Travel and Tourism
Bohol exec eyes stimulus package for C. Visayas tourism
March 2, 2020, 6:30 pm
CEBU CITY – Governor Arthur Yap of Bohol province has recommended a national government-initiated stimulus package amid the negative impact of the new coronavirus disease (Covid-19) epidemic to the tourism industry in Central Visayas. “We have to keep the economy churning,” he said, citing… Read More
PH version of 'great sale' kicks off Mar. 1
February 20, 2020, 7:23 am
MANILA -- The Philippines is launching the 2020 Philippine Shopping Festival starting March 1, a nationwide sale that seeks to rival Singapore's great sale and Hong Kong's summer sale. "It’s not hard to see that elevating the shopping experience will go a long way to enhance the attractiveness… Read More
Legazpi City records 1.27M tourist arrivals in 2019
February 18, 2020, 12:35 pm
LEGAZPI CITY -- A total of 1.27 million tourists visited this capital city of Albay province last year, which is higher than the 1.25-million figure in 2018. The increased number is attributed to promotions of tourist destinations and different idyllic places here, said Tourism Officer Agapita… Read More
PH records 8.26-M int'l arrivals in 2019
February 17, 2020, 11:36 am
MANILA -- International visitors to the Philippines in 2019 reached 8.26 million, a 15.24 percent growth over 2018's 7.16 million arrivals. Almost all months, except January, registered double-digit growth rates, the largest of which was August at 27.54 percent while December recorded the highest… Read More
DOT welcomes lifting of Taiwan travel ban
February 15, 2020, 8:44 am
MANILA – The Department of Tourism (DOT) welcomed the lifting of the travel ban on Taiwan to minimize the impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) global scare on the local tourism industry. “The lifting of the travel ban on Taiwan is highly assuring and we hope that the (Covid-19)… Read More
Boracay sees PRRD visit lifting domestic tourism
February 11, 2020, 7:16 pm
ILOILO CITY – Tourism in Boracay in Malay, Aklan, which has been affected by the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) which has now become an international health concern is expected to somehow boost activities in the island with the scheduled visit of President Rodrigo Duterte. Tourism Secretary… Read More
PH measures in place to contain nCoV, tourists assured
February 11, 2020, 6:12 pm
MANILA-- The country remains safe as precautionary measures are in place to contain the deadly 2019-novel coronavirus, the Department of Tourism (DOT) and the Tourism Congress of the Philippines (TCP) said Tuesday. The DOT and TCP made the remark in a joint statement as they also announced… Read More
PRRD to visit Boracay, Cebu to boost domestic tourism
February 11, 2020, 8:52 am
MANILA -- President Rodrigo Duterte is set to join a campaign to boost domestic tourism and show that Philippine destinations, particularly Boracay, Cebu, and Bohol, are safe for travel amid the 2019-novel coronavirus scare. The plan was revealed by Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat… Read More
Travel expo offers hundreds of low-priced tour deals at SMX
February 6, 2020, 10:02 pm
MANILA-- The 2020 Travel Tour Expo (TTE) will be opened to the public starting Friday, offering hundreds of low-priced tour packages in domestic and international destinations. At least 900 booths and some 30 participating countries are expected to showcase travel and tour deals up to 70 percent… Read More
PH eyes other markets, increased domestic tours amid nCoV
February 4, 2020, 9:08 pm
MANILA --The Department of Tourism (DOT) aims to intensify its marketing efforts in other countries to offset the impact of 2019-novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) on Philippines’ tourism industry in line with the goal on reaching the targeted 9.2 million foreign tourists by end of 2020 despite the… Read More
PH maintains 9.2M tourists target amid nCoV travel bans
February 4, 2020, 4:22 pm
MANILA-- The Department of Tourism (DOT) is maintaining its 9.2 million tourists arrival target for 2020 amid the travel ban on foreigners from China and its special administrative regions by the Philippines and other countries to contain the spread of 2019-novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV). "There… Read More
DOT urges public, tourists to take precautions vs. 2019-nCoV
January 31, 2020, 7:42 pm
MANILA -- The Department of Tourism (DOT) on Friday urged the public including foreign tourists to take the necessary precautions to minimize the risk of contracting the virus following the Department of Health's (DOH) announcement on the first confirmed case of the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV)… Read More
Revival of direct flight to LA to boost Cebu tourism: OPAV
January 31, 2020, 6:38 pm
CEBU CITY – The Presidential Assistant for the Visayas on Friday said the revival of the Philippine Airlines (PAL) direct flight from Cebu to Los Angeles this year will perk up the tourism industry in the Central Visayas province. “We welcome the revival of the Cebu-Los Angeles Flight starting… Read More
Fewer Chinese citizens arriving in PH due to 2019-nCoV
January 30, 2020, 2:32 pm
CEBU CITY -- The Chinese Consulate General in Cebu on Wednesday said they have noticed a decline in tourist arrival among his fellow citizens since the outbreak of the 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) in Wuhan, China. Jia Li said the Ministry of Culture and Tourism issued an advisory on Monday… Read More
DOT allots P340.7-M for Iloilo tourism infra
January 29, 2020, 7:28 am
MANILA — The Department of Tourism (DOT) has earmarked a total of PHP340.7 million for Iloilo's tourism infrastructure development through the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA). "TIEZA made sure that the Province of Iloilo will have our steadfast support in terms of… Read More
DOT positive despite China travel ban
January 29, 2020, 6:58 am
MANILA — The government is optimistic Philippine tourism will remain resilient amid China's travel ban on outbound tour groups to prevent the spread of 2019-novel coronavirus (2019 n-CoV), a move seen to hit the industry across Asia who reaps the benefits of Chinese foreign travel. "The DOT is… Read More
Poor Samar town eyes tourism to spark dev’t
January 28, 2020, 6:18 pm
MATUGUINAO, Samar – The local government unit here is banking on tourism to change their image from a conflict-stricken and poverty-ravaged area into a developed town. Mayor Aran Boller said on Monday the local government will launch on February 28 their tourism program that will promote the… Read More
No immediate impact of nCoV scare on Duty Free shoppers
January 25, 2020, 6:17 pm
MANILA — The Duty Free Philippines Corporation (DFPC) continues to attract customers amid the scare over the 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCov) that originated from China. Without disclosing exact figures, DFPC chief Vicente Angala said the state-owned corporation's sales increased by 15 percent… Read More
7.4-M foreign tourists arrivals from Jan. to Nov.: DOT
January 24, 2020, 8:09 pm
MANILA -- The Philippines' foreign tourist arrivals hit 7.4 million in the first 11 months of 2019, up by 15.58 percent compared to the same period in 2018, the Department of Tourism (DOT) bared on Friday. For the first 11 months of 2019, DOT data showed that South Korea remains the country's top… Read More
DOT to help tourism recovery once Taal calms down
January 24, 2020, 6:44 pm
MANILA -- The Department of Tourism (DOT) on Friday assured it is ready to assist in promotions and coordinate with concerned agencies on the recovery of tourism establishments affected by the restive Taal Volcano once the situation stabilizes. "First, when it comes to promotions, we're ready. But… Read More
