Travel and Tourism
PH maintains 9.2M tourists target amid nCoV travel bans
February 4, 2020, 4:22 pm
MANILA-- The Department of Tourism (DOT) is maintaining its 9.2 million tourists arrival target for 2020 amid the travel ban on foreigners from China and its special administrative regions by the Philippines and other countries to contain the spread of 2019-novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV). "There… Read More
DOT urges public, tourists to take precautions vs. 2019-nCoV
January 31, 2020, 7:42 pm
MANILA -- The Department of Tourism (DOT) on Friday urged the public including foreign tourists to take the necessary precautions to minimize the risk of contracting the virus following the Department of Health's (DOH) announcement on the first confirmed case of the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV)… Read More
Revival of direct flight to LA to boost Cebu tourism: OPAV
January 31, 2020, 6:38 pm
CEBU CITY – The Presidential Assistant for the Visayas on Friday said the revival of the Philippine Airlines (PAL) direct flight from Cebu to Los Angeles this year will perk up the tourism industry in the Central Visayas province. “We welcome the revival of the Cebu-Los Angeles Flight starting… Read More
Fewer Chinese citizens arriving in PH due to 2019-nCoV
January 30, 2020, 2:32 pm
CEBU CITY -- The Chinese Consulate General in Cebu on Wednesday said they have noticed a decline in tourist arrival among his fellow citizens since the outbreak of the 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) in Wuhan, China. Jia Li said the Ministry of Culture and Tourism issued an advisory on Monday… Read More
DOT allots P340.7-M for Iloilo tourism infra
January 29, 2020, 7:28 am
MANILA — The Department of Tourism (DOT) has earmarked a total of PHP340.7 million for Iloilo's tourism infrastructure development through the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA). "TIEZA made sure that the Province of Iloilo will have our steadfast support in terms of… Read More
DOT positive despite China travel ban
January 29, 2020, 6:58 am
MANILA — The government is optimistic Philippine tourism will remain resilient amid China's travel ban on outbound tour groups to prevent the spread of 2019-novel coronavirus (2019 n-CoV), a move seen to hit the industry across Asia who reaps the benefits of Chinese foreign travel. "The DOT is… Read More
Poor Samar town eyes tourism to spark dev’t
January 28, 2020, 6:18 pm
MATUGUINAO, Samar – The local government unit here is banking on tourism to change their image from a conflict-stricken and poverty-ravaged area into a developed town. Mayor Aran Boller said on Monday the local government will launch on February 28 their tourism program that will promote the… Read More
No immediate impact of nCoV scare on Duty Free shoppers
January 25, 2020, 6:17 pm
MANILA — The Duty Free Philippines Corporation (DFPC) continues to attract customers amid the scare over the 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCov) that originated from China. Without disclosing exact figures, DFPC chief Vicente Angala said the state-owned corporation's sales increased by 15 percent… Read More
7.4-M foreign tourists arrivals from Jan. to Nov.: DOT
January 24, 2020, 8:09 pm
MANILA -- The Philippines' foreign tourist arrivals hit 7.4 million in the first 11 months of 2019, up by 15.58 percent compared to the same period in 2018, the Department of Tourism (DOT) bared on Friday. For the first 11 months of 2019, DOT data showed that South Korea remains the country's top… Read More
DOT to help tourism recovery once Taal calms down
January 24, 2020, 6:44 pm
MANILA -- The Department of Tourism (DOT) on Friday assured it is ready to assist in promotions and coordinate with concerned agencies on the recovery of tourism establishments affected by the restive Taal Volcano once the situation stabilizes. "First, when it comes to promotions, we're ready. But… Read More
PH safe for tourists amid coronavirus scare: DOT
January 24, 2020, 3:56 pm
MANILA -- The Philippines remains a safe travel destination for foreign tourists amid a scare over the novel coronavirus (nCoV) reaching the country, the Department of Tourism (DOT) said Friday. "The safety of our tourists is number one (as well as the) safety of those in the tourism industry,… Read More
S. Korea cuts visa processing time for Pinoys
January 23, 2020, 11:37 am
MANILA -- The Korean visa processing period starting February 2020 will be reduced to 10-15 days, the South Korean Embassy in Manila announced. "The Embassy has allotted additional visa staffs for faster processing of Korean visa applications. Therefore, by the end of February, the current visa… Read More
Cebu airport eyes more domestic flights with T1 facelift
January 22, 2020, 4:25 pm
CEBU CITY – With the complete renovation of its Terminal 1, the Mactan-Cebu International Airport (MCIA) is confident of opening more domestic flights. Louie Ferrer, president of GMR Megawide Cebu Airport Corporation, said the unveiling of the commemorative marker led by President Rodrigo… Read More
CAB wants airlines to upgrade systems for timely announcements
January 21, 2020, 6:46 pm
MANILA -- The Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) has proposed a new provision on the Air Passenger Bill of Rights (APBR) that will compel airlines to invest in technology that effectively relays announcements to passengers, the Department of Tourism (DOT) said Tuesday. The DOT, which sits as vice-chair… Read More
6K people join Bambino Festival in Pasig City
January 21, 2020, 12:50 pm
MANILA --As the country celebrated the Santo Niño Festival on Sunday, around 6,000 people from all the 30 barangays in Pasig City joined the grand parade of the Bambino Festival --- its own version of honoring the Child Jesus. Bambino means “a baby or young child.” The 19th Bambino Festival,… Read More
Limahong Channel hub to boost tourism, jobs in Pangasinan town
January 20, 2020, 9:16 pm
LINGAYEN, Pangasinan -- The tourism industry here is expected to receive a boost while the local residents have opportunities to work once the construction of the Limahong Channel Tourism Center (LCTC) is completed. In an interview Monday, Lingayen Mayor Leopoldo Bataoil said the Department of… Read More
DOT, CAB to meet on airline calamity protocol
January 18, 2020, 11:02 am
MANILA -- The Department of Tourism (DOT) on Friday said it is scheduled to discuss with the Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) the implementation of a calamity protocol amid the continuing unrest of the Taal Volcano. Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat will attend the meeting with CAB on Monday… Read More
Bolinao town records 532K tourist arrivals in 2019
January 17, 2020, 1:03 pm
BOLINAO, Pangasinan -- A total of 532,142 tourists visited this town in 2019, up by 48.12 percent compared to 359,269 arrivals the previous year. “Of the total number of tourists in 2019, 3,261 are foreign tourists while 528,881 are domestic tourists,” municipal tourism officer Mary de Guzman… Read More
Quirino province OKs 5-year dev't plan for Governor Rapids
January 15, 2020, 9:01 pm
MADDELA, Quirino -- The provincial government here has approved a five-year development plan for the eco-tourism facilities of the Governor’s Rapids, which boasts of sprawling rock formations and crystal-clear waters off Cagayan River in Barrio Bisangal here, Governor Dakila Carlo Cua said.… Read More
Halt operations, tourism establishments in Taal danger zone told
January 15, 2020, 1:50 pm
MANILA – The Department of Tourism (DOT) on Wednesday directed the tourism establishments that continue to operate in areas affected by the Taal volcanic activity to "immediately cease operations" amid threats of an imminent explosive eruption. In a statement, the DOT said the health and safety… Read More