...the ultimate luxury resort

The ultimate luxury retreat in the Philippines

A Philippine private-island paradise, Amanpulo is the ultimate tranquil treat, says Matt Hryciw

Matt Hryciw | Standard.co.uk
14 November 2019

Any holiday that begins on a private plane is going to be exclusive from the word to go. Taking off from the Philippine capital, Manila, from a VIP lounge out of sight from the melee of the main airport set the tone for five days at Aman's showpiece private island resort, Amanpulo, a trip would create a new benchmark for me in understated luxury and personalized service.

What's left to say about a place that's attained nearly legendary status in luxury travel circles? An hour's flight southwest of the traffic-choked capital, Pamalican Island in remote Palawan province feels like another world, with all the trappings of a luxury resort including hilltop spa and gourmet dining, but also with an immediate sense that you've just landed in a tropical wildlife preserve. I stepped out of the plane into a relative cool after a  morning of welcome heavy rain and was greeted warmly by my personal guest assistant, Mark, who would be looking after me during my stay. He led me to a solar-powered golf cart where I hopped in for a tour of the 2.5km-long island. Around the first corner we slowed to let a four-foot monitor lizard lazily cross our path on our way to the island's turtle hatchery to check for the new arrivals, before pulling up to the beach that would be my home for the next five days. 

Laying eyes on the beaches of Pamalican Island for the first time is much of what makes this private isle such a draw. All the daydreaming poring over photos online of the famously powdery white sand and sparkling turquoise ocean still hadn’t prepared me for having all those expanses — 5.5km in total — of shore virtually to myself. This is where the use of superlatives to describe Amanpulo’s biggest asset seems unavoidable: if you’re a sun-worshipper or simply love floating in a crystal clear, shallow sea above schools of colourful fish all by yourself, this is unparalleled heaven. 

Guests at Amanpulo can choose from two types of accommodation. First there are the 42 private, stand-alone rooms like mine called ‘casitas’, which are either cleverly tucked behind the coconut palms along the beach or nestled into the island’s lush interior. For a proper splurge, go for the larger, family-friendly, ultra-luxe villa compounds that boast their own pools and come with a personal chef and butler — naturally. My beach casita became my tranquil oasis, where I’d look up from my king-size bed at vaulted hardwood ceilings or out over my private corner terrace with it’s two heavenly sun beds, down my very own sandy path to the beach. It was there that I really got a sense of the refined, ultimate privacy that’s so sought after at Amanpulo.

For a little more action, the Clubhouse acts as  a hub for the island and hosts the wood-paneled library for games of backgammon as well as South East Asian all-day dining with an elegant feel. This space hugs the vast main pool deck, all clean lines and gleaming all white sun loungers. Try the Philippine Dining Experience for an impressive introduction to the nation's best flavours.

My favourite spot for breakfast was in the breeze at the Lagoon Club, overlooking miles of coral reef, while a casual meal of pizza hot from the outdoor oven at tables in the sand made for a lunch light years from those back at my office desk. By Christmas, the revamped Beach Club on the opposite shore will take over as a show-stopping all-day dining venue and bar. 

Getting around the island’s gravel roads was fun, too. I got to keep my golf cart — no driving licence required — to zip to meals or to farther beaches. That’s the freeing thing about Amanpulo: since its the only gig around I had free rein to explore everywhere on the island that didn’t require a key to enter. The only roadworks I saw were jolly guys up an overhanging tree removing coconut hazards. Plus, 7am trips to the light-filled gym, with 360-degree sea and jungle canopy views, were easy on the mountain bike I was given for my stay, which added extra animal-spotting to my routine.

All of this is run with sustainably in mind. There’s a desalination plant for safe drinking water (no plastic bottles needed), treated wastewater keeps the island lush and many of the vegetables served are grown on the island. And I was taken care of by a friendly army of staff, many of whom live on the island year-round and know it inside-out.

What became clear to me during my stay was how much thought — and work — has gone into carefully creating this tranquil paradise and then perfecting it over the past 25 years. Experience it, if you can. 

