Travel and Tourism
International tourism reaches 97% of pre-virus levels in Q1
May 21, 2024, 9:16 pm
ANKARA – International tourism reached 97 percent of its pre-pandemic level in the first quarter of this year, the UN Tourism said on Tuesday. More than 285 million tourists traveled internationally in January-March, rising 20 percent from the previous year, it said. While export revenues from… Read More
Bolinao town records 333K tourist arrivals from Jan-April 2024
May 21, 2024, 8:39 pm
MALASIQUI, Pangasinan – The Bolinao Tourism Office has recorded 333,688 tourist arrivals from January to April this year, higher than the 276,439 during the same period in 2023, the Pangasinan Tourism Office said on Tuesday. Data show that most of the visitors, at 231,755, are day tourists,… Read More
Boracay as next go-to dive spot; hyperbaric center rising soon
May 21, 2024, 8:22 pm
MANILA – Sun and beach for the longest time has been Boracay Island’s crowd-puller that thousands of locals and foreigners are willing to travel just to experience its unmatched combination of fine white sands and calm waters. To date, the Department of Tourism (DOT) is ramping up efforts to… Read More
Puerto Princesa tourism stakeholders harmonize promotion efforts
May 20, 2024, 8:48 pm
PUERTO PRINCESA, Palawan – The city government is mobilizing the various community-based sustainable tourism (CBST) associations here to come up with their own strategies for promoting the diverse tourist attractions in their respective jurisdictions. In an interview on Monday, City Tourism… Read More
2nd Ibabao Festival seen to draw more tourists to Northern Samar
May 20, 2024, 2:44 pm
CATARMAN, Northern Samar – The provincial government here is upbeat about drawing more visitors to the province through the month-long celebration of 2nd Ibabao Festival, showcasing its culture, rich history, local products and tourism destination. Citing their experiences last year, Vice… Read More
DOT looking to breach 200K mark for tourists from UK
May 17, 2024, 6:00 am
MANILA – The Department of Tourism (DOT) is looking at ways to attract more British visitors and elevate the United Kingdom (UK) as a "key tourism market" for the Philippines. Speaking at the British Chamber of Commerce Philippines' 2024 Travel Talks in Makati City on Thursday, DOT… Read More
Int'l cruise ship arrival in Legazpi City seen to boost tourism
May 16, 2024, 5:24 pm
LEGAZPI CITY – The City Tourism Office here is expecting a boost in tourism and local economy with the arrival of an international cruise ship here on Thursday. In a phone interview, Cristina Agapita-Pacres, Legazpi City tourism officer, said the Hanseatic Spirit ship of Hapag Lloyd-Tui… Read More
Antiqueños urged to help preserve cultural, historical heritage
May 16, 2024, 3:30 pm
SAN JOSE DE BUENAVISTA, Antique – The Antique Provincial Tourism and Cultural Affairs Office (APTCAO) urged Antiqueños to help preserve and promote the rich cultural and historical heritage of the province. APTCAO head Juan Carlos Perlas, in his message during the opening of the Heritage Month… Read More
Sofitel closure ‘significant loss’ to PH tourism sector
May 14, 2024, 6:27 pm
MANILA – The closure of the iconic Sofitel Philippine Plaza would be a “significant loss” to the country’s tourism sector, the Department of Tourism (DOT) said Tuesday. The 48-year-old five-star hotel announced it will cease operations by July 1, citing safety reasons. In a meeting with… Read More
Albay town revives 'Pinangat' festival
May 11, 2024, 5:34 pm
LEGAZPI CITY – After four years of absence due to the pandemic and eruption threats of Mayon Volcano, the local government of Camalig in Albay province is gearing up for the comeback of its Pinangat festival. In a phone interview on Saturday, Mayor Carlos Irwin Baldo Jr. said the town is… Read More
Marinduque tourism sector posts strong Q1 performance
May 10, 2024, 6:32 pm
BOAC, Marinduque – The tourism and hospitality sector in this province received a much-needed boost in the first quarter of the current year when over 16,000 visitors came to experience its sights and sounds. In an interview on Friday, provincial tourism officer Rino Labay said this represents… Read More
Cebu Pacific to launch flights to Don Mueang in July
May 9, 2024, 4:09 pm
MANILA – Air passengers heading to Thailand will have more options as low-cost carrier Cebu Pacific (CEB) announced the launch of three weekly flights to Don Mueang starting July 16. "Bangkok remains one of the most popular destinations in Southeast Asia, with its majestic pagodas, flavorful… Read More
DOT positions PH as Muslim-friendly destination at travel fair
May 7, 2024, 5:17 pm
MANILA – Department of Tourism (DOT) Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco has positioned the country as a Muslim-friendly destination through a "listening session" with tourism players from the Middle East. Frasco met with some 90 travel and tourism stakeholders from the Middle East market on the… Read More
Romblon’s Bonbon named 1 of world’s top 50 beaches
May 6, 2024, 8:52 pm
MANILA – Romblon province’s Bonbon Beach has earned a spot in the prestigious 2024 World's Top 50 Beaches list, the Department of Tourism (DOT) has announced. Joining the province was another Mimaropa destination, the Entalula Island in El Nido, Palawan, placing fourth out of 50 and further… Read More
'Sky Pasada' reopens Laoag-Basco route
May 6, 2024, 8:52 pm
LAOAG CITY – Regional carrier Sky Pasada has reopened its hub at the Laoag International Airport with flights to Basco, Batanes every Monday, Wednesday and Friday starting this week. Government records showed the hub closed in 2003 due to the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) that… Read More
DOT leads PH team to Korea, UAE travel fairs this month
May 3, 2024, 2:06 pm
MANILA – The Department of Tourism (DOT) is set to lead the Philippine delegation to the Arabian Travel Market (ATM) 2024 and the Seoul International Travel Fair (SITF) 2024 this month. The ATM will be held at the Dubai World Trade Center in Dubai, United Arab Emirates from May 6 to 9 and the… Read More
P25-M museum rehab to boost Benguet town's tourism
May 2, 2024, 7:32 pm
BAGUIO CITY – The National Museum of the Philippines has allotted PHP25 million for the rehabilitation of its museum in Kabayan, Benguet, which houses information on local history as as well actual mummies. “The amount will focus on the rehabilitation of the structure of Site 1 because it is… Read More
Pangasinan celebrates Pistay Dayat 2024
May 1, 2024, 8:27 pm
MALASIQUI, Pangasinan – Labor Day in the province of Pangasinan is also an annual celebration for the bounty of the sea that gives livelihood to many families, through the month-long Pistay Dayat (Sea Festival). Celebrations started on April 5 during the province’s founding anniversary, and… Read More
Bangusan Street Party draws 1M crowd
May 1, 2024, 6:04 pm
DAGUPAN CITY – Bangusan Street Party (Kalutan ed Dalan) still holds supreme among the street parties in the province of Pangasinan 22 years after it was first held, with this year’s crowd hitting the one million mark. Mayor Belen Fernandez, in a Facebook post on Wednesday, thanked all the… Read More
Mahagnao Volcano and Natural Park emerges as new camping site in Leyte
April 29, 2024, 3:08 pm
BURAUEN, Leyte - The Mahagnao Volcano Natural Park (MVNP) is one of the emerging destinations in Leyte province and nature lovers could check out this newest attraction that offers camping activities. Municipal tourism officer Carmela Crebillo said there has been growing interest among camping… Read More
