THE government is now seeking to multiply Hong Kong tourists who are visiting the country by offering to them several tourism sites in the Philippines as rebranded “adventure and ecotourism havens.”

Representatives of local travel agents, government units and other stakeholders in the Philippine tourism industry, headed by Tourism Secretary Ace Durano, have just conducted a promotional tour in Hong Kong with the focus of selling Davao, Bicol, Bohol and Puerto Princesa as the country’s adventure and ecotourism centers.

“Hong Kong has been one of the strongest outbound tourist sectors for the Philippines over the recent months. The challenge lies on creating newer ways of featuring the islands. Our nature adventures help this particular market experience the country quite differently from what they have in mind,” Durano said.

Hong Kong is currently the seventh leading source of tourists for the Philippines.

Arrivals of visitors from Hong Kong reached 40,064 from January to April 2008, 7 percent more than the same period last year.

Rica Bueno, head of the DOT marketing team for Asia-Pacific, said the Philippines found a unique way of enhancing the Hong Kong travelers’ concept of a vacation.

The road show conducted in Hong Kong, she said, allowed the participants to focus on “strengthening our selling proposition as Hong Kong’s nearest playground.”

The Hong Kong promotional tour was attended by more than 40 Chinese travel wholesalers, with 20 Philippine tourism enterprises discussing opportunities with them.

Among those who attended are representatives from El Nido Resorts, Eskaya Beach Resort and Spa Vice, Alegre Beach Resort, Dos Palmas Island Resort and Spa, Flushing Meadows Resort and Playground, Le Soleil de Boracay, Marco Polo, Maribago Bluewater Beach Resort, Tambuli Beach Resort and Waterfront Hotels & Casino, Dive Link Resort and Bohol Divers Resort, Happy Sun Travel and Tours, Philippine Airlines, Asian Spirit and Cebu Pacific.

The participants were also informed of the investment opportunities at the Zamboanga City Special Economic Zone and the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority for adventure travel, medical tourism and retirement.  

Davao was represented by Mt. Apo Travel, Global Wings Travel, Surelite Travel, Psalms Haven, Reiner Travel, New World Travel, 101 Travel and Allied Travel—all of which specialize in adventure and nature tours in the province.

Hog raisers seek duty-free importation of equipment, upgrade of diagnostic labs

HOG raisers, particularly in Luzon, are asking the government to allow them to import equipment used in production at zero duty to help them become competitive in view of increasing production costs and the losses they incurred due to various diseases that hit the industry last year.

RP to offer rebranded ‘adventure and ecotourism havens’ to lure HK tourists

THE government is now seeking to multiply Hong Kong tourists who are visiting the country by offering to them several tourism sites in the Philippines as rebranded “adventure and ecotourism havens.”

THE Department of Tourism (DOT) has now been given clearance to conduct a Visitor Sample Survey (VSS) by the National Statistical Coordination Board (NSCB) through the Statistical Survey Review and Clearance System (SSRCS).

STAKEHOLDERS in the world-famous Boracay Island have launched the “Save the Climate, Save Boracay” project, an initiative that will attempt to make Boracay a climate-friendly destination through the implementation of energy-efficient measures among resorts, restaurants, bars and other establishments on the island.

Lack of funds, low-quality teachers keep poor uneducated

DESPITE the fact that the country prides itself in having highly educated citizens, the present difficulties of rising poverty and years of low education budgets set by the national government is causing many children to drop out or all together lose interest in obtaining an education.

FAO endorses guidelines for responsible fish trade

THE United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) endorsed a set of technical guidelines aimed at promoting responsible international trade in fish and fishery products.

PEMC expresses high hopes of running power market in Visayas

POWER market operator Philippine Electricity Market Corp. (PEMC) still pushes the need to commercially launch the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (WESM) in the Visayas, which would help bring the much-needed investments for additional generation capacity in the said island-region.