Posted on 01/27/2005 9:51:26 PM PST by kipita
I read an interesting report this week that said the Philippines was hoping to see a spike in its tourist arrivals after the deadly tsunami killed hundreds of thousands of people in Thailand, Indonesia, India and Sri Lanka on Dec. 26.
I did think that it was rather morbid that one country was hoping to cash-in on the calamity of another, but that is normal I guess in terms of human nature.
Anyways, the report went on to mention that tourist arrivals in the Philippines in 2005 were projected to reach 2.66 million, up from 2.23 million the year before. The problem here is when you compare these figures with the number of tourists visiting neighboring countries; it puts the Philippines to shame. Tiny Hong Kong, which isn’t even a country, had more than 20 million visitors last year, Thailand had 13 million visitors and Indonesia had more than 5 million visitors. Even once downtrodden Vietnam has overtaken the Philippines, with nearly 3 million visitors last year!
The vast tourism potential of the Philippines has long been touted by many: From the mountains of Baguio, to the beaches of Boracay and the historical sites all over Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao, the Philippines should have been a huge tourist magnet a long time ago.
So what happened? A lack of infrastructure and no advertising, is the answer in short.
In the extremely competitive world of tourism, facilities, attractions and advertising are crucial factors to keep the tourists coming. The problem is that I haven’t seen an ad on TV or in print promoting tourism in the Philippines for the past three years. Sure, there was the cute “Wow! Philippines” campaign, but those ads were so short, 30 seconds on CNN, that they went by in a flash, only to be obliterated in viewer’s minds by far more effective ads by other countries.
Meanwhile, Malaysia’s nauseating but effective ad on CNN is stuck in everyone’s mind (“Malaysia ... truly Asia!”), while Egypt’s Red Sea Riviera ads have also become ubiquitous.
The other major factor that keeps tourists away from the Philippines is the sad fact that the country’s mangled infrastructure is just too cumbersome for many tourists. When they can be whisked comfortably around Malaysia on beautiful multi-lane highways, why should they bother with horrible one-lane highway from Manila to Baguio that is so badly congested that a journey that should take only a few hours is turned into a six-hour marathon?
I remember being taken on a bone-jangling trip on an unpaved road from Puerta Princesa on Palawan Island to see some caves. The rode was so bumpy and full of potholes that I couldn’t see many tourists opting to take the trip. In any other country, the road would have been paved a long time ago in aid of developing tourism, but that didn’t seem to be a priority of the Department of Tourism.
I know that the Philippines is struggling financially, but the government should earmark more money for tourism development if it wants the economy to rebound. The problem is that the country is overly dependent on the remittances of overseas Filipino workers. Last year, 10 percent of the GNP was from OFW remittances, while tourism contributed only 2 percent to the GNP.
Yes it’s true that Filipinos are friendlier than Malaysians and Singaporeans, but that clearly isn’t enough to match the numbers of tourists that those two destinations get. Until the Philippines improves its infrastructure, especially roads and other transportation, has a coherent and comprehensive tourism plan, and a sustained marketing campaign in Europe, the Middle East and the US, then the country will continue to depend on balikbayans and a few Asian tourists to fill its tourism coffers.
The problem is tourists fear for their safety. Whether that is a valid worry doesn't matter.
I think their food isn't great either. Chinese, Thai, or even Indonesian food is more interesting and more tasty as well.
But the Philipino woman are cute.
woman=women
2. Great roasted pork.
You got that right: http://www.matchdoctor.com
Baguio is worth the trip - gorgeous mountain resort. Everywhere but Manila they're some of the sweetest, friendliest people on the planet. In the big city, though, you still have that chic anti-Americanism on the part of the rich kids and the academics and the newspapers that so infests Europe. This ex-sailor doesn't care if he ever sees those particular jerks again.
Yes, they are. I have one. I was just over there a few months ago. It is far safer than most American cities.
What part of the Philippines? I was in Manila 2 years ago and you couldn't go into any building without having bags searched. Every car going into parking garages was searched underneath with a mirror, and had to pop the trunk. The day before I was due to leave there was a heightened kidnapping alert for US citizens and we were advised to avoid large crowds. In Manila there is no such thing as somewhere without large crowds so staying at the hotel was the only option.
The week after I left there was a takeover at a mall in Makiti (sp?) city by rogue military soldiers. They eventually let their captives go, but it was a 2 or 3 day ordeal.
I only got away from Manila once, to Taal volcano, and it seemed to be safer out away from the city, but from what I understand, that feeling of safety in the south is an illusion because thats where Abu Sayef terrorists operate and the Philippine Army can't get rid of them because they are so spread out.
All in all I would never go back to the Phillipines. Singapore is a 100% different feel. You see very few police anywhere in Singapore but you never feel uneasy or unsafe.
Well it's been thirty years since I was in the P.I. last, but I fondly remember the cuisine in Olongapo, Subic City and Manila.
My favorites were the roast pig, pancit bihon, which was kinda like dog adobo over rice noodles, and of course a nice tasty balut for a late night snack....just watch out for the feathers.
I am going to live there. Manila is not the best place over there. Too many people. I also saw Taal volcano, but I would not live there. Too expensive, and the volcano is active. It is still a very safe palce to be, if you surround yourself with Filipinos. I even spent 2 weeks in the alleged most dangerous place in the Philippines, Mindanao. I had a great time. I wish I could go back tomorrow.
BUT, get away from the large cities and there isn't a better place on earth for a vacation.
I spent 5 1/2 years living in the Philippines and spent very little time in the major cities.
I went to Baguio, Palawan, the Visayas, Borocay, rode ferrys back and forth between the islands (12 hour trips sometimes) and had the time of my life.
I plan on retiring to the Philippines on Palawan on my own little piece of paradise.
Tourists do have to fear for their safety. We brought our children to the Phils in 2000 but we did have to hire two body guards to follow us around. While we were there a bomb was set in a Manila mall and shortly thereafter some Americans were kidnapped by Moslem terrorists.
But the truth is that the infrastructure is a very major problem. To get to one of the most beautiful places in the Phils, the world even, (Palawan) we had to take a small 10 seater airplane, followed by a bus ride, followed by a boat ride. This was the case more than once in our travels there.
This article is spot on.
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