Phl Eyed As Divorcee Haven

[Candyman]

Phl eyed as divorcee havenBy Mayen Jaymalin (The Philippine Star) Updated November 28, 2011 12:00 AMMANILA, Philippines - The Philippines as a divorcee haven?In an effort to lure more long-staying tourists in the country, the Department of Tourism (DOT) is developing the Philippines as a destination for divorcees or those trying to recover from broken relationships.Tourism Assistant Secretary Domingo Ramon Enerio III said those running away from domestic turmoil are among the target markets of the DOT for its long-stay tourism program.“At this time, the Philippines is among the few remaining countries that still prohibit divorce, so we think this is a big market that we hope to tap,” he said.“If we can be a wedding or honeymoon destination, we can be vice versa and become a destination for those in search of personal fulfillment, including those… in flight from domestic turmoil,” he added.He said the Philippines can offer both relaxation and adventure to these tourists.“Our destinations can provide them the relaxed and calm surrounding that they are looking (for), or if they want adventure, we can also offer it to them,” Enerio said.Aside from divorcees, he said, other possible markets for long stay tourism are retirees, semi-retirees looking for investment venues, medical tourists, those escaping from the cold winter season, and those who have affluent children.“This is an untapped type of market at this time,” Enerio said.The envisioned long-stay tourism program encourages tourists to stay in the country from three to six months. The current definition of long-stay tourism in the country is a visit from between two weeks to three months.According to Enerio, the DOT has developed the so-called long stay tourism program as a stepping stone for the retirement program of the Philippine government.He said the long stay or retirement program is expected to capture at least 10 percent of the projected 10 million foreign tourists to visit the country by 2016.The Philippine government, Enerio said, has long been promoting the Philippines as a retirement haven for elderly foreigners and Filipinos who have changed their citizenship after working abroad for many years.The long stay or retirement program for foreigners will take advantage of the projection that senior citizens worldwide, those 66 years old and above are expected to reach one billion by 2030.Since the launch of the retirement program several years ago, more than 7,000 foreigners have secured special retirement visas. A majority of these were Chinese and Korean nationals.The Retirement and Healthcare Coalition (RHC) projected that the number of foreigners who would opt to retire in the country may reach 100,000 in the next five years.RHC executive director Marc Daubenbuechel said the Philippines government’s retirement program for foreign nationals is expected to generate at least $200 million in revenues in five years.Full Story Here : http://www.philstar....ubCategoryId=63

[Jake]

Hello Candyman, It would be nice if DOT and BI can get their chit together. Bureau of Immigration should revamp theirvisa requirements for long term resident foreigners. At the same time, there must be some way tofollow and track down known sexual predators or criminals before leaving their perspective countryof origin. I just hate to see innocent Filipinas (yes, there are some) become victims to these low lifes. Respectfully -- Jake

[Bruce]

Can anyone find out the email address of these places and their directors? Perhaps mass emails (not spam) from member all saying about the same thing.... ease the rules to stay longer = more income for the Philippines and less paperwork for their departments. I don't know who actually makes the 'rules' but it if is not these departments, then we need to find out who and start emailing them.

[Jollygoodfellow]

Divorce haven,my god. How does anyone come up with this and maintain a job. The Philippines needs a lot of work and thought put into encouraging long term tourism or retirement programs.The only way they will succeed is take a better look at other countries to gain insight rather than pluck an idea out of the air to make it look like someone is doing there job.

[Old55]

How could a critically important branch of the Philippines government be so clueless? Oh yea.... the head of DOT is a crony appointed by the President. :13_4_10[1]:

[Jake]

How could a critically important branch of the Philippines government be so clueless? Oh yea.... the head of DOT is a crony appointed by the President. :13_4_10[1]:

It's just Tourism Assistant Secretary of DOT getting a photo op and spitting into the microphone.

[Call me bubba]

In another news headline, The American ambassador was vindicated on his previous statement claiming that 40% of male tourists was here for "SEX TOURISM". (LOL)