DOT – Maniolas

Japan Cruise Lines to boost cruise tourism in PHL

News

Jun 302017

Japan Cruise Lines (JCL) has committed to send MS Pacific Venus on a regular port call to the Philippines by 2018.

M/S Pacific Venus - Japan Cruise Line

The anticipated visit of the Osaka-based cruise liner’s 600-capacity passenger ship carrying mostly Japanese tourists is expected to grow cruise tourism in the Philippines.

The MS Pacific Venus FB page lists the cruise ship as having 9 decks, 2 pools, casino, gymnasium, various bars, 402-seat main show lounge, 250 outside cabins with 20 having balconies, 16 inside cabins, which can carry over 600 passengers and a crew of 180.

The cruise ship is mainly used for the Japanese market where businesses often charter them for incentive cruises. Their main cruise destinations are to Australia, New Zealand and throughout Southeast Asia.

Department of Tourism (DOT) Secretary Wanda Tulfo-Teo said, “We are confident that with JCL resuming its operations in the Philippines, visitor arrivals from Japan will notably increase to enable this top four source market to inevitably rise from its present rank.”

JCL, Japan’s leading cruise line, last made port calls in Manila, Boracay, Bohol, and the Hundred Islands in 2016, and in Puerto Princesa and Manila in 2015, according to Teo.

Mr. Kenji Yoneda, JCL Senior Managing Director, made the commitment at the 2017 Philippine Business Mission (PBM): “We are happy to announce that we will be deploying the Pacific Venus to the Philippines next year. We hope to receive the usual support for the safe and enjoyable stay of our passengers.”

DOT reported the latest statistics showing that international cruise calls to the Philippines have been growing at an average rate of 27.8 percent over the past four years, from 56 calls in 2014 to 70 calls the following year, and 72 calls in 2016. This year, the Philippines projects over a hundred port call bringing in an estimated 122,000 cruise passengers.

Cruise tourism is one of the nine product portfolios identified in the DOT’s National Tourism Development Plan (NTDP) that will enhance the competitiveness of the country as a tourist destination in the Asia-Pacific region.

The post Japan Cruise Lines to boost cruise tourism in PHL appeared first on Good News Pilipinas.

Saudi visitors to the Philippines up by 104% from 2009

Economy

Mar 182014

Saudi visitors to the Philippines up by 104% from 2009

MANILA, Philippines – Saudi Arabian visitors to the Philippines more than doubled since 2009, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) reported on Tuesday. “From only 19,101 Saudi visitors in 2009, the Philippines attracted a record 38,969 last year, a growth of 104 percent. Last year’s total was a growth of nearly 29.7 percent from the previous year, while the average growth of visitor arrivals since 2009 has been at 19.8 percent,” the state agency said. DFA said the spike in Saudi Arabian tourist arrivals came from the Embassy’s tourism promotion campaigns in the Middle Eastern country, in partnership with Saudi travel agencies accredited with the Philippine Department of Tourism (DOT). Last December, DOT officials went to Saudi Arabia to promote Philippine tourism in Riyadh. The event was attended by officials from the Saudi Chambers of Commerce and tour operators in the country. In April 2013, the Philippine Embassy in Riyadh and DOT also participated in the Riyadh Travel Fair. “The event drew 998 visitors, with many inquiring about holiday packages to prime destinations like Boracay, Palawan, Bohol’s Chocolate Hills and Panglao Island, and Davao’s Pearl Farm,” DFA said, adding that DOT and the embassy will be joining the event again this year. Business ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1 The DOT, in coordination with the Philippine Tourism Office in Dubai, also held a familiarization tour of Manila, as well as Tagaytay, Clark and Subic, for selected Saudi travel agents. “It was an opportunity for them to personally see Read More …

