Search Asia Times

Advanced Search
 
Southeast Asia

International stars boost Philippine tourism

CEBU CITY - The arrival and performance of top international artists are signs that the Philippines is regaining the confidence of the world, Tourism Secretary Richard Gordon noted.

Gordon told a press conference at the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel and Casino (WCCHC) over the weekend that the country's foreign tourist arrivals increased by 12 percent last month and by 14 percent this month.

"However from January to November, tourism is down by 5.3 percent. But still, we take these month-on-month increases as positive signs," Gordon said.

"The fact that globally renowned stars are coming to perform in the Philippines shows they recognize the country as a safe destination, which will also give the same impression to foreign tourists," Gordon said.

Recording icon Mariah Carey performed in Manila on November 16 at The Fort in Taguig, Metro Manila, as part of her Charmbracelet Tour 2003, while Mandy Moore and Stephen Bishop performed in Manila last week.

Taiwanese duo Jerry Yan and Vic Zhuo of F4 are scheduled to appear in a one-night concert on November 29, while Limp Bizkit is scheduled to arrive next month for a December 9 concert in Pasig City.

Gordon said tourist arrivals have been steadily rising in the past few months due to aggressive efforts, such as the Volunteer-12 program, to promote the Philippines as an ideal tourist destination to specific target markets.

The V-12 program, re-launched at the WCCHC on Sunday, aims to mobilize Filipinos here and abroad to invite foreigners and Filipinos based abroad to visit the country.

The Department of Tourism has brought the program down to the municipal level, giving local government units quota target numbers of foreign arrivals per area based on their population.

LGUs that meet their quotas of visitor arrivals, not necessarily arriving into the LGU area but any destination in the country, will win P1 million each.

(Asia Pulse/PNA)
 
Nov 27, 2003


 
         
         
No material from Asia Times Online may be republished in any form without written permission.
Copyright 2003, Asia Times Online, 4305 Far East Finance Centre, 16 Harcourt Rd, Central, Hong Kong