Aquino: Phl to cement position as world's vacation hot spot

MANILA, Philippines - President Benigno Aquino III on Friday said the government is determined to cement the country's position as one of the world's vacation hot spots after international tourist arrivals in the country jumped by 9.56 percent in 2013 to 4.68 million from 4.27 million in 2012.

The president, speaking at the Philippine Travel Agencies Association's Travel Tour Expo at SMX Convention Center, Pasay City said that international tourists have been spending more money on their visits to the Philippines, with their average daily expenditures increasing by 8.7 percent.

He added that the government has surpassed the initial target of 35.5 million domestic travelers five years ahead of schedule, with 37.5 million travelers in 2011 alone. Aquino said Tourism Secretary Ramon Jimenez now has the task of surpassing the new 2016 domestic travelers target of 56.1 million.

"By implementing reforms in civil aviation, by liberalizing airspace through the Pocket Open Skies Policy, and by rationalizing taxes on foreign carriers, we have created more opportunities for both local and foreign airlines to expand operations in and out of the Philippines. This redounds to benefits for consumers, who now have more freedom and a wider menu of options when planning their trips. All this is happening even as we continue to make massive investments in infrastructure— from constructing and rehabilitating roads leading to tourism clusters, to upgrading airports and ports in key areas," Aquino said.

He said that the Tourism Expo itself is targeting 4,000 to 8,000 more visitors this year, and is expecting an approximate income of P600 million.

"The Philippines is making a transition to becoming one of the best places to visit in the world. Just to give you a few examples, our country is one of the top ten destinations by Rough Guides in 2014, one of the 46 places to go by the New York Times in 2013, the Best Tropical Island Destination by the Shanghai Morning Post in 2013, and, fittingly, the Most Romantic Destination by the same publication in 2012. Indeed: the whole world is in on the secret," he said.