The Philippines officially known as the Republic of the Philippines (, is a sovereign island country in Southeast

Asia situated in the western Pacific Ocean. It consists of 7,107 islands that are categorized broadly under three main
geographical divisions: Luzon,Visayas, and Mindanao. Its capital city is Manila while its most populous city is Quezon
City. Its location on the Pacific Ring of Fire and close to the equator makes the Philippines prone to earthquakes and
typhoons, but also endows it with abundant natural resources and some of the world's greatest biodiversity. At
approximately 300,000 square kilometers (115,831 sq mi), the Philippines is the 64th-largest country in the world.
Tourism is one of the major contributor to the economy of the Philippines, contributing 5.9% to the Philippine GDP in
2011. The Philippines is an archipelagic country composed of 7,107 islands. The country's rich biodiversity is the main
tourist attraction of the Philippines. Its beaches, mountains, rainforests, islands and diving spots are among the country's
most popular tourist destinations. The country's rich historical and cultural heritage is also one of the attractions of the
Philippines.
Tourism destinations
ities
Metro Manila is the capital region of the Philippines and a major hub for business, entertainment, arts and culture. The
City of Manila is notable for its cultural attractions like the Spanish colonial buildings in Intramuros and Fort Santiago,
and the World Heritage Site of San Agustin Church. Makati, the region's financial center, is noted for its cosmopolitan
culture.
Cebu City is the Philippines' second city. Popular attractions in Cebu include monuments to Ferdinand Magellan's
discovery of the Philippines like the Magellan's Cross andMagellan shrine and other Spanish relics like Fort San
Pedro, Basilica of Santo Nio and Colon Street, the oldest street in the Philippines. The Sinulog festival in the city is
also a major tourist draw.
Cagayan de Oro is famous for its whitewater rafting or kayaking adventures, that has been one of the tourism activity
being promoted in the Cagayan de Oro River.
Puerto Princesa has been called the "Greenest City in the Philippines."[23] The city's main tourist attraction is
the Puerto Princesa Underground River, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and part of the New 7 Wonders of Nature.
Other popular attractions in the city include beaches, island resorts, wildlife reserves, and diving spots.
Baguio is considered the "Summer Capital of the Philippines" because of its cool weather caused by its high
altitude. Burnham Park, Wright Park and Mines View Park are some of its famous landmarks. American-era buildings
such as the Baguio Mansion House, Baguio Cathedral and the American Residence at Camp John Hay also serve as
tourist attractions. The city is a popular stop for tourists going to the Rice Terraces of the Philippine Cordilleras, a World
Heritage site, and the town of Sagada.
Beaches and islands
As a tropical country with a long coastline and with more than 7,107 islands, the Philippines offers a wide selection of
beaches and islands around its archipelago. One of the most popular and visited beach destinations in the country
is Boracay. Other popular beach destinations include:

El Nido
Dahican Beach
Samal Island
Panglao Island
Mactan Island
Bantayan Island
Malapascua Island
Coron Island
Pagudpud
Caramoan Peninsula
White Island
Puerto Galera
Siargao Island
Subic Bay
Malawa Island
Sabang

National parks and nature reserves

Mount Hamiguitan - is a mountain range located between the Mati City and the Municipality of San Isidro in
the province of Davao Oriental. The mountain and its vicinity has the most diverse wildlife populations in the country.
It has been designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Banaue Rice Terraces- are 2000-year old terraces that were carved into the mountains of Ifugao.

Puerto Princesa Subterranean River- is an underground river that features a spectacular limestone karst
landscape and represents a significant habitat for biodiversity conservation. It has been chosen as one of
the New7Wonders of Nature.

Tubbataha Reef- is an atoll coral reef located in the Sulu Sea. It is designated as a UNESCO World Heritage
Site.

Apo Reef- is a series of coral reefs encompassing 34 square kilometers within the waters of Occidental
Mindoro. It is the world's second-largest contiguous coral reef system and the largest in the country.

Mayon Volcano- is an active volcano in the province of Albay, it is famous for its perfect cone shape.

Chocolate Hills- is an unusual geological formation in Bohol which has over 1,260 hills spread over an area of
more than 50 square kilometres (20 sq mi).

