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Philippines |
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Island Cove Resort & Leisure Park
PTA opens the pages of Pinoy
Turismo, Atbp |
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Source: Manila Bulletin |
Author: Mary Anne R. Conde |
Date: 1999-07-26 |
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The Philippine Tourism Authority, an attached agency of the
Department of Tourism, recently launched a 30-page, full-color glossy
magazine featuring travel places, tourist services and activities around
the country.
The magazine dubbed Pinoy Turismo, Atbp will be distributed and given out
for free at various agencies served by the tourism industry, including travel and
tour agencies, hotel and resort associations, and travel clubs, and even
schools.
According to Lito Banayo, general manager of the PTA this magazine is
aimed at embodying the changing character and mindset of the Philippine
Tourism Authority in responding to the challenge to turn our country into one
of the best tourism destinations in the region.
President Joseph Estrada message in the magazines maiden issue said:
Our country has been blessed with so many natural wonders. From the
beauty of its coastline to the warmth of its people, the Philippines can easily
claim to be one of the best tourist destinations in the entire world It would
be unfortunate if our countrymen do not make an effort to discover our own
magnificent country..
I am, therefore, enthused at the publication of this new magazine, which
provides the valuable service of promoting tourism in the Philippines, both for
Filipinos and foreign guests. At the same time, this magazine serves as a
valuable forum for updates and developments in the tourism industy.
Among the topics and places featured in the first issue are: the Piknikan
concert in Tagaytay; the unspoilt and little known island of Siargao which is
considered as the surfing capital of the country; Malate, also known as
Manilas Greenwich Village; the Barkadahan sa Turismo; diving in Bacasilag,
Bohol and many others. It also has articles on cuisine, a hotel and restaurant
update and industry bulletin.
According to Banayo, they are hoping to get the attention of the public and the
advertisers. They plan to publish another issue this year and if all goes well,
may be able to release it quarterly.
Meanwhile, Banayo also announced other plans that the PTA is currently
working on. We aim to turn around the finances of PTA. We are going to do
this by focusing on a few, really marketable tourist destinations around the
country and use our resources to develop them.
One such place is Manila.
Eighty-five percent of foreigners who arrive in the country pass through
Manila. The only real tourist assets in Manila begin at the area of the Pasig
river, Intramuros, Roxas, to the coastal area. We aim to bring back the life to
this dead portion of Metro Manila, Banayo said.
One of their major goals is the construction of the Luneta Waterfront
Development Project which will be built behind the Quirino grandstand. This
project is intended to strengthen the Intramuros-Remedios tourist corridor by
revitalizing Rizal Park.
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