According to local tourism industry players, travel warnings against going to the Philippines are not the reason why tourists won't visit the country but because of poor service and unpreparedness of the tourism sector.
“There are not enough flights, not enough seat capacity, ill-prepared marketing and the quality of accommodations is not good enough,” said Alejandra Clemente, president of the Federation of Tourism Industries of the Philippines (FTIP).
In a press conference at the Mandarin Oriental called by tourism stakeholders, Clemente said that the country is "not ready" to accommodate many tourists all at once.
According to her, there was hardly a change in tourist arrivals ever since the release of travel advisories about alleged terrorists attack in the Philippines.
Approximately 2.8 million arrivals had been recorded so far, compared to the 3 million arrivals last year.
When it comes to holiday security, Philippine National Police Director General Raul Bacalzo and Tourism secretary Alberto Lim signed an agreement that will start the creation of the Tourist-Oriented Police for Community Order and Protection Program.
The PNP Director General expressed that security issues were just one of the reasons behind low tourist arrival, saying that the government was not being aggresive enough in terms of marketing strategies. The lack of an open skies agreement with other countries also hinder any potential tourism traffic, Bacalzo said.
Former Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry president Jose Luis Yulo said developed countries were shifting their attention to Asia and this gave a lot of hope for the country's tourism.
“The Western world is not only looking at China, but other countries in Asia, and that’s where we should focus,” Yulo said.
Meanwhile, stakeholders said that the slogan "Pilipinas Kay Ganda" fiasco was merely a small part in the low tourism arrival in the Philippines and that in would not solve any of the industry's problems.
Marciano Ragaza, president of Travel Enterprise and former president of the Philippine Travel Agencies Association, said that DOT had promised a more “democratic process” in choosing a next slogan.
The speakers agreed that it was time to change the “Wow Philippines” slogan, which was coined by former Tourism Secretary Richard Gordon.
Margie Moran Floirendo, former president of the Davao Tourism Association and former chair of the Southern Philippines Regional Tourism Council, said that the "Wow" slogan was already "working for several years, so I feel we need a new slogan to boost our image, and to speak better to what we can sell.”
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BiyahengPinas.com thanks this source for the article:
Yap, DJ. Tourists ready for PH; PH not ready for tourists. Philippine Daily Inquirer. Posted December 12, 2010 from
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/nation/view/20101214-308808/Tourists-ready-for-PH-PH-not-ready-for-tourists
Showing posts with label news. Show all posts
Showing posts with label news. Show all posts
Friday, December 17, 2010
Monday, November 22, 2010
DOT most likely to change "Pilipinas Kay Ganda" logo
After much controversy and criticisms on the new tourism slogan “Pilipinas Kay Ganda,” the Department of Tourism (DOT) has openly expressed plans of revision and consultation for a better slogan and logo.
Though the agency has not yet withdrawn the slogan, DOT Assistant Secretary Benito Bengzon said they are now open for suggestions for the “national branding.”
“There is nothing definite yet. What is important is that the DOT is listening to all comments and we are open to suggestions,” Bengzon said.
Shortly after the launching of the new slogan, the new logo and website of DOT were suddenly pulled out following violent comments and criticisms. The wesite www.beautifulpilipinas.com was also deactivated because of errors in its contents.
In earlier interviews, DOT Secretary Alberto Lim said he and President Benigno Aquino III will discuss issues about the new logo.
According to Lim, DOT will most likely go back to the old slogan “Wow Philippines” in case the “Pilipinas Kay Ganda” logo is scrapped.
As for Malacañang, changing the slogan is not a problem especially because of the plagiarism issue in the new logo. DOT Undersecretary Vicente Romano III has earlier denied copying Poland's tourism logo.
“The color scheme and visual elements are markedly different,” Romano said.
A few days after releasing the country's new tourism brand, Lim and other DOT officers announced that the new slogan was not final, saying that “national branding” was up for discussion.
Before such controversies arose, Aquino himself announced the new tourism logo saying that it was a perfect timing to give the country a new image, considering the travel warnings of other countries against going to the Philippines.
Aquino was even consulted by the tourism agency about the slogan and logo, and he suggested some add-ons like the tarsier and a smiling face.
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BiyahengPinas.com thanks the following sources for this article:
Israel, Dale G. Cebu Daily News. New DOT Tourism Logo, website withdrawn. (Posted November 18, 2010) from
http://globalnation.inquirer.net/cebudailynews/news/view/20101118-303893/New-DOT-tourism-logo-website--withdrawn
Jaymalin, Mayen. Philippine Star. Back to 'Wow Philippines'? DOT denies plagiarism. (Posted November 20, 2010) from
http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=631748&publicationSubCategoryId=63
Though the agency has not yet withdrawn the slogan, DOT Assistant Secretary Benito Bengzon said they are now open for suggestions for the “national branding.”
“There is nothing definite yet. What is important is that the DOT is listening to all comments and we are open to suggestions,” Bengzon said.
Shortly after the launching of the new slogan, the new logo and website of DOT were suddenly pulled out following violent comments and criticisms. The wesite www.beautifulpilipinas.com was also deactivated because of errors in its contents.
In earlier interviews, DOT Secretary Alberto Lim said he and President Benigno Aquino III will discuss issues about the new logo.
