Travel and Tourism
Direct Switzerland-Manila flights eyed
January 15, 2020, 7:56 am
MANILA -- Talks for the opening of direct flights between Switzerland and the Philippines are ongoing, a Swiss tourism official said Tuesday night. "There are talks, definitely, and we are trying to have a direct connection but at the moment we don’t have something that we can announce as of… Read More
PH, Switzerland tourism tie-up seen by end 2020
January 15, 2020, 7:50 am
MANILA -- A two-way tourism promotion deal between the Philippines and Switzerland is seen by the end of 2020, a Swiss official bared Tuesday. Ivan Breiter, director of Switzerland Tourism for Southeast Asia, said he and representatives of the Department of Tourism (DOT) have begun discussions on… Read More
Travel in other parts of Luzon remains safe amid Taal unrest: DOT
January 14, 2020, 8:11 pm
MANILA -- Travel in other parts of Luzon remains safe and accessible amid Taal Volcano eruption on Sunday, which enveloped parts of Calabarzon (Region 4-A) with ashfall, the Department of Tourism (DOT) said on Tuesday. "The DOT would like to reiterate that travel in other parts of Luzon, and the… Read More
Duty Free PH doubles growth rate in 2019
January 12, 2020, 12:16 pm
MANILA -- Duty Free Philippines Corporation (DFPC) doubled its year-on-year sales growth to 4 percent in 2019 compared to 2 percent the previous year. DFPC maintained its strong growth trajectory as the agency’s consolidated sales reached more than USD226 million in 2019 from USD217 million in… Read More
Pujada Bay’s ‘beauty, cleanliness’ surprise foreign validators
January 12, 2020, 12:13 pm
MATI CITY, Davao Oriental -- The two foreign validators of the Most Beautiful Bays in the World (MBBW) Club were astounded at the beauty of the Pujada Bay here, as they conducted ground validation on the possible inclusion of the bay to the MBBW. MBBW founder and manager Bruno Bodard and MBBW… Read More
PTAA expo to offer up to 70% travel discounts
January 11, 2020, 1:12 pm
MANILA – The Philippine Travel Agencies Association (PTAA) will hold a travel expo next month, offering up to 70 percent discount on travel products and services. In a press conference on Friday, PTAA president Ritchie Tuaño said the PTAA slated the 5th International Travel Trade Expo 2020 from… Read More
Travel agencies still thrive amid growing online platforms
January 11, 2020, 11:29 am
MANILA – Services of travel agencies remain relevant despite the rise of online travel platforms, the Philippines Travel Agencies Association (PTAA) said Friday. In a press conference, PTAA president Ritchie Tuaño said the services offered by travel agencies are still in demand despite more… Read More
Travel expo puts spotlight on families, offers huge discounts
January 9, 2020, 7:44 pm
MANILA -- Traveling is one of the ways for families to bond and create great memories. This is one of the things that the Philippine Travel Agencies Association (PTAA) wants to highlight in its latest expo. The 27th PTAA TravelTour Expo 2020 is slated at the SMX Convention Center, Mall of Asia… Read More
DOT, DENR, DILG to inspect Baguio rehab program
January 8, 2020, 5:03 pm
MANILA -- The Department of Tourism (DOT), together with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), is set to inspect Baguio City on Friday (Jan. 10) for rehabilitation. Under the initiative, Tourism Secretary… Read More
Ilocos needs more tourist guides
January 8, 2020, 4:53 pm
LAOAG CITY—With the influx of foreign tourists visiting Ilocos Norte, travel operators said they are in need of more tour guides to assist guests and make their stay memorable in the province. Angel Lao, former president of the Ilocos Norte Travel and Tours Association and owner of the Travel… Read More
Higher entrance fees at Ilocos Norte tourist sites loom
January 8, 2020, 2:47 pm
LAOAG CITY—Visiting all provincial government-owned tourism facilities in Ilocos Norte may cost a little higher this year to cover operational expenses and maintenance. Ian Ree Raquel, head of the Provincial Tourism Office, said the proposed entrance fees will range from PHP30 to PHP50 per head… Read More
Cebu hotel, resort owners raise concerns on online booking sites
January 7, 2020, 7:17 pm
CEBU CITY -- Owners of hotels and resorts in Cebu are reeling from a drop in bookings due to competing online or mobile application-based booking sites offering lower prices lodging or homestays. Alfred Reyes, vice president of the Hotel, Resort & Restaurant Association of Cebu, Inc. (HRRACI),… Read More
Currimao seaport to welcome another cruise ship’s arrival
January 3, 2020, 9:01 pm
LAOAG CITY—The international seaport of Currimao is set to welcome another cruise ship on Monday (January 6), the Provincial Tourism Office said. Xavier Ruiz, tourism operations officer in Ilocos Norte, said on Friday the M/V The World with 160 passengers departed from Hong Kong and it is… Read More
Dagupan City offers free ‘river cruise’ ride
December 30, 2019, 5:06 pm
DAGUPAN CITY -- The city government here is offering free tour to its serene and green Dawel River. The Dawel River Cruise, which was relaunched on Dec. 27, takes around 45 to 60 minutes through a thatched-roofed boat that can carry up to 20 passengers per travel. The city will add two more of… Read More
PH may hit 8.2M target tourist arrivals before 2020
December 27, 2019, 6:48 pm
MANILA -- The Bureau of Immigration (BI) is optimistic the country would hit its targeted 8.2 million foreign tourist arrivals even though only four days are left until the end of December 2019. The projection came as the Philippine government on Friday welcomed its 8-millionth foreign tourist to… Read More
Japanese couple is PH's 8-millionth tourist
December 27, 2019, 6:03 pm
MANILA -- The country's 8-millionth foreign tourist, who arrived on Friday, is a Japanese couple who frequents the Philippines for its lush mangoes and hospitable people. Husband and wife, Tamio and Yachiyo Imamoto, were welcomed by the Department of Tourism Assistant Secretary Roberto Alabado III… Read More
Less trash collected in Luneta during Christmas this year
December 27, 2019, 2:13 pm
MANILA -- The National Parks Development Committee (NPDC), an attached agency of the Department of Tourism (DOT), on Friday reported it collected less trash in Luneta (Rizal Park) this Christmas season compared to last year. NPDC executive director Cecile Lorenzana-Romero said from December 24 to… Read More
Davao City rakes in 2.34M visitors in November 2019
December 27, 2019, 10:59 am
DAVAO CITY -- The Davao City Tourism Operations Office (DCTOO) recorded some 2.34 million visitors as of November this year, an official said in a statement on Thursday. Generose Tecson, CTOO head, said this figure is higher than that of the similar last year, which only had 2.17 million. "I… Read More
Siargao gets int'l praise as 8th best 2020 holiday destination
December 24, 2019, 5:02 pm
MANILA -- Philippine destinations are on a roll this year, with Siargao earning the latest international praise from luxury travel magazine Condé Nast Traveler, which named it eighth among 20 best holiday destinations for 2020. Described as a tiny Philippine island giving Bali a run for its… Read More
Duty Free, BI partner for new online shopping system
December 24, 2019, 4:21 pm
MANILA-- The Duty Free Philippines Corporation (DFPC) and the Bureau of Immigration (BI) will introduce in January 2020 a new online shopping validation system that will effectively verify legitimate duty free shoppers. The memorandum of agreement, signed by DFPC chief operating officer Vicente… Read More