Visit RP tourist spots – GMAPresident makes a pitch for domestic tourism Tour the country this summer, says Arroyo
BY GENALYN D. KABILING
President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo with Tourism Secretary Joseph Ace Durano, Aklan Governor Carlito Marquez and Aklan Rep. Florencio Miraflores at Shangri-La Boracay Resort and Spa / PHOTO BY GEORGE CAWALING
BORACAY ISLAND — "Byahe na! Bakasyon na!"
With the onset of summer, President Arroyo yesterday promoted domestic tourism as the country’s "flag bearer" in economic development in the face of the global financial downturn.
Acting as the country’s poster girl for tourism, the President encouraged Filipinos to patronize and visit local tourist spots, including popular Boracay Island, during the summer vacation, citing improved facilities and services for local and foreign tourists in many Philippine destinations.
After inaugurating a new call center in Iloilo province, Mrs. Arroyo flew to nearby Boracay in Aklan province where she inspected the newly-opened Boracay’s Shangri-La Resort and Spa. She then convened a Cabinet meeting on efforts to strengthen the tourism industry at the Boracay Terraces Resort.
The Chief Executive donned an old rose sleeveless blouse and pants for her island journey, while most of her Cabinet members opted to wear casual beach clothes.
Barefoot and with pants rolled up, the President and her Cabinet held a "unity walk for tourism" along Boracay’s world famous white beach shortly after the Cabinet meeting.
"Tourism is one of the sectors we have to strengthen as our response to the global meltdown. We have done it today, we will continue to push it to provide jobs and vast opportunities to our people," she said in a prepared statement at the Boracay Shangri-La Resort and Spa.
The President said local tourism has recorded a 10.6 percent annual average growth in the past four years, saying it was the "best performance in 20 years of tourism history."
"This has prompted investors to put up almost 7,000 new hotel and resort rooms of international classification worth P550 billion, 2,000 of those rooms will open this year, employing 3,000 Filipinos," she said.
Mrs. Arroyo also took pride that Boracay, the country’s showcase tourism destination, is "going well and strong."
She noted a five percent increase in tourist arrivals in Boracay. "We have many people all over the world enjoying this breathtaking shoreline. Our people from the different provinces also come here for their rest and recreation," she said.
She also cited improvements in the tourism infrastructure in Boracay, recalling that the island, like other tourist havens, used to lack many facilities when she assumed the presidency in 2001.
"Today, international airlines can land in Kalibo, which has become closer and made Boracay more accessible because we have also improved the roads," she said.
A new port has also been built behind the main Boracay beach "so that the boats will not block the view of the beach and its beautiful horizon," according to the President. "A garbage disposal (system) has been put in place to ensure the cleanliness and beauty of this natural heritage," she added.
"There are still many things that we have to accomplish but we will continue to promote Boracay as well as other destinations to ensure that tourism continues to be our flag bearer in economic progress and development," she said.
"We will not stop. We will not be cowered by the global crisis. The government, this administration, will continue to be a strong partner of the tourism industry as we promote our nation and its natural beauty," she said.
Tourism Secretary Joseph Ace Durano said the government was able to sustain local tourism growth after opening up markets in China, India, and Russia.
"We now have a broad market. We are no longer dependent on those few markets," he told reporters after the cabinet meeting.
Durano said the Philippines as a tourist destination has become more resilient as more people abroad discover the natural beauty of the archipelago.
The President later inspected the façade, interior and inner recesses of the Boracay Shangri-La Resort and Spa, located at the northwester tip of the island.
One female hotel guest was pushed onto a small pool while the President, surrounded by a team of security personnel, and her party were walking along the hotel lobby. Her plunge in the pool ended on a happy note when the President granted a photo session with her.
The Shangri-La Boracay had its soft opening last Monday to provide deluxe luxury facilities and services in a 12-hectare property. At least 108 luxury guest rooms and villas are now available.
