14, 2023, 6:06 pm

TACLOBAN CITY – Local and foreign participants will join the La Routa 2023 adventure race, exploring the terrain of Biliran province set on Nov. 20 to 24. Jason Garrido, La Routa race director, said in a phone interview Tuesday that eight teams from Poland, New Zealand, Malaysia, India, and… Read More

DOT-3 boosts efforts to ensure safe, secure environment for tourists

DOT-3 boosts efforts to ensure safe, secure environment for tourists

November 14, 2023, 5:18 pm

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga – The Department of Tourism-Central Luzon (DOT 3) is strengthening efforts to provide a safe and secure environment for tourists in the region. In an interview Tuesday, DOT-3 Regional Director Richard Daenos said a series of seminar orientations on disaster risk… Read More

DOT vows to back hospitality sector, boost human capital dev’t

DOT vows to back hospitality sector, boost human capital dev’t

November 12, 2023, 12:37 pm

MANILA — The Department of Tourism (DOT) will do its part to help hotels uplift the standards of the Philippine hospitality industry.  In her message at the recent Hotels Sales and Marketing Association (HSMA)-led 9th Virtus Awards, DOT Secretary Christina Frasco said the government will… Read More

Prix Versailles picks CRK one of world’s most beautiful airports

Prix Versailles picks CRK one of world’s most beautiful airports

November 10, 2023, 6:43 pm

CLARK FREEPORT, Pampanga  –  For its exceptional architecture and design, Clark International Airport (CRK) has been named as one of the 24 world’s most beautiful airports by the prestigious Prix Versailles, the World Architecture and Design Award at the United Nations Educational,… Read More

Australian cruise ship docks in Marinduque, boosting local tourism

Australian cruise ship docks in Marinduque, boosting local tourism

November 8, 2023, 6:46 pm

BOAC, Marinduque – The struggling tourism industry in this province got a boost on Wednesday when 73 Australian tourists arrived in Cawit Port here aboard the cruise ship Coral Adventurer. Their arrival has been eagerly anticipated with provincial authorities drumming-up publicity over social… Read More

Cruise ship brings 2.7K guests to Boracay Island

Cruise ship brings 2.7K guests to Boracay Island

November 7, 2023, 6:05 pm

ILOILO CITY – Boracay Island welcomes its second visiting cruise ship for this month and the fourth for this year, carrying 2,700 guests and crew on Tuesday. The MS Westerdam cruise ship of the Holland America Line came four days after the MV Norwegian Jewel of the Norwegian Cruise Line and… Read More

Korean Air increases Manila flights

Korean Air increases Manila flights

November 6, 2023, 5:56 pm

MANILA – South Korea's flag carrier Korean Air (KAL) has increased its daily services between Incheon and Manila to thrice daily. "Incheon-Manila has always been a popular route, and the demand this winter is expected to be even stronger," KAL Spokesperson Kamin Jeong told the Philippine News… Read More