...the PH tourism pitch in G20 summit

Philippines join first G20 tourism meeting 


Catherine Talavera
Philippine Star
08 November 2019

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines is spreading its message of sustainable tourism to the world’s top economies as it joined the recent G20 Tourism Ministerial Meeting in Japan.

“The strong Philippine-Japan diplomatic relations, the active tourism promotions in Japan and the resounding feat of the Boracay Island rehabilitation have led to the historical invitation of the Philippine Department of Tourism (DOT) to the first G20 Tourism Ministerial Meeting,” DOT said in a statement.

Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat led the Philippine contingent in the meeting that delved on how proper tourism planning, development and management can benefit visitors and local communities, and expounded on the role of innovation and digital transformation in the advancement of sustainable tourism.

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Puyat emphasized the DOT’s thrust of creating a culture of sustainable tourism, and how the success of the Boracay Island rehabilitation catalyzed the adoption of sustainable tourism practices across local destinations and tourism-related industries.

“The DOT takes inspiration from the Boracay model, and an evolving framework in creating a culture of sustainable tourism is being applied to other destinations in the country.  Using this model as the benchmark, the DOT, together with government partners, has prioritized and rationalized the enforcement of environmental and related laws in tourism destinations from northern to southern Philippines such as the Cordilleras, El Nido in Palawan, Bohol and Siargao,” Puyat said.

The tourism chief also lauded the efforts of the local government units that have been taking proactive measures in protecting and preserving their tourist attractions, now more than ever, becoming  mindful of  carrying capacity levels.

“As we build our brand image of sustainability, the DOT is ensuring brand integrity through updating and promotion of green standards as we accredit and rate our tourism enterprises. In addition, we are developing new training modules to direct the whole tourism industry to embrace sustainable tourism values,” Puyat said.

...the favorite countries among travelers

Philippines 8th favorite country among travelers

Christina Mendez/Catherine Talavera
Philippine Star
26 October 2019

MANILA, Philippines — Foreign visitors’ interest in the Philippines remains strong after the country was voted by readers of travel magazine Conde Nast Traveler as one of the favorite destinations in the world to visit.

Based on results of Conde Nast Traveler’s Top 20 Countries in the World: Readers Choice Awards 2019, the Philippines ranked eighth with a score of 90.63.

The magazine cited island hopping, surfing and shopping as some of the activities tourists can do in the country.

It also cited Palawan, particularly Coron, El Nido and Linapacan, as among the top destinations.

The Philippines joined the other favorite countries to visit that included Indonesia, Thailand, Portugal and Sri Lanka.

“Gaining yet another prestigious recognition as the 8th Favorite Country in the World speaks well of the concerted effort of the Philippine tourism industry stakeholders in nurturing the many natural wonders the country is blessed with,” Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat said.

Department of Tourism New York attaché Francisco Lardizabal received the award in behalf of the Philippines during ceremonies at the One World Trade Center in New York.

“All these accolades that the country and our other island destinations continue to receive bode well for the country’s sustainable tourism development program as continuity is the very essence of sustainability,” Puyat said.

Malacañang lauded yesterday the DOT for efforts to promote the Philippines after the country placed 8th in the Readers’ Choice Awards 2019 of Conde Nast Traveler.

“The world has spoken: it is truly more fun in the Philippines,” presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo said.

The Palace official is grateful to the readers of Conde Nast Traveler for making the Philippines eighth in their list of favorite countries in the world.

“We commend the Department of Tourism, their industry partners and other stakeholders for their splendid job. In its most recent report, the DOT counted a total of 5,554,950 visitors between January and August 2019,” Panelo said.

On top of this, Panelo noted that the Philippines registered a 14.08 percent year-on-year increase in the country’s international inbound traffic.

The recognition comes on the heels of two major awards the Philippines won at the recent 2019 World Travel Awards held at Phu Quoc island in Vietnam.

Readers of Conde Nast Traveler also voted three Philippine islands as the best islands in Asia, with Boracay grabbing the number one spot, despite the six-month closure of the island last year due to clean up and rehabilitation efforts.

“This itty-bitty island (just under four square miles) in the Western Philippines is as close to a tropical idyll as you’ll find in Southeast Asia, with gentle coastlines and made-for-Instagram sunsets,” according to Conde Nast Traveler.

