More fun to visit the Philippines

“VISIT the Philippines Year 2015 (VPY2015)” is raising the country’s international profile before the global travel industries, while gearing up for hosting the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Leaders’ Summit in November this year. VPY2015 complements the Department of Tourism (DOT)’s “It’s more fun in the Philippines.”

Both the APEC summit and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Tourism Forum in 2016 will promote the Philippines as host for meetings, conventions, and exhibitions in Asia-Pacific, pursuant to Presidential Proclamation No. 991 issued on April 9, 2015, which launched VPY2015. Tourism will be used to enhance infrastructure and product development, generate employment and investments, and serve as platform for closer partnership between public and private sectors, and with the global community.

The private sector, particularly firms involved in hotel and lodging, travel and tours, transportation, shopping, souvenirs, and restaurants, is encouraged to support VPY2015 by developing tour packages for foreign and local tourists. Public and private schools and universities are urged to tap the youth for the brand tourism campaign.

DOT has an array of VPY2015 activities such as concerts, exhibits showcasing Filipino painting and graphic arts, cinema, performing arts such as dance, music, and theater, as well as visits to heritage sites and natural wonders, exquisite local products, specialty food, and ecotourism trips.

More facilities and attractions in tourism destinations are being upgraded. Infrastructure projects, including road construction and repair, are underway in destinations near major tourism sites, and in the 10 strategic “international tourism gateway clusters.” With VPY2015, DOT seeks to attract 8.2 million visitors this year and 10 million by 2016.

Tourism is being boosted by the support of local government units. Communities are paving roads, painting bridges, cleaning up rivers and lakes, beautifying parks, and selling native produce. The best tourism agents are the Filipino people, the DOT noted, Tourists and visitors experience not just the fun, but also the famed Filipino friendliness and hospitality.

Revenue from the tourism sector is one of world’s fastest-growing, according to DOT, with global tourists spending more time in the Philippines. DOT noted the rising number of tourists in Southeast Asia. They reached 90.2 million in 2013.