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THAILAND
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Philippines |
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Pagdanganan bullish to break 2.2 million all-time record |
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Source: Manila Bulletin |
Author: - |
Date: 2004-03-27 |
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Tourism Secretary Roberto Pagdanganan is optimistic that the industry can reach the 2.5 million visitor arrivals by the end of 2004 and break the all-time high record of 2.2 million.
He believed this goal is achievable through the Department of Tourism’s aggressive campaign, in collaboration with the local and travel trade.
Pagdanganan said the successful implementation of the “WOW Philippines” and the “Ganda ng Pilipinas, Galing ng Pilipino” (GP2), the perceived political stability of the Arroyo administration as well as the generally peaceful elections resulted to a cumulative growth rate of 27.14 percent based on the number of visitors who arrived at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) in Jan. to May 19 this year.
Pagdanganan disclosed that the country received favorable impression from representatives of European and Asian countries who were invited to observe in the recently concluded polls. These foreign observers said they would recommend to their respective embassies to lift the travel advisories issued recently on Mindanao.
Swedish journalist Herman Schmid said that he will immediately go to the embassy of his country in Manila “to ask that Mindanao and possibly the entire Philippines be removed from the list of dangerous places.”
Other foreign observers from France, Finland, Japan, China, Korea and even Afghanistan also took note of the warm hospitality of the people and affirmed the generally peaceful situation in Mindanao and other so-called trouble spots in the country, Pagdanganan stressed.
He also pushed for the continuity of the past tourism programs of former Secretary Richard Gordon and further intensified the local and international tourism promotion through the “Biyahe Tayo Program” and the “Ganda ng Pilipinas, Galing ng Pilipino” (GP2) program which complements the thrusts of “WOW Philippines” campaign.
The DoT likewise, would step up the marketing efforts in the short haul markets of Asian and Southeast Asian countries as well as Filipino communities in the US.
Pagdanganan urged the local travel trade to continue as active partners in sustainable tourism development.
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