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In my two years in this country, I have visited many places that affirm the claim that “It s ore un in the Philippines. pparently, I am not alone. any of my fellow oreans have been visiting the Philippines in the past, and they continue to do so in ever increasing numbers. I am happy to say that oreans comprise about of the foreigners who visited the country last year, making them the num ber one tourists.
oreans are everywhere from beach resorts to mountain trails, from diving spots to golf courses. Others have taken res idence here, either in the suburbs or in the metropolis.
nd where there are oreans, there would be orean res taurants and grocery stores. They cater as well as to the ilipi nos who have developed a taste for orean cuisine. It is part of the orean wave or D , that the Philippines has been riding for uite some time, and includes orean novelas on T and Pop.
ore than anything else, I believe that orean tourists are flocking to the Philippines for its beauty and the hospitality of its people.
I myself have visited some popular areas, like oracay and its pristine beaches, ohol with its hocolate ills and tarsier sanctuary, and the mountain peaks of ebu. This June, I will visit Palawan and finally get to see one of the orld s ew onders of ature, the nderground iver in Puerto Princesa.
y e periences have been fantastic. hile the infrastruc ture may not be perfect, I e pect more foreigners to arrive after the uropean nion removed the Philippines from its aviation blacklist last year.
On the other hand, there were more than , ilipinos who visited orea last year. This was a . growth from the previous year. This number is significant, and indicates that orea is becoming one of the favorite vacation spots of ilipino tourists as well.
eoul has a special appeal to many visitors, and so does Je u Island, which, incidentally, is also one of ew on ders of ature. People enticed by our own slogan, “ orea, e Inspired, probably visit orea to shop for clothes, cos metics, and electronic gadgets, as well as to have a taste of authentic orean food, and en oy the historical attractions. I heard that some also go to orea for its salons and cos metic surgery clinics. eoul, like etro anila, is a “hip and “stylish place, especially for women, young and old.
The number of visitors may vary, but it is really a two way e change. hile many ilipinos are in orea on vacation, on scholarship, or as skilled and reliable workers, oreans come to the Philippines to see the sights, to study, or to set up a busi ness.
The affinity between our peoples is understandable. eographically, the Philippines is our nearest neighbor in outheast sia. The weather is perfect for us who come from the temperate zone. nd aside from the famous ilipino hospitality, we have shared values, especially with regard to the family.
oreans in the Philippines may sometimes give the impres sion of detachment. ilipinos who visit orea, however, actu ally have more positive encounters. In general, oreans are relatively shy and reserved, especially when meeting people for the first time. Once people get to know us, they realize that we cherish meaningful friendships ust like everyone else, and that oreans are also a fun loving and friendly people. The growth of Philippine tourism may ust be one of the means to improve the image of oreans in this country. fter all, it s more fun to make friends in the Philippines.
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