Travel and Tourism
Foreign tourist arrivals in April up 12.15% to 663K
June 12, 2019, 7:49 pm
MANILA -- The Department of Tourism (DOT) on Wednesday reported an increase in the tourist arrivals for April 2019 by 12.15 percent compared to the same period in 2018. "International tourist arrivals in April 2019 reached 662,987, registering a 12.15 percent growth vis-a-vis 591,137 received last… Read More
PH bids to host 2021 UN tourism summit
June 11, 2019, 9:09 am
MANILA -- The Philippine government, through the Department of Tourism, has expressed interest in hosting the next United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) General Assembly in 2021. “The Philippines is excited to host the UNWTO General Assembly in 2021, primarily to showcase the… Read More
Tourism input to PH GDP rises to 12.7%; creates 5.4M jobs in 2018
June 9, 2019, 11:31 am
MANILA -- The tourism industry’s contribution to the economy reached another milestone in 2018 as it increased to 12.7 percent of the Philippines’ Gross Domestic Product (GDP), 0.5% higher than in 2017, according to data released by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) on June 6. This is… Read More
Duty Free ready to accommodate growing arrivals with new outlet
June 3, 2019, 8:56 pm
MANILA -- With its newly-opened outlet in Manila, the Duty-Free Philippines (DFP) is confident it can accommodate the anticipated influx of tourists as growth in arrivals continued to manifest annually. The new outlet, officially launched in June last year, sits between the exits of the arrival… Read More
Biliran’s Higatangan Island offers new attractions
May 29, 2019, 4:48 pm
NAVAL, Biliran -- The local government took advantage of the Higatangan Island Summer Festival to promote other tourism assets of the island. On its third year, the recent Higatangan Island Summer Festival has introduced new attractions and activities for tourists to enjoy more their two-day stay… Read More
Extended TIEZA tax perks to create 160K jobs, P222-B investments
May 28, 2019, 1:08 pm
MANILA -- The 10-year extension of tax perks for tourism enterprise zones (TEZs) is seen to generate more than 160,000 jobs and at least PHP222 billion in capital investments, following the signing into law of Republic Act 11262. “Now that the sunset provision has been finally extended until… Read More
Nature-inspired adventure tourism opens in Batangas
May 24, 2019, 4:24 pm
NASUGBU, Batangas -- A new, adventure-filled, and nature-inspired tree top experience now beckons tourists and vacationers at the lush centuries-old Batulao forest here as part of their summer travel goals.Nestled at the 170-hectare Chateau Royale Hotel Resort and Spa in Batulao village, the Tree… Read More
DOT warns public vs. non-accredited travel businesses
May 21, 2019, 4:24 pm
MANILA -- The Department of Tourism (DOT) on Tuesday warned the public against non-accredited entities engaged in travel and tours, airline ticketing and other travel businesses. "Recently, various reports have been received by the Department of Tourism on the proliferation of non-accredited… Read More
PH could tap Japanese MICE market to increase arrivals: envoy
May 15, 2019, 8:45 am
MANILA -- Japan Ambassador to the Philippines Koji Haneda on Tuesday said the Philippines could tap his country's MICE market to further increase the arrivals of Japanese to the country. MICE refers to meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions, a market in the tourism industry involved… Read More
PH tourist arrivals up by 7.59% in Q1 2019
May 9, 2019, 2:30 pm
MANILA -- The Department of Tourism (DOT) reported a 7.59 percent increase in tourist arrivals to the Philippines in the first quarter of 2019, indicating that the country's tourism "is on the right track." According to figures released by the DOT on Thursday, around 2,204,564 foreign visitors… Read More
5 reasons to visit Bangkok this summer
May 8, 2019, 9:26 am
MANILA -- Thailand's new king and queen have just been crowned. This is probably among the timeliest seasons to visit the country and witness the new beginnings that await its people, at the same time experience its rich culture.If you are thinking of where to go during your summer break, here are… Read More
France sees huge potential in PH tourism
May 6, 2019, 7:19 pm
MANILA-- France has recognized the “huge potential” of the country’s tourism sector as it convened its first tourism joint working group meeting with the Philippines in Manila last month. “France is well aware of the huge potential of the Philippines’ tourism sector. Certainly, the… Read More
Keep abreast with latest tourism trends, says DOT exec
May 6, 2019, 11:48 am
IMUS CITY, Cavite -- An official of the Department of Tourism (DOT) urged Cavite's travel and trade industry to keep abreast with current tourism market trends. During the opening of the three-day Cavite Travel and Tours Expo (CTTE) at Isla Events here on Friday, DOT Region IV-A (Calabarzon)… Read More
Memories of Lucban’s ‘Pahiyas Festival’
May 4, 2019, 5:27 pm
MANILA -- It's the month of May and you know what it means: It's fiesta time! Many places in the countryside hold festivals and fiesta celebrations in May and they are indeed a time of merriment for locals and visitors alike. There's the Manggahan Festival of Guimaras and Kneeling Carabao Festival… Read More
PH's sustainable tourism invests in destinations, people: DOT
May 2, 2019, 6:23 pm
MANILA -- Aside from responsible development of destinations, the Philippines' sustainable tourism is centered on investing in people, Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat said Thursday. These include the workers and stakeholders who will lead not only in promoting the country's natural… Read More
'Convergence approach' to address lack of PH gateways: DOT
May 2, 2019, 5:16 pm
MANILA -- As an archipelagic state, building gateways and improving the existing ones in the Philippines is vital to further boost the growing tourism industry in the country, Tourism chief Bernadette Romulo-Puyat said Thursday. She said the Department of Tourism (DOT) continues to coordinate and… Read More
Museo de Intramuros to open on May 2
April 30, 2019, 6:38 pm
MANILA -- The Intramuros Administration (IA) on Tuesday opened the doors of the Museo de Intramuros at the San Ignacio Church, housing the country's largest collection of ecclesiastical artifacts. "This is the only state collection that is ecclesiastic in nature. This is the biggest collection in… Read More
PH pushes for gender-responsive tourism industry
April 30, 2019, 4:05 pm
MANILA -- With the unprecedented growth of Philippine tourism and its potential to create more jobs for women, the government is pushing for policies that are more gender-responsive. Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat said the industry has opened up opportunities for more Filipinos, with… Read More
Pandang Gitab, Oriental Mindoro's 'unique' festival of lights
April 30, 2019, 9:10 am
MANILA -- The Pandang Gitab Festival, coined from the Filipino folk dance Pandango sa Ilaw (Dance of Lights), is a far cry from the loud, usual drummed beats of older and much famous festivals in the Philippines. But for the people of Oriental Mindoro, that unique aspect adds to the annual… Read More
French tourism exec lauds gov't-led efforts to rehabilitate Boracay
April 29, 2019, 6:33 pm
MANILA -- A visiting French tourism official on Monday has recognized the government-led Boracay rehabilitation efforts in 2018. "What your president did in Boracay, you know cleaning up and everything, it's very good of course, it's very good," Morad Tayebi, Southeast Asia director for… Read More
