CLARK FREEPORT, Pampanga ,Philippines – The country’s tourism industry continues to boom with an estimated 3.3 million tourists visiting the Philippines last year.
In spite of this, the Department of Tourism (DOT) admitted that the figure ranked the country merely sixth in terms of tourist arrivals among the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean).
Socorro Caraig, chief of the accreditation division of the DOT, revealed this during the recent national convention of the National Association of Independent Travel Agencies of the Philippines, Inc. (NAITAP) held here as she noted “outdated” tourism standards in the country which the government is now upgrading.
She cited statistics indicating that annual tourist arrivals in the Philippines were estimated at only 3.3 million, which is sixth in ranking below Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore, Indonesia and Vietnam.
Malaysia’s annual tourist arrivals reach about 25 million, Caraig added.
The other Asean members are Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Laos, and Myanmar.
Caraig lamented that only 20 percent of tourism establishments in the country are accredited with the DOT.
The Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) estimated that foreign visitors in Asia-Pacific grew by four percent last May, with South Asia and Southeast Asia sub-regions recording strong performances for the month.
Latest reports, however, indicated that tourist arrivals for the first seven months of 2011 reached a total of 2,280,184 or an 11.83 percent increase over last year’s 2,039,002 for the same period.
Monthly growth of tourists has been noted this year, the biggest registered in July with 360,784 while the month of February recorded the highest growth of 18.52 percent.
The association noted that Southeast Asia recorded the largest arrivals gain of 16 percent during the month of May, with Thailand posting a 66 percent increase in arrivals, Vietnam 37 percent, Myanmar 33 percent, Cambodia 12 percent and Singapore 11 percent.
Caraig said that the DOT is now “evolving” tourism standards at par internationally as she expressed confidence that all tourism facilities in the country would be accredited with the DOT.
At present, she said only 842 “primary” establishments ranging from hotels to home-stay lodges and only 180 “secondary” establishments providing other tourist services such as restaurants are DOT-accredited. –Ding Cervantes (The Philippine Star)
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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