“Fold in a thriving nightlife scene, and you have one of the top tourist spots in the region,” it added.
The magazine acknowledged the island’s closure and ongoing rehabilitation, noting that it has “become too touristed” in the past.

At present, the Philippine government is implementing a carrying capacity for Boracay, with only 19,215 tourists allowed to be on the island at any one time, and 6,405 tourists allowed to enter the island per day.

“The aptly named White Beach is Boracay’s main draw, with powdery white sand and shallow azure water ideal for swimming and snorkeling,” Conde Nast said.

Following Boracay is Cebu and the Visayas islands landing in second spot.

“Located in the center of the Philippines, Cebu draws nearly two million travelers annually for its pristine beaches and diving off the island’s northern coast. Spanish and Roman Catholic influences permeate Cebu City; Basilica Minore del Santo Niño houses a small statue of Christ that was presented by Ferdinand Magellan,” Conde Naste said.

The magazine highlighted Cebu’s Kawasan Falls near Cebu’s southwest coast, noting its popularity among locals and tourists.

...the Next Best Destination for Food Tourists

The Philippines is the next Best Destination for Food Tourists

Emily Brown
UNILAD
25 October 2019

There are plenty of cuisines out there that dominate the restaurant and takeaway scene, but one that doesn’t get nearly enough attention is Filipino food.

Believe me when I say, the delightful dishes on offer have enough flavour to match the 7,641 islands it comes from.

Though it’s possible to get a taste of foreign cuisines from restaurants and takeaways at home, there’s nothing like trying them in their country of origin. 



You might think it’s a good idea to experiment with more than 15 ingredients to create halo-halo yourself – but combining sweet red beans, sweet white beans, coconut gel, macapuno, jackfruit and ube ice cream to create the signature Filipino summer dessert might be a bit of a stretch without some expert help.

If that doesn’t tickle your fancy, how about Filipino adobo, a chicken dish that varies greatly from the much more widely well-known Spanish and Latin American version. Removing chili, paprika, oregano and tomatoes, you may think you’re taking away all the flavour but replace those things with Southeast Asian ingredients like soy sauce, black peppercorns and bay leaves, this dish is still certainly packed full of flavour.

Award-winning chefs JP Anglo and Jordan Andino discuss the country’s rich, diverse cuisine and dining culture in Eats. More Fun In the Philippines campaign video, where they were joined by top YouTuber and comedian Mikey Bustos.

Filipino-American chef Jordan described the Filipino dining experience as offering more soul than most countries. He explained when you eat the food you taste ‘love, family and tradition’, adding ‘not a lot of cultures are able to do that’.

Chef JP spoke more specifically about the sumptuous flavours of the cuisine, recommending the pork dish lechon as well as grilled chicken known as inasal, saying:

Our lechon is very strong. We’re one of the countries that do the roasting technique really well. Our grilled chicken, the inasal, is also very strong and it can go against the other grilled chickens in the world.

I look up to the street vendors like the guy who’s been making batchoy (noodle soup) for two decades in a market in Iloilo. I think we should celebrate them more and give them a venue.

These guys are the real deal and as chefs we get our inspiration from them.

But Filipino cuisine is so much more than just diverse flavours; it’s fun to eat. Dining in the Philippines is an event where you can experiment and try new things, like eating with your bare hands – a way for people to truly savour the food they’re eating.

For Filipinos, eating is an experience to be enjoyed and shared with everyone, with comforting meals shared while bonding with friends, at a big gathering or at simple get-togethers.

Having experienced Filipino food for himself, YouTuber Mikey acknowledged appreciating the dishes involves understanding ‘Filipino food is designed for Filipino life’.

The comedian added:

If you really want to learn about a country, you have to eat and experience that whole thing.

Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat pointed out more and more people are travelling not just to see the sights, but to discover new cuisines.

She commented:

We believe that one of the best ways to explore the Philippines and experience the country’s culture is through our plentiful and diverse food offerings.

