philippines
FEATURE 25
Philippines
MANILA NICE
The Philippines has some of the world’s best beaches, unique cultural spots like 2,000-year-old rice terraces and top-class wreck diving – and the country is crying out for tourists, says John Oates
I
t’s true to say that there is little awareness of the Philippines among the UK public. Considering that the archipelago has some of the best beaches you’re likely to fi nd anywhere, a unique culture combining devout Catholicism with a dash of US glitz, and a location on the ‘Pacifi c Ring of Fire’ which has endowed it with abundant natural resources and some of the world’s greatest biodiversity, it has historically underperformed when compared to neighbours such as Thailand. Things had slowly started to change in recent times, with tourism numbers growing thanks in part to the successful ‘It’s More Fun in the Philippines’ campaign which kicked off in 2012. Then, in November last year, the country was thrust into the international limelight for the most
terrible of reasons after Typhoon Haiyan struck. Yet while a few islands were hit very hard, with large numbers of fatalities, most were unaffected. “The heavy media coverage of the typhoon has signifi cantly affected bookings,” says Lorna Archibald, Sales and Marketing Manager for Imaginative Traveller. “We would urge agents to reassure customers that only a tiny proportion of the country is out of bounds. Furthermore, the Philippines is depending on tourism to help rebuild those areas ravaged by the typhoon.” Some specialist operators such as Regaldive, on the other hand, report that bookings are as buoyant as they have ever been. Managing Director Andreas Elia says the re-introduction last November
www.sellinglonghaul.com
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