According to Lim, DOT will most likely go back to the old slogan “Wow Philippines” in case the “Pilipinas Kay Ganda” logo is scrapped.
As for Malacañang, changing the slogan is not a problem especially because of the plagiarism issue in the new logo. DOT Undersecretary Vicente Romano III has earlier denied copying Poland's tourism logo.
“The color scheme and visual elements are markedly different,” Romano said.
A few days after releasing the country's new tourism brand, Lim and other DOT officers announced that the new slogan was not final, saying that “national branding” was up for discussion.
Before such controversies arose, Aquino himself announced the new tourism logo saying that it was a perfect timing to give the country a new image, considering the travel warnings of other countries against going to the Philippines.
Aquino was even consulted by the tourism agency about the slogan and logo, and he suggested some add-ons like the tarsier and a smiling face.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
BiyahengPinas.com thanks the following sources for this article:
Israel, Dale G. Cebu Daily News. New DOT Tourism Logo, website withdrawn. (Posted November 18, 2010) from
http://globalnation.inquirer.net/cebudailynews/news/view/20101118-303893/New-DOT-tourism-logo-website--withdrawn
Jaymalin, Mayen. Philippine Star. Back to 'Wow Philippines'? DOT denies plagiarism. (Posted November 20, 2010) from
http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=631748&publicationSubCategoryId=63
Monday, November 8, 2010
RP says downgrade terror warnings
The Aquino administration expressed its dismay over the issuance of travel advisories, saying the United States and other allies need not worry as such threats are not seen over the past couples of days.
Travel advisories from the United States, Britain, Australia, Canada, New Zeland, and France warned its citizens of travelling to the Philippines, saying an attack may occur any time in Metro Manila and other places frequented by foreigners.
According to Department of Foreign Affairs spokesman Ed Malaya, there is no solid basis of attack and local security authorities “are not really seeing any imminent threat.”
“Our expectation...is that [these countries] will review and update their travel advisories so that it will be reflectivce of the generally peaceful conditions that we have,” Malaya said.
Because of the advisories, military and police troops were placed on heightened alert while coastguard personnels patrolled Manila Bay. Bomb sniffing dogs had also been deployed in Metro Manila's railway system and several shopping malls.
Armed forces spokesman Brigadier General Jose Mabanta said the alert was just a precaution and that nothing is out of the ordinary.
“People are [even] going about their usual business,” he said.
National police chief Director General Raul Bacalzo added that there is nothing to worry about and insisted there was no increased danger.
"There is no specific area [of attack], no specific plan, no specific group," Bacalzo told reporters.
The PNP director general said he talked with the foreign embassies and asked them the exact details of alleged terror attacks. However, none had been verified by military and police intelligence groups.
In travel advisories, they said that terrorist attacks might occur any time in Manila and in the other parts of the Philippines. Western countries had advised its citizens to be extra careful when travelling to public areas in Manila like shopping centers and airports.
The travel warnings coincided with the arrest in Manila of a member of the Abu Sayyaf, a militant group founded in 1990's. However, none of the advisories specifically named the Abu Sayyaf, or any other group.
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BiyahengPinas.com thanks the source for this article:
Agence France-Presse. Philippine Daily Inquirer. PH calls for terror warnings to be downgraded. (Posted November 4, 2010 from)
http://globalnation.inquirer.net/news/breakingnews/view/20101104-301432/RP-calls-for-terror-warnings-to-be-downgraded
Travel advisories from the United States, Britain, Australia, Canada, New Zeland, and France warned its citizens of travelling to the Philippines, saying an attack may occur any time in Metro Manila and other places frequented by foreigners.
According to Department of Foreign Affairs spokesman Ed Malaya, there is no solid basis of attack and local security authorities “are not really seeing any imminent threat.”
“Our expectation...is that [these countries] will review and update their travel advisories so that it will be reflectivce of the generally peaceful conditions that we have,” Malaya said.
Because of the advisories, military and police troops were placed on heightened alert while coastguard personnels patrolled Manila Bay. Bomb sniffing dogs had also been deployed in Metro Manila's railway system and several shopping malls.
Armed forces spokesman Brigadier General Jose Mabanta said the alert was just a precaution and that nothing is out of the ordinary.
“People are [even] going about their usual business,” he said.
National police chief Director General Raul Bacalzo added that there is nothing to worry about and insisted there was no increased danger.
"There is no specific area [of attack], no specific plan, no specific group," Bacalzo told reporters.
The PNP director general said he talked with the foreign embassies and asked them the exact details of alleged terror attacks. However, none had been verified by military and police intelligence groups.
In travel advisories, they said that terrorist attacks might occur any time in Manila and in the other parts of the Philippines. Western countries had advised its citizens to be extra careful when travelling to public areas in Manila like shopping centers and airports.
The travel warnings coincided with the arrest in Manila of a member of the Abu Sayyaf, a militant group founded in 1990's. However, none of the advisories specifically named the Abu Sayyaf, or any other group.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
BiyahengPinas.com thanks the source for this article:
Agence France-Presse. Philippine Daily Inquirer. PH calls for terror warnings to be downgraded. (Posted November 4, 2010 from)
http://globalnation.inquirer.net/news/breakingnews/view/20101104-301432/RP-calls-for-terror-warnings-to-be-downgraded
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