Food, especially to us Filipinos, is a universal language. We always say kain na (let’s eat) as our way to say “hello” and “welcome”. I think that it is the best testament to our uniquely Filipino hospitality. Our food and our love for it, make us some of the most endearing hosts in the world.

Though Filipino food promises to offer an explosion of flavour, arguably one of the best parts about eating in The Philippines is the fact you can enjoy five meals a day thanks to the inclusion of merienda; dishes smaller than a traditional meal but still just as delicious.

Next time you’re sifting through where and what to eat, why not give the unique flavours of the Philippines a try? You won’t regret it.

...the World Travel Awardees

World Travel awards Asia and Oceania 2019 winners announced in Phu Quoc, Vietnam

Tatiana Rokou
Travel Daily News  
 14 October 2019

The finest travel brands in Asia and Oceania have been unveiled at a star-studded gala ceremony in Vietnam. The elite of the travel industry assembled for the World Travel Awards (WTA) Asia & Oceania Gala Ceremony 2019 on the pristine island of Phu Quoc to find out who amongst them had been crowned best of the best.

   

Winners at the red carpet ceremony included Philippines Department of Tourism, which was named ‘Asia’s Leading Tourist Board’ following a year of impressive visitor arrival growth. The stunning natural beauty and intriguing culture of Vietnam was acknowledged with the title of ‘Asia’s Leading Destination’, whilst New Zealand fended off stiff competition to emerge as ‘Oceania’s Leading Destination’.

Hundreds of the travel industry VIPs from Asia and Oceania attended the evening at Vinpearl Convention Center Phu Quoc, the state-of-the-art meeting and event facility and the latest addition to the five-star Vinpearl Phu Quoc integrated complex.

Graham Cooke, Founder, WTA, said: “It has been an honour to host WTA at the Vinpearl Convention Center Phu Quoc. This fabulous addition to the Vinpearl Phu Quoc integrated complex has proven a gracious host of what has been a spectacular evening of travel triumph, and a highlight of our 26th Grand Tour. We have had the privilege of recognising many of the leading hotels, airlines and hospitality providers from across Asia and Oceania and my congratulations to each of them.”

Dang Thanh Thuy, Deputy Chief Executive Officer, Vingroup, said: “Vinpearl is proud to have hosted the WTA Asia & Oceania Gala Ceremony 2019 at our Vinpearl Convention Center on Phu Quoc Island. On this special occasion, we have been honoured to present a charming image of modern Vietnam to international visitors, as well as the world’s leading tourism and hospitality brands. This significant event has offered Vinpearl a golden opportunity to showcase its world-class all-inclusive resort complex at Phu Quoc, Asia’s most promising island destination, as well as to promote Vietnamese tourism to the global travel industry.”

In the aviation sector, Singapore Airlines was named ‘Asia’s Leading Airline’ whilst an unprecedented fleet upgrade helped Vietnam Airlines lift the title of ‘Asia’s Leading Airline – Economy Class’. AirAsia collected ‘Asia’s Leading Low-Cost Airline’ and Singapore Changi Airport was named ‘Asia’s Leading Airport’. Oceania winners included Air New Zealand (‘Oceania’s Leading Airline’) and Brisbane Airport (‘Oceania’s Leading Airport’).

The enchanting mix of French Indochine haute couture in a breathtaking mountain setting led Hotel de la Coupole MGallery by Sofitel to be voted ‘Asia’s Leading New Hotel’. Other newcomer winners included Anantara Quy Nhon Villas (‘Asia’s Leading New Resort’) and Van Don International Airport (‘Asia’s Leading New Airport’).

Vinpearl’s contribution to Vietnam’s travel and tourism economy was acknowledged with victories for Vinpearl Resort & Spa Phu Quoc (‘Asia’s Leading Family & Beach Resort’) and Vinpearl Discovery 2 Phu Quoc (‘Asia’s Leading New Villa Resort’).

Hospitality winners included The Grand Ho Tram Strip (‘Asia’s Leading Resort’); The Ascott Limited (‘Asia’s Leading Serviced Apartment Brand’); InterContinental Danang Sun Peninsula Resort (‘Asia’s Leading Green Resort’); Conrad Hotels & Resorts (‘Asia’s Leading Lifestyle Hotel Brand’) and InterContinental Hotels & Resorts (‘Oceania’s Leading Hotel Brand’); and InterContinental Melbourne The Rialto (‘Oceania’s Leading Hotel’).

