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IT’S a
sure bet that travel plans are brewing among almost
every family this year. With so many new destinations,
together with the old yet enduringly popular ones, the
array of choices is certainly growing.
“Hot
foreign destinations are still within short-haul trips
around the region,” says Buddy Recio, publisher of
Travel Update Philippines, a monthly tourism magazine
now on its 11th year. “People tend to work harder now.
They want shorter vacations, usually just three days, so
they can get right back to work.”
Today’s
traveler is much more frugal but also demanding when it
comes to finding the best value for his hard-earned
spending power.
“The
emergence of budget airlines has increased the number of
travelers to Southeast Asian countries,” adds Jason
Robles, chief executive officer of Express Miles Travel
and
Tours, a travel agency within Sta. Lucia East Grand Mall.
“Hong
Kong is still the top foreign destination for Filipinos,
especially since
Disneyland opened. There are a lot of repeat visits. Those who’ve
already been to
Hong Kong return just to see
Disneyland,” says Jason. “Bangkok
and Singapore rank next to Hong Kong. They’re still so
popular because of the shopping.”
Locally,
the numbers are growing as well. In recent visitor
arrival statistics, compiled by the Tourism Research &
Statistics Division of the Department of Tourism, the
largest number of foreign visitors still comes from
Korea with 511,277 arrivals in the country from January
to November of 2006, accounting for 20.1 percent of
foreign arrivals, 16.5 percent more than the same
period the previous year. A close second is the United
States with 507,169. Many industry experts, however,
attribute this to Filipinos residing in the country.
Coming in at third is
Japan
with 390,083 visitors followed by China and Taiwan with
122,080 and 107,022, respectively.
Filipino
travelers to domestic destinations have increased as
well.
Nature
and history
Picturesque Bohol
preserves the best of nature, such as this tarsier,
luring in visitors with its natural charm.
“For a
long time, people would travel to visit their province
and their relatives there. Lately, we’ve noticed that
they really like to see our islands. They’ve become more
accessible and prices have gone down. There’s growing
pride in the country, which is wonderful,” says Eduardo
Jarque Jr., undersecretary for planning and promotions
at the DOT.
“Of
course, the new airlines have come in and opened up new
routes with attractive rates. The ferries are also going
to more islands. The bus lines have more stopovers and
are getting more comfortable. These transportation
providers really make the journey part of your holiday,”
he adds. “Competition does wonders. Because of that,
everybody’s trying to make it as attractive as possible
for the end user. I don’t think there’s ever been a
better time to travel than now.”
Prices
have become so attractive, in fact, that the travel
industry is seeing growth in new sectors. “The C
segment is booming,” notes Recio. “They’re starting to
realize that travel is the better alternative to such
spending as, say, on a party.” Among the local
destinations, there’s still no argument when it comes to
the top spot.
“Boracay
is still hot. There are some new resorts being put up
there by Shangri-La Hotels & Resorts and the people
behind Discovery Suites. International investors are
also coming into Boracay,” says Robles.
“Roll-On
Roll-Off [RoRo] routes have really opened the place up,
so you can expect a lot more visitors because of the
increased accessibility. The presence of low-cost
carriers has also helped a great deal,” cites Recio.
Famed for its vibrant party scene, particularly in the
summer, it’s easy to see why many still favor this
particular strip of beach.
Still,
another destination is slowly rising on everyone’s list.
Known for its Chocolate Hills and the adorable tarsier
monkey, Bohol caters to those who prefer a more
isolated, quiet place. “Bohol has beautiful beaches, wonderful churches, old forts and the
locals are just fantastic.
Bohol is one of those places that have not been destroyed or
overrun by development,” attests Jarque.
While
it’s easy to see that beaches are still ‘in’ in 2007,
the local party scene might not be the only determinant
of a locale’s popularity.
“What
you can look for in the following years is the emergence
of new tour destinations like Siargao. We’ve had
inquiries about it,” says Robles.
Yet
beyond the fine powdery sand of the white beaches or
stunning natural wonders, Jarque suggests there’s
something deeper behind the growth in local tourism.
“In
these destinations, there’s more enrichment. Visitors
like to know a little bit more about the place, whether
it’s culinary, or intermingling with the people, or
visiting historic buildings. Traveler needs have
expanded to include enriching their lives,” observes
Jarque. “There’s just so much to experience to take in.
I think a lot of people now prefer this, rather than
just sitting down and watch the parade go by.”
“In
other places, you just bring home memories. Here, you
bring home memories plus a little something—something
more tangible. In the end, it’s all about the pabaon,
something deeply rooted in Filipino tradition.” |
