AVIATION - LuftHansa quits Manila

TTGasia.com, Jan 11 - 17, 2008

Lufthansa’s imminent departure from the Philippines puts additional strain on an already meagre Europe-Philippine seat capacity – and while impact on business should be minimal – raises concerns on air fares, perception and government policies. Lufthansa is discontinuing its daily Frankfurt-Manila service via Guangzhou on March 30. General manager Philippines, Guam and Micronesia, Mr Christopher Zimmer, told TTG Asia pulling out after 26 years was a purely commercial decision. He said: “We have major expansion plans in China and India but capacity at Lufthansa remains the same. We need aircraft to service new routes. KLM is now the only airline plying the Europe-Philippine route with daily non-stop Amsterdam-Manila flights. However, Asian and Middle Eastern carriers also get a substantial share of the Europe-Philippine traffic.

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PHILIPPINES - Boracay authorities told to enforce construction ban

Philippine Daily Inquirer, 01/05/2008

MANILA, Philippines -- Boracay Island in Aklan continues to bustle with the construction of vacation homes and hotels, and Environment Secretary Lito Atienza isn't at all pleased.
Atienza has warned local government officials they must enforce the moratorium on the construction of structures on the "overloaded" island or face administrative sanctions.
He singled out Malay town Mayor Ciceron Cawaling for ignoring the moratorium imposed by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources in August last year and a resolution passed by the municipal council backing the move.

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PHILIPPINES - October tourist arrivals up by 8% despite blast

manilastandardtoday.com, Dec 13, 2007

Foreign tourists ignored the negative news and advisories about the Philippines in October, as they continued to arrive in record numbers in the country, which now has a $4-billion international tourism market.
The statistics division of the Department of Tourism said international visitor arrivals in the Philippines rose 8 percent to 241,745 in October from 223,818 a year ago, despite the Oct. 19 blast that hit a major shopping mall at the financial center of Makati.
This brought the total foreign arrivals in the first 10 months of the year to a record 2.508 million, up 8.6 percent from 2.31 million a year earlier.

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REGIONAL DEVELOPMENTS - Russia-Asean draft projects

sunstar.com.ph, December 17, 2007

THE Russian Government expressed last Friday strong interest in tapping the huge potential of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) bloc, particularly in relation to trade and tourism. Representatives of the Russian federation and Asean member countries converged for the sixth Asean-Russia Joint Cooperation Committee in Cebu last Dec. 13 to 14. The meeting reviewed the implementation of the Comprehensive Program of Action (CPA) to promote the Asean-Russia cooperation from 2005 to 2015. Discussions on priority areas for cooperation included culture, tourism, energy, disaster management, counter terrorism, and science and technology.

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PHILIPPINES - Pests, migration threaten 2,000-year-old rice terraces

(AFP) December 4 2007

After putting his seedlings to bed in the world-famous Banaue rice terraces in the northern Philippines, farmer Gabriel Balicdon works as a tourist guide and buys rice from the grocer.
Built by Ifugaos -- illiterate mountain farmers and woodcarvers -- at about the same time the Pyramids of Egypt and the Great Wall of China were being constructed, the terraces look like giant staircases leading to the clouds.
But now migration, the lure of easy tourist money and a plague of giant earthworms imperil the 2,000-year-old structures that follow the contours of the Cordileras mountains.
The flooded terraced paddies that draw nearly 100,000 tourists a year have since 2001 been on the "endangered list" of the UN's World Heritage sites.

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PHILIPPINES - Boracay gears up for 1 million tourists

The news today, November 20, 2007

The Aklan provincial government is undertaking several preparations for its plan to welcome one million tourists to arrive in this resort island in the year 2010.

Nieven Maquirang, Caticlan-Cagban Port Administrator, said Gov. Carlito Marquez already instructed him to coordinate with the Provincial Engineer's Office to map out plans to ensure the one-million-tourists target will be realized.

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PHILIPPINES - Group to build RP’s first seven star hotel

Philippine Star, October 8, 2007

A joint partnership of Filipino and Chinese businessmen will build the country’s first seven star hotel possibly in The Fort or in the reclaimed area in Roxas Boulevard.“The seven star hotel will be similar to the one in Dubai,” Susan Barlin, co-founder of the CEO Club Philippines, said in an interview.The project dubbed as the Pentominium, will be a combination of retail outlets, offices and penthouses.The 35-story luxury hotel is an exclusive hotel given that the occupants will mostly be members of the CEO club. “They will use the hotel whenever they visit here either for a vacation or business,” Barlin explained.