Joy Wassmer, director of communications of Shangri-La’s Boracay Resort and Spa, said the hotel group is eyeing more local tourists for the new hotel, which employs 400 people mostly from Aklan and Romblon provinces. It will be fully operational this coming April.
With the onset of summer, President Arroyo yesterday promoted domestic tourism as the country’s "flag bearer" in economic development in the face of the global financial downturn.
Acting as the country’s poster girl for tourism, the President encouraged Filipinos to patronize and visit local tourist spots, including popular Boracay Island, during the summer vacation, citing improved facilities and services for local and foreign tourists in many Philippine destinations.
After inaugurating a new call center in Iloilo province, Mrs. Arroyo flew to nearby Boracay in Aklan province where she inspected the newly-opened Boracay’s Shangri-La Resort and Spa. She then convened a Cabinet meeting on efforts to strengthen the tourism industry at the Boracay Terraces Resort.
The Chief Executive donned an old rose sleeveless blouse and pants for her island journey, while most of her Cabinet members opted to wear casual beach clothes.
Barefoot and with pants rolled up, the President and her Cabinet held a "unity walk for tourism" along Boracay’s world famous white beach shortly after the Cabinet meeting.
"Tourism is one of the sectors we have to strengthen as our response to the global meltdown. We have done it today, we will continue to push it to provide jobs and vast opportunities to our people," she said in a prepared statement at the Boracay Shangri-La Resort and Spa.
The President said local tourism has recorded a 10.6 percent annual average growth in the past four years, saying it was the "best performance in 20 years of tourism history."
"This has prompted investors to put up almost 7,000 new hotel and resort rooms of international classification worth P550 billion, 2,000 of those rooms will open this year, employing 3,000 Filipinos," she said.
Mrs. Arroyo also took pride that Boracay, the country’s showcase tourism destination, is "going well and strong."
She noted a five percent increase in tourist arrivals in Boracay. "We have many people all over the world enjoying this breathtaking shoreline. Our people from the different provinces also come here for their rest and recreation," she said.
She also cited improvements in the tourism infrastructure in Boracay, recalling that the island, like other tourist havens, used to lack many facilities when she assumed the presidency in 2001.
"Today, international airlines can land in Kalibo, which has become closer and made Boracay more accessible because we have also improved the roads," she said.
A new port has also been built behind the main Boracay beach "so that the boats will not block the view of the beach and its beautiful horizon," according to the President. "A garbage disposal (system) has been put in place to ensure the cleanliness and beauty of this natural heritage," she added.
"There are still many things that we have to accomplish but we will continue to promote Boracay as well as other destinations to ensure that tourism continues to be our flag bearer in economic progress and development," she said.
"We will not stop. We will not be cowered by the global crisis. The government, this administration, will continue to be a strong partner of the tourism industry as we promote our nation and its natural beauty," she said.
Tourism Secretary Joseph Ace Durano said the government was able to sustain local tourism growth after opening up markets in China, India, and Russia.
"We now have a broad market. We are no longer dependent on those few markets," he told reporters after the cabinet meeting.
Durano said the Philippines as a tourist destination has become more resilient as more people abroad discover the natural beauty of the archipelago.
The President later inspected the façade, interior and inner recesses of the Boracay Shangri-La Resort and Spa, located at the northwester tip of the island.
One female hotel guest was pushed onto a small pool while the President, surrounded by a team of security personnel, and her party were walking along the hotel lobby. Her plunge in the pool ended on a happy note when the President granted a photo session with her.
The Shangri-La Boracay had its soft opening last Monday to provide deluxe luxury facilities and services in a 12-hectare property. At least 108 luxury guest rooms and villas are now available.
Joy Wassmer, director of communications of Shangri-La’s Boracay Resort and Spa, said the hotel group is eyeing more local tourists for the new hotel, which employs 400 people mostly from Aklan and Romblon provinces. It will be fully operational this coming April.
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