Rising global interest in El Nido, other Phl sites

MANILA, Philippines - The “last ecological frontier” of El Nido and other parts of Palawan are among the many destinations of the Philippines that are gaining unprecedented interest in the world market, according to tourism officials.

Tourism Secretary Ramon Jimenez Jr. observed: “Tourism is one of the government’s priorities in pushing for the national agenda of inclusive socio-economic development, and this has helped the country earn unprecedented global interest for its many tourist destinations such as El Nido, Palawan.”

The unique ecological balance of El Nido town spearheaded by the four El Nido Resorts (ENR) is one of the must-see destinations being promoted by DOT to international key markets.

The four ENR properties are named after the islands where they are located, namely Miniloc, Lagen, Pangulasian, and Apulit.

The DOT’s key markets include France, Germany, the US, Canada, Sweden, Australia, Korea, among others.

Jimenez said, “Aside from the magnificent landscapes of coves, beaches, lagoons, and razor-sharp limestone cliffs, many resort developers in Palawan are also introducing environment-friendly ideas, products and services.”

Earlier in the year, ENR won the highly prestigious Tourism for Tomorrow Awards, the “Oscars” of global ecotourism awards. Winners of TTA demonstrate exceptionally well that they can successfully balance their commitments to profitability, uphold environmental best practices, and benefit local communities that host them.

The four resorts were collectively recognized for “demonstrating the power of tourism to address poverty alleviation, improve local livelihood, and protect the cultural and natural heritage for future generations.”

ENR president Laurent Lamasuta disclosed that employees in Miniloc, Lagen, Pangulasian, and Apulit are trained not only to meet the high service standards of global travelers but also to show them the spectrum of bird species, fish and marine invertebrates that thrive in the ENR properties. The pride of place demonstrated by the ENR staff, combined with exceptional guest service levels, has garnered ENR a 95 percent guest satisfaction rating.

Jimenez has pointed out that the genuine service and hospitality shown by Filipinos remains the country’s distinguishing mark. “When we say ‘It’s more fun in the Philippines,’ we actually mean to say it’s the Filipino people who will make your holiday unforgettable,” he said.

Apparently, the ENR staff greatly contribute to making a stay in any of the four properties truly memorable.

Lamasuta added that ENR is attracting a new tier of upper-end tourists eager to discover the area’s marine life, endangered species and natural attractions. Miniloc, Lagen and Pangulasian are in Bacuit Bay, a marine sanctuary, while Apulit is in Taytay Bay, which has been named one of the world’s best snorkeling destinations.

He said, “From the El Nido Resorts, one can encounter 800 marine species, 400 kinds of corals, and 500 marine vertebrates. Just a few feet away from the shore of each of the resorts, one can view an array of marine life, a condition perfect for snorkeling.”

According to Jimenez, the DOT will continue to “seize this momentum of rising global attention to reach more markets,” especially new segments.

Plans for Palawan include presenting the province as a showcase for biodiversity, emphasizing its rich natural resources, and pointing out legacies like the Tabon caves in southern Palawan where the fossilized bones of the Tabon man was found. The skull was carbon-dated to be 22,000 years old.

In addition to these archeological find, the unchanged landscape in El Nido and many other parts of Palawan represent rare links to an idyllic past.