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PHILIPPINES - Europeans rediscover Philippines

Traveldailyasia.com, 9/11/2007

Now, the biggest travel wholesalers in Germany and France have started carrying the Philippines again,” said Durano. He added that the country now stands an equal chance with Maldives in attracting divers. Jose Clemente III, President of the Philippine Travel Agencies Association said the country has now become more competitive and appealing than some of its South East Asian neighbours. This he attributed to the Philippines still remaining unexplored, “specially to many jaded tourists who have been to traditional places like Thailand and Bali several times”.

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PHILIPPINES - Banyan Tree Expands to the Philippines

media.banyantree.com, 14 November 2007

Singapore Main-Board listed Banyan Tree Holdings Limited (“Banyan Tree” or the “Group”), a leading developer, designer and operator of top tier resorts, hotels and spas worldwide, today announced its new venture in the Philippines. Tree and its partner, Mr Salvador B Zamora II, a prominent businessman in the mining and real estate industries, have entered into a joint venture to develop and operate luxury resorts on Dinaran Island in the Philippines.

The uninhabited island, which has an area of about 55 hectares, is surrounded by stretches of white-sand beach. Located south of Manila in Palawan Province, Dinaran Island is just 15 minutes away by speedboat from the thriving town of Coron. Visitors can reach Coron through daily scheduled flights of approximately one hour from Manila to Yulo King Ranch Airport in Busuanga, which is the adjourning town to Coron.

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REGIONAL DEVELOPMENTS - reports of 2007 closing strongly

TTGasia.com, Nov 16-22, 2007

The closing months of 2007 are quite positive for us. Our occupancy rate is 76 per cent and our average room rate is 2,500 pesos (US$54).

The Tourism Authority of Thailand has launched many promotional campaigns together with airlines and agents and has staged various international tourism roadshows. The increase of flight frequencies and the introduction of direct international services into Thailand play a vital role in boosting the number of visitor arrivals.

India’s heritage and culture continues to attract visitors. Niche segments such as adventure tourism in the Himalayas and wellness and spiritual tours are also on the upward trend. Medical tourism is growing even faster than leisure tourism.

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AVIATION - Tourism Players Want A Say In BIMP-EAGA Air Links

Bernama.com.my, Nov 3 2007

Tourism players want their input considered when airlines initiate air connectivity within the Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines East Asean Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA).The call follows the disclosure that a Malaysia Airlines subsidiary, FireFly, is considering serving the sub-region.Sarawak Tourism Federation (STF) president Wee Hong Seng said Saturday such feedback would help create a win-win situation for the airline industry as well as the BIMP-EAGA stakeholders in the public and private sectors of the four participating countries."We need to promote two-way traffic for both inbound and outbound tourists, otherwise the load may not be enough for the airlines to be viable in this sub region," he told Bernama on the sidelines of the Value Chain Tourism Forum held in conjunction with the Third BIMP-EAGA Travel Exchange 2007 here.

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AVIATION - Tourism Players Want A Say In BIMP-EAGA Air Links

Bernama.com.my, Nov 3 2007

Tourism players want their input considered when airlines initiate air connectivity within the Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines East Asean Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA).The call follows the disclosure that a Malaysia Airlines subsidiary, FireFly, is considering serving the sub-region.Sarawak Tourism Federation (STF) president Wee Hong Seng said Saturday such feedback would help create a win-win situation for the airline industry as well as the BIMP-EAGA stakeholders in the public and private sectors of the four participating countries."We need to promote two-way traffic for both inbound and outbound tourists, otherwise the load may not be enough for the airlines to be viable in this sub region," he told Bernama on the sidelines of the Value Chain Tourism Forum held in conjunction with the Third BIMP-EAGA Travel Exchange 2007 here.

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PHILIPPINES - MMDA chair eyed as Boracay consultant

Thenewstoday.info, 2007/11/05

Amid growing concerns of unregulated development and pollution threats in Boracay, officials and business owners on the island are eyeing to tap Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Chair Bayani Fernando as development consultant for the island.
Fernando met with Malay Mayor Ciceron Cawaling and officials of the Boracay Foundation Inc. on Friday to discuss the possibility of his helping the island, according to BFI president Nenette Graf.
BFI is a group of owners or resorts, restaurants and other businesses on the island.
Graf said that the local government unit of Malay town, where Boracay is located, and the BFI have requested Fernando to act as consultant to the Malay development council.

