HOW TO SELL PHILIPPINES
PHILIPPINES The Fabulous
BY LAURA GELDER There’s not one but several ways to
sell the Philippines. As an archipelago of over 7,000 tropical islands, it’s little wonder the destination varies immensely and has the potential to draw in all kinds of special interest travellers, as well as those seeking a sun and sea combination. The Philippines is great to flag up to
those who have experienced popular neighbours such as Thailand and Bali and are looking for something quite different. So stress the differences: Spanish
architecture, Catholic customs and fiestas and US-influenced culture in the form of city shopping and English-speaking locals. And don’t forget to mention the classic
selling points: white-sand beaches, dramatic volcanic ranges, bright-green rice paddies, limestone karst islands and busy, bustling cities. The two gateways to the Philippines
are the capital city, Manila, on the largest island of Luzon, and Cebu, an island and eponymous capital city situated in the Visayas region, popular for island hopping. There are no direct flights from the UK
to the Philippines but many Asian and Middle Eastern airlines operate via their hubs to the capital and local carriers fly from other Southeast Asian cites like Hong Kong, Singapore and Kuala Lumpur to both gateways, making the Philippines perfect for twin-centres. Luzon is split into different districts:
Head to Makati for shopping and café culture, see the excesses of Imelda Marcos at the Coconut Palace or explore Intramuros, the old walled city. Also in Luzon is the UNESCO-rated Banaue Rice Terraces, the colonial village of Vigan, the spectacular Lake Taal and Taal Volcano and the beaches of Batangas. Palawan is an island famous for its limestone cliffs and powder-sand beaches as well as its impressive wreck and reef diving. Its rare eco-system more closely resembles that of neighbouring Borneo than that found elsewhere in the Philippines and attracts wildlife lovers. A subterranean national park features rivers and caves that are ripe for exploration. The best of the Visayas includes Bohol, famous for its rolling Chocolate Hills and resident tiny primates, Tarsiers; sister island Panglao for its top-notch diving; Negros for hikers and bikers; and Panay for the white sands of Boracay Beach.
What’s New The Astoria Bohol has opened following the success of the Astoria Borocay. In Baclayon, across the water from Panglao, the resort has just eight rooms designed with local Filipino details. The Two Seasons Island Resort &
Spa is scheduled to open its eco-friendly luxury resort in 2012 on Palawan's tropical peninsula in Malaroyroy, among a turtle and giant clam sanctuary. In 2014 the Two Seasons Bayside Hotel & Dive Center in Coron, Palawan, will open, with a private jetty and dive centre. Other established brands such as Banyan Tree and Six Senses will open in Palawan by 2013/2014. In Manila, recent hotel additions include
the Remington Hotel in the Newport area, which offers rooms from under £60 a night; the four-star Centara Hotel Manila, in the commercial and leisure district of Ermita; the Midas Hotel and Casino, which will host a Japanese restaurant, Chinese noodle house and bread and pastry corner; and the Bayleaf Hotel in Intramuros, which has three dining venues including the Sky Deck and a churros café. Also new in historical Intramuros is a segway tour.
From The Front Line ROSARIO ‘CHIT’ AFUANG
Director, Philippines Department of Tourisma "We are set to launch a
new tourism brand campaign in the UK called ‘It's More Fun in the Philippines’. "Our London office is on call for travel agents and we can schedule training at their convenience and provide sales tools and brochures. The most up-and-coming destination in the Philippines is Dumaguete, the capital of Negros Oriental. Close to Cebu and well connected by flights and ferries, the charming university town is a jumping-off point for beach and diving resorts, dolphin and whale watching in nearby Bais City and trekking through sugar plantations and hill stations inland.
NANDITA PATEL Far East Manager Funway Holidays "Our most popular resort
in the Philippines is Shangri-La Mactan Island, just a short ferry ride from Cebu Island. Situated in a private beach cove with a marine sanctuary, it's an ideal resort for couples and families." •
PHILIPPINES Top Selling Tips...
• Whale shark tales... “Diving and snorkelling is a big seller for the Philippines: head to Donsol to snorkel with whale sharks; to Malapascua to dive with rarely seen thresher sharks and to Panglao island for pygmy seahorses.
LAURA GELDER Travel Writer
• The Paris of the East... “The San Sebastian Church in Manila was built by Gustav Eiffel in 1888 – it is the first and only steel church in Asia”
ROSARIO ‘CHIT’ AFUANG Director, Philippines Department of Tourism
Clockwise from left: the clear waters of Palawan; a colourful jeepney; a whale shark at Donsol
www.sellinglonghaul.com • April 2012 49
IMAGES: GEORGE TAPAN
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76