Travel provider winners included Vietravel (‘Asia’s Leading Tour Operator’), Abercrombie & Kent (‘Oceania’s Leading Tour Operator’) and RezLive.com (‘Asia’s Leading B2B Travel Provider’).
  
The VIP ceremony formed the sixth and final leg of the WTA Grand Tour 2019 – a search for the finest travel and tourism organisations in the world. Other 2019 regional ceremonies included Montego Bay (Jamaica), Abu Dhabi (UAE), Mauritius, Madeira (Portugal), La Paz (Bolivia), with the winners progressing to the Grand Final in Muscat (Oman) on 28.                                            

...the Asian farm tourism leader

PHL set to lead Asia in farm tourism

Gelyka Ruth R. Dumaraos
Busines Mirror
06 October 2019

The Philippines has all it takes to be the leading country as far as farm tourism is concerned, former Department of Tourism (DOT) Secretary and International School of Sustainable Tourism (ISST) Chairman Dr. Mina T. Gabor said.

ISST encourages farm tourism enthusiasts to learn more about best practices and techniques on farming.

To prove just that, the country is set to welcome local and international delegates to ISST’s sixth Philippine Farm Tourism Conference 2019 from November 6 to 8 in Cebu.

ISST looks into welcoming over a thousand delegates in the conference compared to 2017’s 500 participants, which consists of farmers and cooperatives, farm tourism operators, landowners, government officers, entrepreneurs and sustainable agriculture enthusiasts.

With this global summit, Gabor eyes to anchor farm tourism in the Philippines as globally competitive and future-ready with discussions on adaptation of agriculture sector in climate change, aquaculture, urban farming and product-focused discussions.

With the theme “Building Community Relationship for Sustainable Development through Farm Tourism,” the conference aims to learn and share the best practices done by experts in farm tourism industry, as well as fighting for food security.

Starting young

With the abundance of emerging farm tourism sites across the country,  Gabor said that more enthusiasts are encouraged to put up their own, most especially the younger generation.

“It’s really the craze,” Gabor said, saying it is a symbol of a brighter farming in the Philippines. “Since we operated in 2012, from that time on up to now, it’s a quantum leap.”

She added that the future of farming is bright with their creativity and new ideas that are disrupting current trends. “They’re bringing in new innovations, and that’s what’s making it exciting. That’s why I believe we can be the next farm capital in Asia.”

Urban farming

One of the current trends ISST is looking into is urban farming in partnership with various local government agencies in Metro Manila, starting with Parañaque City. As a way of community-building, urban farming paves the way for people to make use of vacant lots as small farms.

Recently, ISST tied up with Bokashi Pinoy, a start-up company introducing bokashi-making among livelihoods.

Bokashi is a way of turning food wastes, such as meat and dairy, into a soil amendment through fermentation. It serves as a soil-builder and a source of nutrients for plants.

ISST believes that through this, kitchen wastes in urban areas can be addressed. It can also be another source of livelihood for those who want to sell their own bokashi.

Challenges

While DOT focuses on farm tourism,  Gabor acknowledges the challenges that come with it, most especially climate change. “When there is climate change, the first that will be affected will be the farm,” she said. “But it is also the farm which can mitigate it.”

For one, she considers as a big challenge is water, what with the coming El Niño season. She said, “We are working closely now with a team of climate specialist. We might bring in this subject so that we can prepare and educate our farmers on interventions for water shortage.”

In addition,  Gabor considers the soil another challenge in urban farming. She said it is imperative that farmers are well educated on the importance of proper nourishment for their soil to yield best results for their produce.

Last,  Gabor sees that infrastructure should be considered to boost farm tourism in the country.  She hopes that with the support of the government, roads leading to farms even in remote areas can be accessed easily, bringing in more potentials tourists for the area.

