THE DEPARTMENT of Tourism (DoT) has set its sights on sustainable ways of promoting local tourism, starting by showcasing festivities in Metro Manila in the first quarter.
Tourism Secretary Alberto A. Lim yesterday said the department will focus on “product development,” or the promotion of local tourist attractions and festivities, as a means to boost tourism in the short term.
“We will release schedules of festivities in Metro Manila and around the country for the whole year on a monthly basis,” Mr. Lim told BusinessWorld in a telephone interview.
The department started the strategy by promoting upcoming events in Metro Manila, beginning with the Feast of the Black Nazarene on Jan. 9.
Other events from January to March are commemorations of the feast day of the Santo Niño on the third Sunday of January in Pandacan and Tondo, Manila, Caloocan and Pasig; Pangisdaan Festival in Navotas throughout the second week of January; and Caracol Festival in Makati also in the third Sunday of January.
Schedules of events in other provinces and regions will be posted soon on the Department of Tourism Web site.
Mr. Lim said such festivities have never been promoted extensively in the past.
“These festivals have been around for some time but we have not developed it [to attract] local and foreign tourists. Metro Manila needs attractions, and one we should take advantage of is our own festivals,” he said.
Asked if the new tack is in any way an attempt to counter the impact of last August’s bus hostage crisis, Mr. Lim denied that this was linked to efforts to restore the country’s image in the international community in the wake of the bungled hostage rescue and a tourism rebranding campaign gone wrong.
“We are not rushing [with the rebranding],” Mr. Lim said. “Before we create a strong brand we must focus on developing a good product, which is our tourist attractions.”
Despite the negative impact of the Aug. 23 hostage crisis on the image of the Philippines with the death of eight Hong Kong tourists, Mr. Lim has earlier expressed optimism that the country will be able to achieve and even surpass the 3.3 million tourist target for 2010.
The incident has chilled relations between Manila and Hong Kong, with the latter maintaining an alert against travel to the Philippines.
Figures from the Tourism department reveal that a total of 2.84 million visitors came to the Philippines from January to October 2010, a 16% increase from 2009 figures. — Nathaniel R. Melican, Businessworld
September 18 –
International Equal Pay Day
“Increase wages now,
more than other cost items.
For widespread, practical equality!”
Invoke Article 33 of the ILO Constitution
against the military junta in Myanmar
to carry out the recommendations of the 2021 ILO Commission of Inquiry
against serious violations of protocols of
Forced Labour and Freedom of Association.
Accept the National Unity Government (NUG)
of Myanmar. Reject Military!
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October –
Monthly Observances:
Industry and Commerce Safety Month
National Statistics Month
Local Government Month
Consumer Welfare Month
Cooperative Month
National Quality and Productivity Improvement Month
National Health and Wellness Tourism Month
National Indigenous Peoples Month
Weekly Observances:
Week 1: Elderly Filipino Week
Week 2: National Health Education Week
Local Government Week
National Mental Health Week
October 17-23:
National Week for Overcoming Extreme Poverty
October 18 – 24:
United Nations Week
Last Week:
Nurses’ Week
Consumers’ Protection Week
Week of the 4th Sunday:
Barrio Farmers’ Week
Daily Observances:
First Monday (Oct 4): Universal Children’s Day i
n the Philippines
Oct 5: National Teachers’ Day
Oct 10: Local Government Day
Third Thursday (Oct 14): Conflict Resolution Day
Oct 21: Tenants’ Emancipation day
Oct 24: United Nations Day
Oct 29: National Indigenous People’s Thanksgiving Day
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