A boom in Philippine tourism

There are many of things going for Philippine tourism. Tourism in the country is booming, thanks to the warmth and hospitality of Filipinos and natural attractions, and historical and cultural sites. More tourists are expected to arrive for the Christmas season. In the first nine months of 2011, 2.88 million tourists came to the country, 12 percent higher than last year.

Domestic travel remains the backbone of the Philippine tourism industry. There has been a marked improvement in domestic tourism, as municipalities nationwide promote their tourist spots. Airline companies, through their promo fares, make it possible for Filipinos to fly and visit the country’s tourist spots.

With the growing trend in regional travel, the government is looking at getting more tourists from neighboring countries. Malaysia has been among the country’s top 12 sources of foreign visitors in the past five years. Last year, 79,694 Malaysians visited the Philippines, the highest visitor arrivals on record. The figure for the first nine months of 2011 is already about 69,000, an 18 percent growth from last year. It is projected that the number of arrivals will hit 85,000 by year’s end.

The goal of the government is to increase the number of tourists to 6.3 million international arrivals and over 32 million domestic travelers by 2016. From Metro Manila to the 12 regions of the country, there are destinations that tourists will certainly admire and appreciate. The top domestic tourist destinations outside the metropolis are Camarines Sur, Cebu, Davao City, Cagayan Valley, Baguio, Boracay, Zambales, Puerto Princesa, Bohol, Negros Oriental, Camiguin Island, and Ilocos Norte.

There are still many untapped natural resources in the country; they are waiting to be discovered and developed for the enjoyment of local tourists, including balikbayans who continue to come in droves, especially at this time of the year.

Source - tempo.com.ph