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PHILIPPINES - Boracay, Palawan among world’s top 10 destinations

Manilastandardtoday.com, October 4th 2007

Boracay and Palawan have landed in the top 10 list of best destinations in the world by international publications.
The white, powdery sands and azure waters of Boracay, Aklan landed in the top 10 beach destinations of the Asian Wall Street Journal. The publication noted Boracay as a favorite among Asian holiday seekers for the variety of activities and entertainment available—from water sports to spas, from all-night parties to quiet, secluded nooks. It is also the only Southeast Asian attraction in the survey, joining other upcoming and exotic places such as Honduras, Abu Dhabi and Montenegro.
Asian Wall Street Journal’s list was endorsed by a panel of executives from global companies in the luxury hotel and cruise industry, including Four Seasons, which operates 74 hotels in 31 countries, the internationally acclaimed Ritz Carlton, high-ranking Asian brand Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts, and Amanresorts, a company that specializes in top-quality spa getaways.

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PHILIPPINES - Calicoan Island makes a splash among surfers

INQUIRER.net, 10/07/2007

TACLOBAN CITY, Philippines--Efforts to promote Guiuan, Eastern Samar through a sports competition are paying off as more tourists and adventure lovers are coming down to sample the town's delights. The Department of Tourism and the provincial and municipal governments have been organizing the annual surfing competition in Calicoan Island, Guiuan to get enthusiasts to see what the town could offer as a destination.
Aurora delos Reyes, investment and tourism officer of Guiuan, said Guiuan Mayor Analiza Kwan has been very active in promoting Guiuan as a tourist spot, banking not only on the waves but also the town's rich historical, pilgrimage and cultural sites.

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PHILIPPINES - Volcanoes as attractions are RP’s next pitch for tourism

globalnation.inquirer.net, 24 Sept 2007

Environment officials plan to turn volcanoes which are rich in biodiversity, such as Mt. Iraya in Batanes, into “eco-tourism zones” that could benefit the local communities.
Officials of the Protected Areas and Wildlife Bureau of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources said that aside from their natural features, volcanoes offered other attractions such as endemic flora and fauna to climbers, adventurers and tourists.“A volcano doesn’t erupt every day. Therefore, we can promote these as tourist attractions. And biodiversity is part of the attraction,” PAWB director Theresa Mundita Lim said at a forum on volcano eco-tourism.

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PHILIPPINES - Jolo Island eyeing huge developments

Manilatimes.net, September 17, 2007

The province of Sulu in Mindanao may soon become an island resort similar to Boracay in central Philippines or even to Phuket in Thailand as part of a new tourism plan to lure Filipino and foreign visitors.
Gov. Sakur Tan said they would convert some of Sulu’s islands and pristine beaches into resorts, complete with amenities and business centers and land and water vessels to transport holidaymakers.
“We want to develop Sulu into one of the most beautiful places in the Philippines, and we are pursuing an ambitious program to promote tourism and also trade and investments,” Tan told The Manila Times.
Tan said the plan to put up world-class resorts in Sulu would probably begin in 2008 and would take between one to two years to finish. “We are now working on this project,” he said.

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PHILIPPINES - Body formed to develop

visayandailystar.com, September 6, 2007

The steering committee will supervise the over-all implementation of the action plan that will be formulated by regional and provincial technical working groups chaired by Regional Technical Director for Research Alicia Lustica.
The groups are expected to hold consultations with various stakeholders and come up with a plan six months.
Claudio, through Regional Special Order 2007-263, also instructed the technical working groups to include in their gathering of data existing plans and programs of different national government agencies, local government units, business and private sectors, non-government organizations and individuals with stakes in Boracay Island.

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PHILIPPINES - Boracay administrator proposed

Inquierer.net 08/14/2007

The Department of Tourism in Western Visayas is pushing for the appointment of an administrator for Boracay as one way to save the island-resort from deterioration brought by unregulated commercial development.
DoT regional director Edwin Trompeta has recommended to Tourism Secretary Joseph "Ace" Durano, who also chairs the Philippine Tourism Authority (PTA), that the PTA appoint an administrator to oversee the day-to-day implementation of the regulations concerning development projects on the island.
The administrator will also coordinate the projects and programs of local government units and other agencies, according to Trompeta.

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PHILIPPINES - Palawan, too, is home to whale sharks

Inquierer.net, 08/19/2007

Sightings of the rare whale shark (Rhincodon typus) around Puerto Princesa City just right outside the bay have increased in frequency over the last five years, prompting tourism officials and conservation groups to take stock of its potential as a tourist attraction.
City tourism officer Melinda San Juan-Mohammad said they were setting aside funds this year, for the first time, to undertake a more rigorous program to protect the whale shark and to promote it as a tourist attraction, in addition to the famous underground river of Puerto Princesa City.

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