European tourism junket ongoing on Boracay

By Nestor P. Burgos Jr.
Inquirer Visayas
First Posted 16:46:00 05/06/2009

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/regions/view/20090506-203485/European-tourism-junket-ongoing-on-Boracay

ILOILO CITY, Philippines—More than 200 travel agents from the biggest European tour wholesaler are on a familiarization tour of Boracay Island in what tourism officials expect to be a big boost in drawing more Europeans to the resort.

Around 260 tour agents and counter staff of tour consolidator Meier’s Weltreisen arrived on the island on Tuesday for a three-day familiarization tour and seminar on the island, Edwin Trompeta, regional director of the Department of Tourism, said in a telephone interview.

The tour for travel agents and staff from 220 travel agencies in Germany and Austria is part of the company’s 20th annual Far East Live Seminar (FELS). The group arrived in Manila on May 3.

Travel writers from Germany and Austria and travel trade press representatives also joined the seminar.

The participants are billeted at the newly opened Boracay Shangri-la Resort and Spa, the main venue of the seminar.

They have been doing their rounds of the bars, restaurants, hotels and the beachfront “to get a pulse of the place and the people,” according to Trompeta.

Trompeta said the tour was expected to have a big impact on tourist arrivals from Europe especially in Boracay because Meier’s Weltreisen accounts for 30 percent of tourist arrivals in Asia.

He cited the impact of Meier’s FELS on destinations where it conducted its seminars.

Vietnam’s tourist arrivals increased by 40 percent after the 2006 FELS in the country, he said. Tourism also rose in Khao Lak in Thailand after the 2007 FELS there.

He said the activity is estimated to initially bring in around P15 million in tourist revenues to the country.

Germany and the United Kingdom are among the country’s biggest tourist markets in Europe. Around 55,000 Germans visit the country each year with more than 5,000 also going to Boracay, according to Trompeta.

Foreign tourist arrivals in the country grew by an average of 10.6 percent in 2004-2008, considered one of the best performing destinations in the world, according to Tourism Secretary Joseph “Ace” Durano in an earlier interview.

Domestic tourism also grew by an average of 18 percent yearly with Boracay Island among the top tourist destinations.

Boracay has reported high occupancy for its 5,800 hotel rooms, and 340 more rooms are under construction.

The tourist arrivals have been boosted by direct flights from Taiwan and Shanghai to the Kalibo airport on the Aklan mainland.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo last March announced that investors are also coming in to develop an international airport in Caticlan, the jump-off point to Boracay. Another airport is being eyed on the nearby Carabao Island.

RP coping well with global crisis – ADB

By Ted P. Torres Updated March 30, 2009 12:00 AM

http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=453281&publicationSubCategoryId=66

MANILA, Philippines – The Asian Development Bank (ADB) said the Philippines is dealing with the global financial crisis better than most countries in the Asia Pacific region.

“The Philippines is well positioned to show great leadership in deepening economic integration both within the region and with the global economy,” ADB president Haruhiko Kuroda said at a reception held last week at the ADB headquarters in Manila.

Since opening its doors in 1966, ADB has invested more than $10 billion in financial and technical assistance to the Philippines.

Kuroda noted that ADB has worked since its inception 42 years ago with other partners to help bring drinking water, irrigation, education, electricity, decent housing and many other benefits to the nation’s poor people.

The reception was held in honor of the relationship with the Philippines, which has played host to the financial institution’s headquarters.

“More specifically, it is a privilege for ADB to pay homage to our host country — a country whose people are known the world over for their determination, pride, and dauntless spirit,” the ADB chief executive added.

He added he was “very pleased as well that ADB has been able to support the government’s fiscal, regulatory and legal reforms, which have also benefited the poor while enhancing the country’s financial and economic resilience.”

Meanwhile, the Australian government recently extended a P3.8-billion grant to the Philippines over a five-year period to manage and maintain more than 1,000 kilometers of provincial roads in up to 10 provinces in Mindanao and the Visayas, under the Provincial Road Management Facility agreement.

The Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) signed the agreement for the Philippine government.

An estimated four million population in the two regions will have better access to rehabilitated and maintained road networks, economic activity and public infrastructure and services that will improve their livelihoods by 2014.

“Better roads will also improve access to jobs, health services and essential social and educational facilities in rural and regional areas,” Australian Ambassador to the Philippines Rod Smith said.

The provinces that will initially be allowed access to the funds are Bohol, Surigao del Norte, Misamis Occidental, Agusan del Sur, Bukidnon, Guimaras, and Misamis Oriental.

For the periods covering 2008 and 2009, the Australian Government, through the Australian Agency for International Aid (AusAID) will provide an estimated P4.4 billion in development assistance, focusing on economic growth, basic education, and national stability and human security.