Mount Apo- is the tallest mountain in the Philippines and a popular destination for mountain activities.

Baroque Churches of the Philippines- are four old churches located around the country built in the Spanish
colonial times. Their unique architectural style is a reinterpretation of European Baroque by Chinese and Philippine
craftsmen.

Taal Volcano- is the world's smallest active volcano.

Batanes Islands- is a province comprising ten islands that are located in the Luzon Strait.

Hundred Islands- are islands scattered along the Lingayen Gulf with pocket beaches and coral reefs.

Sagay Marine Reserve- is the largest marine reserve in the Philippines, covering an area of 32,000 hectares.

Loboc River- is a river on Bohol which offers a vista of lush tropical vegetation such as nipa palms, coconut
trees, banana groves, and bushes.

Mount Pinatubo- is a volcano which erupted in 1991. After the major eruption a crater lake was formed
called Lake Pinatubo.

[25]

[26]

Tourism National Strategy

Objectives
Formulate an integrated sustainable tourism management plan for Central Philippines, identifying viable critical
environmental, infrastructure and community-based projects to link and integrate the tourism development of the area.
In particular the Tourism Management Plan will:
1.Provide a comprehensive planning framework for the development of tourism so that it can play a key role in the
development of the regional economy;
2.Elaborate a vision of the future direction and content of tourism development, which can help to focus and guide the
actions of the various stakeholders towards a shared goal;
3.Identify areas for tourism development, related tourism facilities and supporting infrastructure;
4.Specify the major programs, roles and responsibilities of key players, institutional arrangements and resource
requirements for achieving the vision.
Destination Strategy
To achieve the projected growth in tourist numbers and expenditures over the next decade. the Central Philippines will
have to move to an investment-driven strategy. Outside of Cebu and Boracay, little investment has taken place in recent
years in the Super Regions tourism sector. The result is that the tourism industry is totally reliant on its natural
attractions as the motivation for tourists to visit. But the natural attractions, though unique in many ways, are not
sufficiently strong in themselves to attract the numbers required to support a significant tourism sector. This is a primary
factor driven strategy and characterized by infrastructure inadequacies, limited investment in product, insufficient
accommodation, medium to low quality product and inadequate airlift.

They also has the strategic tourism development plan, which is connected with a tourism cluster and structure of
tourism government in Philippines.
Tourism statistics
Visitor Receipts. Earnings gained from tourism activities in the first quarter of 2015 reached an estimated Php 58.96
billion, up by 2.21% from the Php 57.68 billion in the first three months of 2014, In terms of US dollars, the
contribution of tourism increased by 3.23% to US$ 1.33 billion, from the US$ 1.28 billion in 2014. For March 2015,
visitor receipts amounted to Php 17.13 billion, dropping 5.03% against the previous years earnings of Php 18.04
billion.
Average Daily Expenditure (ADE) of visitors for the month of March 2015 was recorded at Php 4,503.68, down by
8.50% down compared to the Php 4,922.15 ADE of March 2014, while Average Length of Stay (ALoS) in March 2015
registered 9.76 nights versus the March 2014 ALoS of 10.72 nights.
Average per capita expenditure of visitors for the month in review was Php 43,955.94, 16.70% less compared to
the Php 52,765.44 for the same month the previous year.
Asia contributed the biggest arrivals for the Philippines during the month of March 2015 with 248,079 visitors for a
share of 54.38% to the total arrivals. Americas followed with 88,541 for a market share of 19.41%; Europe which
comprised 12.07% of the total, contributed 55,047 arrivals, Australasia/Pacific (5.93%) and Overseas Filipinos
(5.47%).
Looking at the contribution by country market for the first three months of the year, Korea still finished as the top
contributor of international arrivals to the country with 361,480 arrivals, constituting 25.97% to the total inbound traffic
and a 20.40% growth compared to its 300,239 arrivals for the same months in 2014.
The United States of America supplied the 2nd largest influx of tourist arrival with 214,057 visitors, 15.38% share to
total inbound for the country. This market recorded a 7.32% increase vis--vis its arrivals of 199,465 for the same
period last year. Japan ranked as the 3rd biggest country market, providing a total of 130,374 arrivals, comprising
9.37% to the total while increasing by 8.69% from its 2014 arrivals of 119,951. China placed 4th, amassing 93,043
visitors, embodying 6.68% to the entirety. The 5th major inbound market to the Philippines was Australia with 62,899
arrivals with a share of 4.52% to the total traffic base.
Rounding up the top ten visitor markets are Canada (+9.14%) with 46,756 arrivals, Singapore (-1.34%) with 44,216
arrivals, Taiwan (+18.12%) with 41,713 arrivals, United Kingdom (+9.91%) with 40,071 arrivals, and Malaysia
(+17.41%) with 37,336 arrivals.
For the month of March 2015, markets with substantial growth in inbound entry included: India with 6,415 arrivals
(+29.02%), France with 4,735 arrivals (+26.17%), Saudi Arabia with 4,446 arrivals (+34.12%), Switzerland with 2,576
arrivals (+7.11%), and Netherlands with 2,365 arrivals (+12.78%).