Tourism department told to return P162.3M in unauthorized allowances

News

Jan 262014

Tourism department told to return P162.3M in unauthorized allowances

The Commission on Audit has issued a notice of disallowance to the Department of Tourism for P162.3 million in unauthorized bonuses and allowances given to officials and employees in 2011 and 2012. The notice includes an order to return the disallowed benefits. According to a report that the COA released on its website on Friday, auditors found the following unauthorized disbursements: P10.99 million in excess Collective Negotiations Agreement (CNA) incentives for 2011 P40.84 million in economic assistance (P26.89M in 2011 and P13.95M in 2012) P53.33 million in economic relief allowance (P23.26M in 2011 and P19.49M in 2012) P5.82 million in calamity assistance for 2012 P5.96 million in birthday bonuses (P2.45M in 2011 and P3.51M in 2012) P29.28 million in educational assistance (P12.96M in 2011 and P16.31M in 2012) P16.22 million in professional and persona enhancement incentives in 2012 COA said the 2011 CNA authorized an across-the-board incentive of P25,000 but that the DOT released P48,000 per employee, an excess that totalled P10.99 million. The Tourism also failed to seek approval from the Office of the President for P151.447 million in extra benefits granted in 2011 and 2012. “The payment of allowances and other forms of compensation without proper authority is deemed an irregular expenditure, hence, Notice of Disallowance No. 13-002-101 (11-12) dated November 5, 2013 was issued,” COA said. According to a transmittal letter attached to the audit report, Tourism Secretary Ramon Jimenez Jr. received a copy of the audit findings on December 27, 2013. — JDS, GMA News

Aquino welcomes winter ‘escapees’

News

Jan 242014

President Benigno Aquino III. AP FILE PHOTO MANILA, Philippines—They traded the bitterly cold winter for a relatively mild chilly weather. Two hundred forty Filipino-Canadians had plenty of sun, sand and sea during their six-day visit—from Jan. 18 to 23—to the islands of Panay and Guimaras, which, like the rest of the country, are experiencing a cold spell. President Benigno Aquino III on Friday welcomed to Malacañang the foreign “escapists”—the term used by Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario to refer to the Filipino-Canadian visitors who joined the first “Winter Escapade—It’s More Fun In The Philippines” tour, a program started by the Department of Tourism and Department of Foreign Affairs to attract balikbayans (Filipino migrants). “I didn’t expect that here in Malacañang, I would gladly welcome the ‘escapees,’” he said, adding in jest that when he talks of escapees, “most of the time I’m seated beside Secretary Leila de Lima of the Department of Justice, and we praise the apprehending [authority].” Donning swimming gears Ditching their layered winter garb, they donned their swimming gears and basked in the sun on the famous white sand and blue waters of Boracay Island in Aklan. They also joined street dancing for the Ati-Atihan festival in Kalibo, Aklan, and the Pintados festival in Passi City, Iloilo. The so-called journey of discovery also took the sun-starved visitors to Roxas City, Iloilo City and Guimaras province. The visitors said they could not get over their frenzied encounter with fire dancers and street dancers as well as school children Read More …

DOT needs to rethink tourism strategy, says travel exec

Economy

Nov 232013

DOT needs to rethink tourism strategy, says travel exec

MANILA, Philippines – The government should rethink its tourism campaign following the damage brought by Super Typhoon Yolanda to parts of the country, according to a hospitality consultancy firm executive. C9 Hotelworks Co. Ltd. managing director Bill Barnett said in an interview that while the Philippines would want to continue to attract tourists to visit the country, the government should rethink how it will undertake promotion efforts following the damage left by Yolanda. “I think for us, the key issue is, what does the Philippines do with its ‘It’s More Fun in the Philippines’? For us that is really a profound question,” he said. He said that continuing to promote the country as a tourist destination using the ‘It’s More Fun’ slogan may not be appropriate at this time as the country is still assessing the extent of the impact of the typhoon and conducting relief efforts in affected areas. “It isn’t really the right time to start advertising ‘It’s More Fun in the Philippines’ after all these events. We think that is a challenge for the government,” he said. The Philippine government, Barnett said, needs to assess whether the slogan is still relevant and whether it is sending the right message. Business ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1 “You have to be sensitive to that (disasters)…When things change, you have to change your strategy,” he said. He noted that while other countries which were hit by natural disasters in the past such as Indonesia and Thailand have Read More …

