Aquino cites increasing tourist arrivals, hopes for more in holidays
By GENALYN D. KABILING
Manila Bulletin
Manila Bulletin
November 30, 2011
MANILA, Philippines — President Aquino has hailed the 12 percent-increase in tourism arrivals this year and expressed hope that more people to visit the country especially this Christmas season.
Despite the growth in tourist arrivals, the President admitted that the Philippines is still lagging behind some neighbors in Asia in terms of tourism traffic.
The President disclosed that while 3 million people visited the Philippines, there were 32 million tourists in Malaysia and 14 million in Thailand this year.
“With the onset of the Christmas season, we expect more tourists to visit the Philippines. In the first nine months of the year, there were 2.88 million tourists in the country. This is 12 percent higher compared to the previous year,” he said in Filipino during the inauguration of a hotel in Intramuros, Manila last Tuesday.
“I hope the 12 percent increase in tourism arrivals this year will mark the start of better things ahead for the country. The private and public sector must work together to promote tourism to generate more jobs and opportunities for our countrymen,” he added.
The President said the administration has started to modernize airports and seaports as well as improve roads and bridges to entice more tourists in the country’s prime destinations.
With the reforms implemented by his administration, Aquino acknowledged that it was time to invite the world to visit the Philippines.
“Halina kayo’t dumayo sa Perlas ng Silangan; bukas ang aming pinto para inyong maranasan ang kultura, kasaysayan, at hiwagang dito sa Pilipinas lamang ninyo matutuklasan (Come and visit the Pearl of the Orient; our doors are open for you to experience the culture, history and magic of the Philippines),” he said.
Despite the growth in tourist arrivals, the President admitted that the Philippines is still lagging behind some neighbors in Asia in terms of tourism traffic.
The President disclosed that while 3 million people visited the Philippines, there were 32 million tourists in Malaysia and 14 million in Thailand this year.
“With the onset of the Christmas season, we expect more tourists to visit the Philippines. In the first nine months of the year, there were 2.88 million tourists in the country. This is 12 percent higher compared to the previous year,” he said in Filipino during the inauguration of a hotel in Intramuros, Manila last Tuesday.
“I hope the 12 percent increase in tourism arrivals this year will mark the start of better things ahead for the country. The private and public sector must work together to promote tourism to generate more jobs and opportunities for our countrymen,” he added.
The President said the administration has started to modernize airports and seaports as well as improve roads and bridges to entice more tourists in the country’s prime destinations.
With the reforms implemented by his administration, Aquino acknowledged that it was time to invite the world to visit the Philippines.
“Halina kayo’t dumayo sa Perlas ng Silangan; bukas ang aming pinto para inyong maranasan ang kultura, kasaysayan, at hiwagang dito sa Pilipinas lamang ninyo matutuklasan (Come and visit the Pearl of the Orient; our doors are open for you to experience the culture, history and magic of the Philippines),” he said.
No comments:
Post a Comment