Problems
Poverty remains a critical social problem that needs to be addressed. Philippines' poverty line marks a per capita income
of 16,841 pesos a year. According to the data from the National Statistical Coordination Board, more than one-quarter
(27.9%) of the population fell below the poverty line the first semester of 2012, an approximate 1 per cent increase
since 2009. This figure is a slightly lower figure as compared to the 33.1% in 1991.
[1]

[2]

[3]

The decline in poverty has been slow and uneven, much slower than neighboring countries who experienced broadly
similar numbers in the 1980s, such as People's Republic of China (PRC), Thailand, Indonesia (where the poverty level
lies at 8.5%) or Vietnam (13.5%). This shows that the incidence of poverty has remained significantly high as compared
to other countries for almost a decade. The unevenness of the decline has been attributed to a large range of income
brackets across regions and sectors, and unmanaged population growth. The Philippines poverty rate is roughly the
same level as Haiti.
[4]

[4]

The government planned to eradicate poverty as stated in the Philippines Development Plan 2011-2016 (PDP). The PDP
for those six years are an annual economic growth of 7-8% and the achievement of the Millennium Development
Goals (MDGs). Under the MDGs, Philippines committed itself to halving extreme poverty from a level of 33.1% in
1991 to 16.6% by 2015.
[4]

There are an estimated 4 million slum dwellers living in Manila as of 2014

3. Security & Safety

Aside from the numerous tourist spots in the country, travelers also consider its security and safety. Despite the efforts
made by the government, terrorism in the country has always been associated with the extremist militant groups
especially in the Southern Philippines.
In June 2001, the kidnapping of the three American tourists Guillermo Sobrero and Martin with wife Gracia Burnham in
Dos Palmas resort, Palawan wherein two of them were killed by the Abu Sayyaf was all over the news worldwide. It has
badly affected the tourism economy of the Philippines due to security concern. However, the country has picked up with
its tourism quite several years after the incident.
Foreign and Commonwealth Office, a UK government organization that promotes British interests overseas, has
identified in their website those areas in the Philippines where they release and monitor travel advices for their safety.
4.Substandart travel infrastructure
Last year, the country has experienced problems with the congestions of major airports especially in NAIA, wherein
flights were delayed, cancelled and diverted with short notice only. The reason behind this problem is the increase of
flight promos by airlines that leads to lacking space of airplanes to land and to park.
This year, the Department of Transportation and Communications seeks a P3.417 Billion Budget that will include the
beautification and development of Airports and Seaports. According to Colliers International, majority of the tourists
see transportation accessibility as the foremost consideration.
Among the ASEAN countries, Philippines is the least accessible country unlike Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand, that
traveling is usually by air.
Generally, the most convenient transportation going to the Philippines is by air and the cost of air fare is relatively high
and the country also lacks in international flights as well as direct flights going to top tourist destinations.
However, DOT Region-6 Regional Director Helen Catalbas said the tourism industry in Western Visayas may be
brighter with the opening of Iloilo airports with its first international flights to and from Hong Kong and Singapore.
Catalbas added DOT is also pushing for the standard chartered flights in Bacolod-Silay Airport to resume this month or
February to increase tourist in the region.

