May Come As A Bit Of A Surprise To Some

[Malcolm Graham]

The latest newsletter from Philippine tourism London.  I've highlighted the relevant bit in red 

 

 

It's More Fun in the Philippines Newsletter
The start of the year for the travel industry is always an exciting time! This is the season where travellers seek new inspirations and ideas for their next big holiday!
Major news and travel publications dedicate their first issue of to highly anticipated lists of places to go for year. 2014 should turn out to be a thrilling year for the Philippines as it has been included in numerous "must visit" destination by prominent travel brands.
It is also the season for consumer/trade shows across Europe where the Philippines will be participating at major travel exhibitions dedicated to general leisure, diving, adventure activities and b2b among others.

  Major Programs
  Travel Upcoming Travel Event and Destination
  Article of the Month

Major Programs
Top

Philippines is Widely Recognized as a Must Travel Destination for 2014

Prestigious publications have recently named the Philippines and its renowned destinations among the top places to visit this year.
Esteemed travel guidebooks RoughGuides and Lonely Planet have included the Philippines in its "Top 10 Countries" and "10 best value holiday destinations" (Palawan) for 2014 respectively.
http://www.roughguides.com/best-places/2014/top-10-countries/
http://www.lonelyplanet.com/travel-tips-and-articles/lonely-planets-best-value-travel-destinations-for-2014
RoughGuides list the country's numerous white beaches, pristine reefs, volcanoes, sleepy backpacker islands and the famed rice terraces as reasons to go. Lonely Planet cites jungle rivers, limestone cliffs and awesome beaches and the Puerto Princesa Underground River as Palawan's attractions.
Travel blog, Shurver.com composed a list of the "15 Best Cities in the World" wherein Manila, tied with Paris, is the World's culinary capital. Citing "AskMen", voters have identified the capital of the country as the most passionate about cuisine.
http://shurver.com/travel/15-best-cities-in-the-world/13/
The Telegraph has listed the Philippines among its "20 Destinations for 2014." Island-hopping among the archipelago's 7,107 islands, seeing whale-sharks and thresher sharks and festivals are some of the many reasons to go.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/picturegalleries/10515662/Twenty-destinations-for-2014-in-pictures.html?frame=2780242
Another broadsheet, the Times includes the country among its round-up of the "Best Spa Holidays for 2014"
http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/travel/holidays/spas/article3964305.ece
Last but not the least, adventure magazine Wanderlust also has the Philippines counted among the "50 Best Trips for 2014" in its January edition.
All of these publications pave the way for a truly exciting 2014 for the country's tourism all acknowledging that it is really "More Fun in the Philippines."

Philippines Exhibits at Major Travel Shows across Europe

With the travel consumer show season in Europe kicking-off this month, the Philippines Department of Tourism (PDOT) will be present in many of these events to inspire travellers planning their holidays for 2014.
PDOT took part at the TravelMatch in Oslo last 9 January 2014. The business-to-business workshop event for the industry fosters outbound travel from Norway and the region. http://www.travelmatch.no/
Next, the Philippines will be exhibiting at the Salon de Plongee (dive show) in Paris from 10- 12 January to showcase the country's new underwater attractions and products for the market. www.salon-de-la-plongee.com
On 17-19 January, PDOT will be participating at the The Ferie & Fritid Show held annually at the Bella Center is Denmark with the Philippine Embassy in Oslo. Copenhagen’s largest consumer fair welcomes over 40,000 visitors over a 3-day period. http://www.ferieibella.dk/
PDOT will again be promoting the country's diving assets during the Boot Show in Dusseldorf from the 18-26th of January. http://www.boat-duesseldorf.com/
On 25th - 26th of January, the Philippines will be joining the Adventure Travel Show in Olympia made possible by organizer Escape Events. PDOT will be keen to show the multitude of adventure activities possible around the country.
http://www.adventureshow.co.uk/
Representing the Philippines in these events allows people from all across Europe to know more about the country when they decide where to travel this year. New destinations, activities, resorts and travel packages are all showcased at these shows. Future projects and joint promotional campaigns are also discussed and planned with participating travel industry partners for the rest of the year.

Travel Upcoming Travel Event and Destination
Top

Hot Air Balloon Festival 2014

10-14 April, Clark Freeport Zone, Pampanga
The annual Hot Air Balloon Festival at Clark will be hosted this year by the PDOT. It was first initiated in 1994 by the Department together with numerous government and private agencies.
Over the past two decades, the Festival has gone from strength to strength and has grown to be a major event recognized internationally in its field. It has since drawn the creativity prowess from balloonists and aviators coming from Russia, Sweden and Thailand among others. Last year, the Breitling Jet Team, one of Europe's largest civilian aerobatic display team performed in the country for the first time.
The DOT and the Tourism Promotions Board will be working to promote and make the event bigger than ever extending the official invitations to balloonists and aviation specialist in even more countries.

[i am bob]

Actually I'm not really surprised... Now that more is being heard about the Philippines, people around the world are starting to realize that it truly is much more metropolitan than previously believed.

Sent by using a very long piece of string, a couple tin cans, 2 gaseous monkeys, Tapatalk and my Nexus 4

[brock]

And yet I have never seen the Philippines advertised at any travel agents in the UK.

[cebu rocks]

Comparing Manila to Paris in any context is mind boggling 

[Curley]

Comparing Manila to Paris in any context is mind boggling 

 

 

Ditto. 

[MacBubba]

I know there will be a lot of naysayers, but Vikings and Buffet 101 in MOA beat any buffet I've been to in North America.

[i am bob]

Been to Paris a few times...  Food there?  ehhhhhhhh.....

 

Living back in Niagara Falls...  Had a few meals in some of the better places in town....   meeehhhhh.....

 

Been to New York City a few times...  Sampled the works of a few dives....  Places like the Gramercy, or Tavern on the Green ...  Not bad...

 

Sucked down some tidbits at some friends from the "pines but now in Canada....  Dang good!  Can't wait to try the food in country!

 

In other words, it don't matter who made it or where....  What's good is good!

 

:mocking:

[jpbago]

And yet I have never seen the Philippines advertised at any travel agents in the UK.

 

Nor in Canada. I often see plenty of ads for Asia to every other country except the Philippines. The Philippines has a long way to go to match the tourists going to the other Asian countries, especially the repeats.

[sjp52]

all the dating sites are advertising for travel to the Philippines. All the old guys see those young girls and have to come here. When was the last time you saw a western family vacationing in the Philippines. Not going to happen.

[earthdome]

all the dating sites are advertising for travel to the Philippines. All the old guys see those young girls and have to come here. When was the last time you saw a western family vacationing in the Philippines. Not going to happen.

 

I have seen plenty of young western couples and singles. Don't recall seeing many couples with children though.

 

But you are correct, most of the foreigners I see are either older western men or korean.