Travel and Tourism
Higher entrance fees at Ilocos Norte tourist sites loom
January 8, 2020, 2:47 pm
LAOAG CITY—Visiting all provincial government-owned tourism facilities in Ilocos Norte may cost a little higher this year to cover operational expenses and maintenance. Ian Ree Raquel, head of the Provincial Tourism Office, said the proposed entrance fees will range from PHP30 to PHP50 per head… Read More
Cebu hotel, resort owners raise concerns on online booking sites
January 7, 2020, 7:17 pm
CEBU CITY -- Owners of hotels and resorts in Cebu are reeling from a drop in bookings due to competing online or mobile application-based booking sites offering lower prices lodging or homestays. Alfred Reyes, vice president of the Hotel, Resort & Restaurant Association of Cebu, Inc. (HRRACI),… Read More
Currimao seaport to welcome another cruise ship’s arrival
January 3, 2020, 9:01 pm
LAOAG CITY—The international seaport of Currimao is set to welcome another cruise ship on Monday (January 6), the Provincial Tourism Office said. Xavier Ruiz, tourism operations officer in Ilocos Norte, said on Friday the M/V The World with 160 passengers departed from Hong Kong and it is… Read More
Dagupan City offers free ‘river cruise’ ride
December 30, 2019, 5:06 pm
DAGUPAN CITY -- The city government here is offering free tour to its serene and green Dawel River. The Dawel River Cruise, which was relaunched on Dec. 27, takes around 45 to 60 minutes through a thatched-roofed boat that can carry up to 20 passengers per travel. The city will add two more of… Read More
PH may hit 8.2M target tourist arrivals before 2020
December 27, 2019, 6:48 pm
MANILA -- The Bureau of Immigration (BI) is optimistic the country would hit its targeted 8.2 million foreign tourist arrivals even though only four days are left until the end of December 2019. The projection came as the Philippine government on Friday welcomed its 8-millionth foreign tourist to… Read More
Japanese couple is PH's 8-millionth tourist
December 27, 2019, 6:03 pm
MANILA -- The country's 8-millionth foreign tourist, who arrived on Friday, is a Japanese couple who frequents the Philippines for its lush mangoes and hospitable people. Husband and wife, Tamio and Yachiyo Imamoto, were welcomed by the Department of Tourism Assistant Secretary Roberto Alabado III… Read More
Less trash collected in Luneta during Christmas this year
December 27, 2019, 2:13 pm
MANILA -- The National Parks Development Committee (NPDC), an attached agency of the Department of Tourism (DOT), on Friday reported it collected less trash in Luneta (Rizal Park) this Christmas season compared to last year. NPDC executive director Cecile Lorenzana-Romero said from December 24 to… Read More
Davao City rakes in 2.34M visitors in November 2019
December 27, 2019, 10:59 am
DAVAO CITY -- The Davao City Tourism Operations Office (DCTOO) recorded some 2.34 million visitors as of November this year, an official said in a statement on Thursday. Generose Tecson, CTOO head, said this figure is higher than that of the similar last year, which only had 2.17 million. "I… Read More
Siargao gets int'l praise as 8th best 2020 holiday destination
December 24, 2019, 5:02 pm
MANILA -- Philippine destinations are on a roll this year, with Siargao earning the latest international praise from luxury travel magazine Condé Nast Traveler, which named it eighth among 20 best holiday destinations for 2020. Described as a tiny Philippine island giving Bali a run for its… Read More
Duty Free, BI partner for new online shopping system
December 24, 2019, 4:21 pm
MANILA-- The Duty Free Philippines Corporation (DFPC) and the Bureau of Immigration (BI) will introduce in January 2020 a new online shopping validation system that will effectively verify legitimate duty free shoppers. The memorandum of agreement, signed by DFPC chief operating officer Vicente… Read More
Mindanao, Palawan seen to play key role in East ASEAN growth
December 24, 2019, 2:55 pm
MANILA -- Mindanao and Palawan are seen to play a significant role in the sustainable development of the eastern part of Southeast Asia. The consensus surfaced during the 2nd Budayaw Festival held last November in the City of Kuching in the Federal State of Sarawak, Malaysia, a biennial event… Read More
Duty Free to hold grand Xmas sale on Saturday
December 18, 2019, 5:25 pm
MANILA -- Government-owned Duty Free Philippines will be holding a two-day "grand Christmas sale" at its flagship store in Parañaque City from December 21 to 22. Duty Free Philippines announced that up to 50 percent will be slashed on its imported and local products at the Fiestamall from 10 a.m.… Read More
SoKor eyes relaxed visa measure for Asean states
December 18, 2019, 4:29 pm
MANILA -- The South Korean government is planning to implement a relaxed visa measure for citizens of the 10-Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) countries, the state-funded Yonhap News Agency said in a report. Yonhap reported on December 12 that four major policy measures, including… Read More
Sports tourism boosts tourist arrivals in Dumaguete
December 15, 2019, 5:04 pm
DUMAGUETE CITY -- The city government has attributed the steady increase in tourist arrivals here for the last three years to sports tourism in the country. A data released by the City Public Information Office over the weekend showed that arrivals of tourists have grown significantly from 529,414… Read More
New app features iconic Metro Manila dishes
December 12, 2019, 5:21 pm
MANILA -- A new mobile application featuring the iconic dishes in Metro Manila has been unveiled on Thursday as part of the Department of Tourism's (DOT) bid to promote the evolving food tourism in the National Capital Region (NCR). The app called "MyMetroManila", available on Google Play Store,… Read More
PH safe to tourists amid reported kidnappings: DOT
December 11, 2019, 4:01 pm
MANILA-- The Department of Tourism (DOT) on Wednesday assured foreign visitors that the Philippines remains safe to tourists as coordination continues between the agency and local law enforcement offices. The assurance was made following the reported kidnapping cases in the country mostly… Read More
DOT, malls to kick off PH's first nationwide sale in March 2020
December 11, 2019, 2:10 pm
MANILA -- The Department of Tourism (DOT) and major malls across the country partnered to attract highly-coveted shoppers from China and other Asian nations with its planned month-long nationwide shopping event in March 2020. Dubbed "Philippine Fun Sale", DOT Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat said… Read More
10-month foreign tourist arrivals up 15% to 6.8-M
December 9, 2019, 10:38 am
MANILA — The Department of Tourism (DOT) welcomed the continued upward trend in Philippine international tourist arrivals, tallying over 6.8 million visitors for another double-digit increase for the first ten months of the year. According to the monthly report released by the DOT, the country… Read More
DOT promotes Panay’s farm, culinary tourism
December 7, 2019, 5:06 pm
ILOILO CITY -- Known for its fresh local farm products and ingredients, the Department of Tourism (DOT) is promoting Panay’s potential on-farm and culinary skills. DOT’s “Kain Na!” culinary and travel festival gathers together the local dishes prepared by local chefs, farm tourism sites… Read More
DOT lauds Mactan-Cebu airport win at World Architecture Fest
December 6, 2019, 1:54 pm
MANILA -- The Department of Tourism (DOT) on Friday lauded the team behind the Mactan Cebu International Airport Terminal 2 for winning the top prize in the Completed Buildings-Transport category at the World Architecture Festival in The Netherlands. The event, dubbed as the world's largest, live,… Read More
