The importance of tourism for the Philippines
Tourism is vital to our economy and our country. And we must accelerate now more than ever tourism development all over our archipelago.
I know what some will immediately say – that at this time of global slowdown, there will be fewer people traveling so we should not expect more tourists to be visiting us this year.
My answer is this:
First, regardless of the slowdown in the West, tourism will remain a major global industry, accounting for one out of every 9 jobs and 11% of consumer spending. In 2008, tourism arrivals totaled 924 million, a growth of 2% over 2007 despite the second half slowdown. In 2009, the World Tourism Organization projects either modest growth or at worst a standstill.
Third, Tourism is important to our people because it is a major jobs generator as a labor-intensive industry. Today, the travel and tourism industry – with 1.4 million jobs — accounts for 4.1% of jobs in the economy. But this can be substantially increased to as much as 10% percent of employment – the global average — if we fulfill the promise and potential of our tourism.
Fourth, tourism is a major dollar earner, and every dollar we earn from tourism is classified as exports in the country’s book of accounts. Last year, tourism receipts totaled over $4 billion. We earn on average $880 from every tourist visitor. At this time therefore when our export earnings are contracting because of the economic slowdown in the West, tourism can help make up for the shortfall if we increase the number of arrivals.
Fifth, tourism benefits all regions and provinces once they are integrated by adequate infrastructure into the loop of tourism development. I know this like the palm of my hand because I have been governor and now am representative of Ilocos Norte, where tourism is an indispensable source of income and jobs.
Sadly, we could not heed that study because of lack of resources and different priorities for public spending. Today, with a new decade and a new administration dawning on our country, I say it’s time we take up the challenge.
I submit that tourism is deserving of a stimulus package as any other sector in the government’s priority list. It is a mistake that we only allocated P1.2 billion to tourism in the national budget when it can contribute so much more to economic growth and national development.
We have much to learn from what Thailand did with its tourism at the start of the Asian economic crisis in 1997 – a crisis which began incidentally on its shores. In the face of the collapse of its financial system and real estate market, and the massive contraction of its economy, Thailand made a key decision to use tourism as a weapon to get back on its feet. With Amazing Thailand as its banner, it consecrated itself to a multi-pronged program to turn itself into a top tourist destination in the world and enable tourism to contribute to national income in a big way.
Today, just a decade later, Thai tourism accounts for nearly 7 percent of Thailand’s GDP. Thailand is the 18th most visited country in the world with 14 million tourists annually. (France is first with over 79 million tourists.) The average stay of tourists is 9.19 days. Thai cuisine is now ranked as one of the top five in the world. And the country competes in nearly every tourism category – from beaches to wellness to shopping to adventure tourism and whatever.
The point is that the total world tourist traffic is huge and we are getting only a small share of it so far. Even if the traffic volume were to contract this year because of the crisis, it’s no big deal for us to keep or increase our market share if we put together the right package. That is the lesson of every country that has aggressively developed its tourism.
Investing in tourism now is sound because it can boost the economy by generating jobs, increasing foreign exchange income, spreading benefits to the countryside, and enable us to become more competitive in this vital global industry.
The Tourism Industry has once again proven to be a major contributing factor in the consistent growth of the Philippine economy. With arrivals increasing and revenues rising, the Department of Tourism (DOT) is pleased that its efforts have vastly improved the country’s economic landscape, and that it has helped in generating jobs and business opportunities for Filipinos back home. DOT enjoins all Filipino communities in the United Kingdom to be part of the ever-widening effort to project the beauty of our country and attract more visitors to our sun-kissed, friendly shores.

WHO
KNOWS
I
WOULD
EVER
GONNA
SEE
THIS
BLOG
AGAIN. . . .

IS THIS GOODBYE??????????

AIRPORT

AIRPORT . . . . . . .
A place where stories overwrite
Saying hello and goodbye
And letting them know the reason of saying it.


BUT . . . . . . . . .
The worst thing will be missing you.
But, even if we’re far apart
And even if we can’t hear each other as often we’d like . . .

I’ll be here waiting for you when you come back.
I’ll think of you, every second
I’ll play every song just for you
That is something more powerful than distance will keep us together
And always remember
“THIS ISN’T GOODBYE I KNOW IT’S ONLY FAREWELL”

That’s all life is . . . . . . . . .
Full of arrivals and departure
Some are reunited
While others watch their love ones leave.


There are some who’ve been separated from their other halves
But are ready to welcome the return of another part of their lives
Two of them in fact
And that the magic in a hug is reflected in the magic of an
Image looking towards the future!!