DOT chief urges tourists to continue Phl visits

Economy

Nov 162013

DOT chief urges tourists to continue Phl visits

MANILA, Philippines – The Department of Tourism (DOT) is appealing to foreign tourists to continue visiting the Philippines as this can help speed up rebuilding efforts following the devastation caused by the recent calamities that hit the country. “Tourism continues to be one of the major contributors to the economy, playing a significant role in rebuilding lives and businesses in communities,” Tourism Secretary Ramon Jimenez Jr. said in a statement in the aftermath of Super Typhoon Yolanda. As this developed, the DOT started an initiative to give out special tourism bookmarks to travelers at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA)-1. “These bookmarks are being given away by our airport staff in both Manila and Cebu airports after the final check-in (last x-ray counter) and this will run for the next couple of weeks,” Jimenez said. “The bookmarks are for outbound foreign visitors as a token for bearing with the Filipino people during this most difficult time,” he said. “We understand that most of these departing foreigners were in the Philippines when Yolanda hit us and in one way or another, they might have been inconvenienced during their stay with us. As a token of apology and appreciation, we are giving away these bookmarks to foreign tourists leaving the country in hopes that they will realize that we appreciate them for having the Philippines as their destination of choice,” he added. Business ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1 “We are also hoping that through this simple gesture, they will Read More …

DOT to meet 5-M tourist arrivals target for 2013

Economy

Nov 102013

DOT to meet 5-M tourist arrivals target for 2013

MANILA, Philippines – The Department of Tourism (DOT) is optimistic that it will still meet its five million tourist arrival target for this year despite the projected slowdown in global tourism in 2013. Tourism Secretary Ramon Jimenez Jr. told The STAR that while there are some obstacles to tourism growth, the international visitors arrival target for 2013 is still achievable. “Yes, we are confident that we will breach the five million mark for foreign and the targeted 44 million domestic travelers for 2013. There are challenges but we will overcome them,” he said. Latest report by the World Tourism and Travel Council indicated that “the global travel and tourism industry will grow marginally slower in 2013 than previously indicated.” WTTC forecasts that the total contribution from travel and tourism to the world economy will be 2.9 percent in 2013, down from the 3.2 percent growth initially forecast in February this year. “However, the reduction in growth in travel and tourism is driven by reduced investment growth in the economy as a whole, impacting on the industry and slowing global economic growth,” WTTC said. Business ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1 Oxford Economics, WTTC’s research partner, forecasts global economic growth to be 2.1 percent, a slight downgrade from the 2.4 percent forecast at the start of the year. WTTC president and CEO David Scowsill said, “Travel and Tourism is a growth industry which generates nine percent of global gross domestic product (GDP) and supports 260 million jobs, or one Read More …

Tourist arrivals up by 10%

Economy

May 302013

MANILA, Philippines – Foreign visitor arrivals soared in the first four months of the year with a 10.12-percent increase from the same period in 2012, the Department of Tourism (DOT) noted on Thursday. The state agency said a total of 1,649,458 foreigners visited the country from January-April, with January yielding the largest volume of 436,079 visitors and February posting the highest growth of 15.52 percent. The figure represents 30 percent of the target arrivals for 2013, DOT added. Bringing the most number of visitors was Korea with 406,595 or a market share of 24.65 percent and growth of 23.08 percent. This was followed by the United States with 246,011 visitors or a 14.91-percent share, Japan (148,950 or 9.03), China (132,307 or 8.02 percent), Australia (72,015 or 4.37 percent) and Taiwan (53,867 or 4.24 percent). Rounding out the top sources of foreign visitors are Singapore with 55,096 (15.90 percent), Canada with 50,352 (4.25 percent), Hong Kong with 45,734 (12.87 percent), United Kingdom with 43,055 (3.10 percent), Malaysia with 35,069 (8.36 percent) and Germany with 28,799 (9.16% percent). Other source markets with double-digit gains include Russia (30.33 percent), India (23.13 percent) and France (20.10 percent), DOT said. Business ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1 “This growth is an affirmation of our various marketing and destination development activities, strengthened by partnerships with the various stakeholders. While the upsurge may primarily be attributed to the summer season, it is also a clear indication that the nation has galvanized its reputation as an Read More …

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