Philippines Eying for 5.5 Million Tourists in 2013

The Department of Tourism (DOT) is looking forward to attracting over 5.5 million visitors next year. The budget allocation for the tourism-related activities in 2013 has seen a whopping hike of 80 percent, which brings into focus the government’s earnestness about the promotion of tourism in the Philippines.

According to a report, the Department will receive P2.9 billion for the implementation of its promotional campaign and infrastructural development in 2013. The budget for the current year is P1.65 billion. Part of the budgetary allocation will go the Office of the Secretary and the rest will be spent on various development projects in Intramuros and Manila.

The Department’s ad campaign “It’s More Fun in the Philippines’ has gone international with the CNN and many other international TV channels featuring it in their prime time slots. The department is very excited over the launch of its TV ads on popular cable channels of the world. Special reports covering topics, such as the Filipino people, culture, politics, and business are also being run on various international media.

A few months ago, the Department of Tourism made good use of the opportunities created by the Olympic Games and other international events in the UK. It got the London black taxicabs, double-decker buses and underground stations to display banner ads promoting tourism in the Philippines. Curiosity generated through the ad campaigns is likely to translate into increased queries about cheap flights from Glasgow to Manila.

Several new avenues are being explored and created to attract tourists and sustain the growth potential of the country. Facilities are being improved to match international standard and help tourists get a smooth traveling experience across all parts of the country.

The efforts to improve the experience of foreign tourists are not limited to just Manila and its surroundings. Several provincial governments are also taking steps to improve infrastructure and develop new attractions within their jurisdictions. 

The provincial government of Nueva Vizcaya, for example, is contemplating the idea of an advanced adventure tourism site in Barangay San Luis. A P6 million-worth adventure challenge project has been proposed for the development of additional adventure tourism facilities in the Lower Magat Eco-Tourism Park (LMETP).