AIRPORT

AIRPORT . . . . . . .
A place where stories overwrite
Saying hello and goodbye
And letting them know the reason of saying it.


BUT . . . . . . . . .
The worst thing will be missing you.
But, even if we’re far apart
And even if we can’t hear each other as often we’d like . . .

I’ll be here waiting for you when you come back.
I’ll think of you, every second
I’ll play every song just for you
That is something more powerful than distance will keep us together
And always remember
“THIS ISN’T GOODBYE I KNOW IT’S ONLY FAREWELL”

That’s all life is . . . . . . . . .
Full of arrivals and departure
Some are reunited
While others watch their love ones leave.


There are some who’ve been separated from their other halves
But are ready to welcome the return of another part of their lives
Two of them in fact
And that the magic in a hug is reflected in the magic of an
Image looking towards the future!!

MY DREAM, MY FUTURE

FOR ALMOST ALL OF THE YEARS, I'VE REALLY LONGING TO WISH THAT SOMEDAY I WOULD BECOME A NURSE SOMEDAY.

BUT ALL OF THAT CHANGED IN A SUDDEN.. . UNTIL I DECIDED TO BE AN ENGINEER, A COMPUTER ENGINEER AND THAT IS WHAT I WANT TO.

MY DREAM MY FUTURE. . . . .
I DREAMED OF BECOMING AN ENGINEER TO BE SPECIFIC COMPUTER ENGINEER. AT FIRST I ASKED MYSELF, CAN I REALLY DO IT? WHAT IF I FAIL? BUT TO ALL OF THESE QUESTIONS LURKING AROUND MY HEAD, ONE THING REALLY HAVE ME: CAN I DO IT ALL BY MYSELF?

THE ANSWER IS "YES I CAN"
I KNOW I CAN DO IT.
IT WAS MY DREAM, IT IS WANT I WANT TO.
NOBODY CAN STOP FROM TAKING IT, SO AFTER THE GRADUATION. . ALL I CAN SAY IS THAT I AM READY TO FACE MY COLLEGE LIFE TO BECOME SUCCESSFUL IN MY CAREER BECAUSE THAT WAS MY DREAM, AND SOON TO BE MY FUTURE.

" Change: It Starts With Me"

the change starts in me. how? simply to make some changes :)

there are such thing to be done in changing something or someone. I in the past few monhts, many have change. . .

it was the thing that I've preferred to walk or stroll along with no companion I've manage to live my life alone without another.. . but then when the KANNAWIDAN came many have changed a lot on me. I found new friends I can call my own. . . they come along with me even though I did not want to. . . . that is some of the things that I did'nt want to from the past few months. . . . and those are the some of the changes I really need to change.. . a thing that should start on me, myself.

that was the things that have to start on me.

so for another new day and time of my life I could only say
"CHANGES STARTS WITH ME"

Vigan at It's Best

Celebrating its feast from January 16-31 to commemorate the day of St. Paul and also to celebrate its 10th year of being a city.
Commonly called the Cuidad Fernandina and then Vigan, a place where we can find the only UNESCO world heritage in the Philippines. Rich in culture and many festivities. Vigan is at place you must see and visit place to go.
Starting from January 16, more and more preparation and activities up to its exact day and that is January 25, the day Vigan was declared as a city. There were a lots of fun. Carnivals and Street Dancing. Education day and Coronation Day. IT was really a happy place to go.
Viva Ciudad Fernandina, Viva San Pablo, lets continue this event and happy always. Viva Vigan, Viva Biguenos.

KANNAWIDAN-"TAWID"

a true beauty that lies within ILOCOS SUR. celebrating the anniversary of the province, a weeklong "KANNAWIDAN YLOCOS" is celebrated during the last week of February. the festival showcases the old costumes, traditions and culture of Ilocanos who lived in the northern part of the Philippines.

the "Kannawidan Ylocos Festival" aims to preserve and sustainthe old traditions, attractive products and practices of the Ilocanos, as well as promote the local tourism industry and cause the increase the demand for local products, create more job opportunities and generate more incime.

traditional practices in Ilocos Provinces are what "Kannawidan Ylocos" means in english. a proccesion of imaga of patron saints of the province, an agricultural trade fair, presentation of folk dances, band concert at the town plaza, traditional games and a zarzuela, horse racing, search for the Binibining Ilocos and the presentation of awards to successful residents of Ilocos Sur are among the highlights of the festivity. another is when the provincial govenment honors individual Ilocos talents who excelled in different field of the national and international arena.

all Ilocos Provinces are invited to participate to this activity so this would be the beginning of ab annual festival.