Since June, the Philippines has been under a new government, which is looking promising for its tourism industry. Travel Agent met with John Rosario, deputy director of administration for the Philippine Department of Tourism who filled us in.
Under the new administration, the country is looking to revamp its infrastructure and marketing programs. The country has implemented a new Secretary of Tourism, who is working closely with local governments to revitalize Philippine tourism.
In the first 10 months of this year, the destination saw an increase of 1.7 percent in arrivals numbers from the U.S and the expectation is for that number to grow.
"The Philippines are a hub for intra-Asia travel," Rosario tells Travel Agent. "It is both a central location in Southeast Asia and Asia as a whole with convenient flights to Beijing, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Taipei, Korea, Singapore and more." Visit Discover Asia Now here.
Rosario tells us that the department is constantly working to equip travel agents with what's new in the destination as well as with marketing tools. The country previously had a specialist program, which is under review with the new government and the plan is for it to continue.
Visit www.wowphilippines.com.ph.