Even for travelers who get past the negative stereotypes -- and as with most hysterical complaining, the negative
reviews on the Philippines are almost always wildly exaggerated -- getting to the Philippines can be a physical burden.
Because the country is located in the South China Sea, 98 percent of international visitors arrive by air, according to
Narzalina Lim, president of Manila-based Asia Pacific Projects, Inc., a tourism and hospitality consulting firm that
prepared the 2011-2016 National Tourism Development Plan for the Philippines Department of Tourism (DOT).
Famous for the wrong reasons, Manila's Ninoy Aquino International Airport was voted "world's worst" in 2011 by
readers of Sleepinginairports.net. A facelift is underway.
Flight frequency and capacity, airport infrastructure, the number of international gateways in the archipelago and a
hospitable aviation policy are very important in attracting tourists to the Philippines, said Lim in an email interview.
The country rates poorly in all these points, although under President Benigno Simeon Aquino, a lot of progress has
been made in liberalizing aviation policy.
Also on CNNGo: 36 hours on a Philippine bus
There are also not enough direct international flights. European travelers suffer the most.
There are no more direct flights from Europe to Manila, says Lim. The last one, KLM, stopped flying this April. The
problem of attracting foreign carriers to fly to the Philippines is the imposition by the Philippine government of the
Common Carriers Tax and the Gross Philippine Billings, Lim says, referring to taxes imposed on airlines.
There are two bills -- one in the Senate and another one in the Lower House of Congress -- proposing the elimination
of these onerous taxes, Lim says. We stakeholders are lobbying for passage of these two bills. In the end, the
president will decide, and we should know the results before June.
"The DOT is exerting all efforts for the amendment of these tax laws," Philippine Tourism Secretary Jimenez told
CNNGo in an email interview last week. "Efforts are now being undertaken by the Department to have the bill certified
as urgent so that this important piece of legislation will be passed immediately."

People who do arrive at the countrys main international gateways -- Manila, Laoag, Clark, Mactan-Cebu, Davao,
Kalibo, Puerto Princesa -- face inadequate air, sea and road connectivity to reach their holiday destinations, says Lim.
Many travelers, meanwhile, describe Manilas Ninoy Aquino International Airport as abysmal.
The government is responding to complaints with a rehabilitation of Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) 1, the
countrys premier gateway, says Peter Perfecto, executive director of the Makati Business Club, one of the nations most
prestigious business organizations.
The NAIA 1 upgrade project is ongoing, says Perfecto. This involves structural retrofitting, mechanical, electrical,
fire protection and plumbing improvements and the construction of new and more check-in and immigration counters,
improved toilet facilities, a walkalator and additional rapid exit taxiways."
"We are happy to share that the much-needed upgrade and rehabilitation is already underway with the completion
expected by end of 2012," Jimenez told CNNGo. "Many operational as well as design improvements are in the works.
NAIA Terminal 3 is also expected to be fully operational by next year, most of the international flights will be departing
from here."
"Awareness" is the problem, say officials
Aside from airport concerns, however, Jimenez mostly sees a more benign problem at the root of Philippine tourism's
sluggish performance, one demanding a seemingly simple solution.
In February, Jimenez told reporters, The biggest reason for our low numbers [of tourist arrivals] is not our
infrastructure, crime, negative reports in the media or even the cost of flying into the Philippines.
The problem, he said, is ignorance.
They just havent heard of the Philippines, Jimenez said of international travelers.
Tourists generally forgo the highlights of the Philippine capital, such as the Manila Cathedral in Intramuros, and head
straight for the beaches
According to Jimenez, nearly 4 million foreign passport holders visited the Philippines in 2011. Earlier this year, he
announced the ambitious goal of boosting that number to 10 million by 2016.
"Raising awareness" is at the heart of his plan.
"Its plain and simple the lack of awareness about the Philippines is the major contributing factor as to why tourists
from [foreign] countries have not visited our shores," Jimenez reiterated to CNNGo.
If nothing else, Jimenez has clearly gotten virtually everyone in his department onboard with his message ... and with
staying on message.