Looking back at 2009, Department of Tourism (DOT) Secretary Joseph Ace Durano said major international events in Metro Manila have increased utilization of various tourism facilities.
These included the International Conference on Green Industry in Asia, East Asia Seas Congress, Asian Congress on Health and Peace Tourism, Eco-Products International Fair, World Chinese Entrepreneurs Convention, Association of Convention and Visitors Bureau Meeting, Asian and Oceanian Stock Exchanges Federation General Assembly, Licensing Executives Society International Annual Convention, and Federation of Asian Bishops Conference.
Twenty cruise ships docked in Manila for 2009.
Arrivals from these cruise ships posted a 2.24 percent growth from 17,516 passenger-tourists in 2008 to 17,908 passenger-arrivals in 2009 with most visitors taking the tours in Intramuros, Manila and Tagaytay.
Boracay Island teemed with Taiwanese and Chinese tourists throughout the year as more charter flights from the said markets were mounted directly to Kalibo.
Taiwanese tourists in Boracay grew by 72 percent as China Airlines started its charter flights which operate twice a week.
Similarly, Shanghai Airlines’ charter operations of Shanghai to Kalibo and Philippine Airlines’ Hangzhou to Kalibo boosted Chinese arrivals to Boracay Island by 26 percent.
Likewise, the opening of Shangri-la’s Boracay Resort and Spa heightened the tourism experience in Boracay Island, with its 217 rooms, high-end facilities and amenities. The total cost of this new investment amounted to P4 billion.
Other new resort-hotel facilities that opened in the island included: Crown Regency (449 rooms), Phoenix Hotel (130 rooms), Boracay Regency Lagoon (120 rooms), Seven Stones (100 rooms), and Grand Water (100 rooms).
In addition, new facilities are underway as the local government of Malay reported P902 million worth of private sector investment for 2009. Tourist volume in Boracay Island grew by 2.4 percent to 649,559.
Tourists to Bohol posted a 10.9 percent growth at 313,317 visitors. Foreign tourists reflected an increase of 18 percent from previous year’s volume while domestic tourists went up by 7.9 percent.
Hong Kong and Chinese tourists to Bohol also recorded a remarkable increase of 467 percent and 99 percent, respectively.
This is attributed to the product diversification being undertaken by the local government units and the private sector to stimulate greater tourist traffic and longer stay in Bohol.
Product development innovations were undertaken by the municipal government of Danao in Bohol which brought a new dimension and perspective to adventure tourism.
Dubbed as Ecological, Environmental and Educational Adventure Tour (EAT)– Danao, this product which is fully funded by the municipal government offers an extreme and exhilarating challenge with its 45-meter plunge, 1.5-kilometer Suislide, caving, river tubing, rappelling, kayaking and root climbing.
Though with limited promotion capacity (initially only through word-of-mouth), foreign and domestic tourists trooped to this destination to experience a real adventure.
Puerto Princesa City tourist traffic grew by 21 percent with foreign and domestic visitors increasing at double digit level of 23 percent and 21 percent, respectively.
The upgrading of Puerto Princesa Airport paved the way to grow flight frequencies from Manila and other island destinations in Central Philippines.
Likewise, the efforts of the City Government of Puerto Princesa to develop new tourist products attracted more visitors and enabled prolonged stays. (PNA/Lily Ramos)
www.Cebu-Philippines.net, an up-to-date guide to Cebu and the Philippines. Providing current and relevant information about visa, airlines, hotels, resorts, Philippines travel, scuba diving, travel, health and wellness.
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