With the pressure that comes with start-up farms, some farm tourism sites come with premature opening to the public. Noting that some farms which are focused more on their landscapes, looking into tourists’ welfare, such as having PWD-friendly pathways, and comfortable comfort rooms are not yet a priority.  Gabor said that this includes continues training for local guides. For their part, ISST is continuously offers lectures, such as farm guiding, marketing and financing, eco guiding and tourism master planning for farm tourism enthusiasts.

...the PH new ports

New ports lure Asia’s biggest cruise ship to the Philippines


Bangkok Post | Bloomberg Asia
08 October 2019

MANILA: The Philippines, a country of more than 7,600 islands where you’re rarely more than a few miles from the sea, wants a bigger slice of Asia’s growing cruise-tourism industry.

Sun loungers sit on The Spectrum of the Seas cruise ship, operated by Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd.'s cruise line brand Royal Caribbean International (RCI), as the ship sits berthed at the Marina Bay Cruise Center in Singapore, on May 21, 2019. (Bloomberg photo)

For years the Southeast Asian nation has lagged behind its neighbours in attracting cruise visitors, partly because of spotty infrastructure. That’s bound to change as more ports are built and officials look at cruise tourism as a key source of arrivals.

With the economy in danger of notching its slowest expansion since 2011, attracting tourists is a key focus of efforts to boost growth. Tourism accounted for 12.7% of the Philippines’ gross domestic product last year, already beating the government’s goal of 10% by 2022. Government officials are revising up the targets in the country’s tourism development plan.

“There is great potential in cruise tourism,” Tourism Undersecretary Benito Bengzon told Bloomberg by email. “While our Asian neighbours have the advantage of a regional land connectivity, our archipelago is ideal for cruise tourism.”

The Philippines’ cruise strategy focuses on Manila, Boracay and Puerto Princesa, as well as potential new destinations in the northern part of Luzon, the country’s main island. Salomague Port in Ilocos Sur province, scheduled to open this month, will receive Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd’s biggest ship in Asia in December; the “Spectrum of the Seas” will return again in January and February.

In April 2021, Manila’s first cruise-dedicated port is scheduled to open at the Solaire Cruise Center.

“These cruise ports will allow more access to the Philippines and encourage more shorter itineraries from north Asian markets like China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Korea and Japan,” Bengzon said.

Cruise tourism brings large numbers of people to concentrated areas for brief periods, multiplying and focusing the economic impact. At a recent trade show, government officials and representatives of major cruise lines discussed the possibility of adding the Philippines to Asian itineraries from 2020.

The private sector is on board for the infrastructure push.

“Cruise calls in Manila, and the Philippines in general, have been growing quite strongly,” said Enrique Razon, chairman of casino-resort operator Bloomberry Resorts Corp. “Aside from Manila, we’re looking for one cruise-ship facility in the north and possibly two in the south.”

International Container Terminal Services Inc, also owned by Razon, is looking to invest 8.7 billion pesos 5.1 billion baht) to upgrade a port in the central Philippine province of Iloilo, which the company says may eventually include a terminal for cruise-ship passengers.

Tourism has been growing steadily in the Philippines in recent years, reaching 7.2 million visitors last year and 4.85 million in the first seven months of 2019. The government’s target is about 8.2 million visitors for 2019 and 12 million by the end of 2022, but that still pales next to Thailand, which expects more than 40 million tourists this year.

Employment in tourism and related industries has been rising faster than overall job growth. Tourism accounted for 13.4% of Philippine jobs in 2018, projected to rise to 14.4% by 2022, according to the Department of Tourism.

Central bank Governor Benjamin Diokno said the amount of foreign currency tourism brings into the country should rise now that Boracay island, which was closed for six months last year for environmental rehabilitation, has reopened to tourists.

While cruise arrivals can spur development of new tourist spots, they have more environmental impact than land-based tourism, said Robert Dan Roces, chief economist at Security Bank Corp in Manila. Sometimes dubbed “floating cities,” cruise ships have a relatively large carbon footprint, dump fuel into the ocean and leave a lot of waste at their destinations.

Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo Puyat is urging more support for sustainable tourism to spread benefits throughout the country.

“After all, tourism is everybody’s business,” she said in a statement.