Noy: World in love with Philippines

MANILA, Philippines - For President Benigno Aquino III, the world has "fallen in love" with the Philippines, which has been dubbed "a paradise."

In his fourth State of the Nation Address on Monday, Aquino cited international publications that recently hailed the as country among the top tourism destinations around the globe.

"Kulang na nga lang po ay tawagin na tayong paraiso," Aquino said, mentioning tourism accomplishments including the 21.4 percent surge in tourist arrivals in the past year.

Aquino mentioned Chinese dailies Oriental Morning Post and Shanghai Morning Post that named the Philippines as the "Best Tourist Destination of 2012" and the "Most Romantic Destination of 2012," respectively.

"Hopefully they will love us more," Aquino said.

He also quoted US-based Travel + Leisure magazine that chose Palawan as the world's "Best Island" and the Scuba Diving Magazine that saw the country's diving sites as the "Best Diving Destination."

The Department of Tourism said that 4.3 million visitors arrived in 2011 as it launched its viral advertising campaign "It's More Fun in the Philippines," departing from the 3.1 million arrivals in 2010.

Aquino lauded the agency for being on track in its target of 10.0 million tourist arrivals by 2016. The country aims to receive 5.5 million tourists by this year and as of 2012, the country has already recorded 4.3 million tourist arrivals.

Grabbed from SONA technical report at www.gov.ph

"Sa momentum nating ito, tiwala tayong maaabot ng bagong target na 56.1 million bago matapos ang 2016," Aquino said in his speech.

He added that the sector also generated jobs, claiming that 3.8 million positions have been created not only in areas marked as tourist destinations but also surrounding "tourism support communities."

"Ang mga lugar na pinanggagalingan ng pagkaing inihahanda sa mga resort, ng mga souvenir na ibinebenta, at ng iba pang mga produkto’t serbisyong nagsisilbing bukal ng kaunlaran para sa ga lalawigan," Aquino explained.

Best selling American author Dan Brown, however, also made headlines in the country in June for calling Manila as the "gates of hell" in his newly released novel Inferno.

A character in the book described the capital city as one rife with traffic jams, child prostitution, terrible poverty and pollution.