3.87 Million Visitors Came to the Philippines from January to October 2013

The Philippines received 3,867,386 visitors for the first ten months of 2013, recording a double-digit gain of 11.19% versus it 2012 arrivals ofr 3,478,285 visitors for the same months. The ten-month arrival represents 70.32% of the targetted 5.5 million arrivals for 2013. Auguring well to the tourism industry is the consistent monthly growth in arrivals, with the month of February registering the highest growth of 15.52% while the month of January recorded the biggest arrivals of 436,079. Visitors from South Korea led all other markets as it contibuted the biggest arrivals of 990,486. It shared 25.61% to total inbound traffic and registered a growth of 18.99% vis-à-vis its arrivals of 832,437 in 2012 covering the same months. Noting its performance for the ten-month period, this market is likely to surpass the 1 millionth arrivals in November of this year. Visitors from the U.S.A. constituted the second biggest arrivals for the period numbering 550,991 visitors, sharing 14.25% to total visitor volume. This market grew by 3.01% compared to its contribution of 534,899 a year ago. The Chinese market grabbed the third place as it provided 365,905 visitors for a share of 9.46% to total visitor traffic. A double-digit increase of 69.55% was achieved by this market when compared to its volume of 215,814 the previous year. The Japanese market settled in fourth place as its arrivals aggregated to 360,721, comprising 9.33% of the inbound traffic. This market grew by 5.57% when compared to its arrivals of 341,676 for the same period in 2012. Arrivals from Australia accounted for 4.27% of the visitor traffic or a volume of 165,282 visitors. This group grew by 12.26% when compared to its volume of 147,237 in January to October 2012. Completing the top ten markets are Singapore with 142,970 arrivals, Taiwan with 120,587 arrivals, Hongkong with 107,312 arrivals, Canada with 100,274 arrivals, and United Kingdom with 96,648 arrivals Moreover, significant gains were likewise recorded by the following markets: Russian Federation (+27.63%) with 25,981 arrivals, Indonesia (+25.05%) with 37,740 arrivals, Saudi Arabia (+28.97%) with 33,807 arrivals, France (+16.69%) with 31,802 arrivals, Thailand (+18.64) with 39,847 arrivals, and India (+12.47) with 42,860 arrivals. Prepared.

 

PHILIPPINES EYES DUTY-FREE ACCESS INTO THE US OF PRODUCTS FROM YOLANDA-AFFECTED AREAS

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The Philippines would like to seek dutyfree access into the United States of certain products produced from areas hit by Typhoon Haiyan last year as part of the government’s efforts to spur the recovery and rehabilitation of the affected communities. Ambassador Jose L. Cuisia, Jr. announced the plan in his remarks at a conference at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) on the role of the United States government and military, the private sector and non-government organizations in responding to the devastation. “Similar to what the United States did following the Haiti earthquake, the Philippines is looking at possible trade preference for products from Haiyan-affected areas,” Ambassador Cuisia said. He said the Philippines is looking at arrangements that will allow duty-free access for a limited period of time for a limited number of products coming from the affected areas, mostly in the Central Visayas. In his presentation, Ambassador Cuisia again expressed his appreciation to the US Government and the American people for the generous assistance extended to the Philippines in the aftermath of Typhoon Haiyan. The typhoon, one of strongest in recorded history, killed as 6,183 people dead, affected 2.6 million families and displaced 930,000 others. Another 28,626 people were injured and 1,785 people remain missing. It also left more than $12.9 million in damages. According to the ambassador, the total US assistance package from the US government alone is estimated at around $85 million and covered food aid, shelter materials, clean water, and hygiene education and supplies for affected families as well as protection for vulnerable populations. This amount includes the $25 million in additional aid announced by Secretary of State John Kerry during his visit to Tacloban in December. The US Chamber of Commerce Typhoon Haiyan Corporate Aid Tracker has also reported over $51.8 million of business pledges to support recovery efforts as of December 5. “There is much work to be done, and in the spirit of the alliance and partnership we have shared, we continue to count on your invaluable assistance,” Ambassador Cuisia said, adding that at least $8.2 billion is needed for the Reconstruction Assistance on Yolanda Plan that the Philippine government unveiled last month. He said the Philippines will continue to need assistance in the long-term recovery and rehabilitation of 171 municipalities in four regions of the country that have been identified as priority areas for assistance. According to the ambassador, the priority needs that have been identified include shelter, food, debris removal, water systems and access to sanitation facilities. Other priorities include livelihood, public health services, education and national protection capacity. “At this point, it is apparent that recovery and rehabilitation will not be easy, and there are very real and substantive challenges ahead,” Ambassador Cuisia said. “In this light, we continue to call on our friends in the international community to support this effort,” Ambassador Cuisia said, adding that the Philippines would need the assistance of experts on technical grants; standards; climate change resiliency; and disaster risk reduction. The forum entitled “US Response to Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines” was hosted by CSIS and Abbott, and moderated by Murray Hiebert, Deputy Director and Senior Fellow and Ernest Bower, Senior Adviser at the Sumitro Chair for Southeast Asian Studies of CSIS. Panelists from the US government were, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary Scot Marciel of the Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs, Department of State; Deputy Assistant Administrator for Asia Gregory Beck, US Agency for International Development; and Brig. Gen. Joaquin F. Malavet, Principal Director of Asia and Pacific, Office of the Deputy Undersecretary of Defense at the Department of Defense. Panelists from the private sector were Marc DeCourcey, Executive Director of the Business Civil Leadership Center of the US Chamber of Commerce; Thomas Tighe, Chief Executive Officer of Direct Relief; Kate Irvin, Group Director for Diplomatic Relations of the Coca-Cola Company; Chris Palusky, Senior Director of Humanitarian and Emergency Affairs of World Vision; Suki McClatchey from Abbott; and Evangeline Ganuelas, Executive Director of Feed the Hungry, Inc.###

 

Miss International a Philippine beauty queen

 

Crowned in a pageant marred by allegations of intimidation that kept her predecessor away — pledging to use her title to help victims of the country’s devastating typhoon. “This is my dream. Thank you Japan for giving it to me,” an ecstatic Bea Rose Santiago said at the event, held in Tokyo. “I’m going to use my crown and my title to help the victims” of Super Typhoon Haiyan, which raked the Philippines last month, leaving nearly 8,000 people dead or missing. “So this is actually for my province, and this is for the Philippines.” Santiago was selected from among 67 candidates representing countries and regions of the world. In a break with pageant custom, she was crowned by Spain’s 2008 Miss International and not by her immediate predecessor, who stayed away from the glitzy show. “I really wanted to meet her,” the new beauty queen said. “It was very unfortunate because I really wanted to meet last year’s winner also.” Outgoing title-holder Japanese Ikumi Yoshimatsu told foreign journalists this week in Tokyo that she had been asked by organisers to stay away from the final. Yoshimatsu said since winning she has faced a running battle to maintain her independence from the management agencies that form the backbone of Japan’s entertainment industry. She said a senior executive at one agency had been in touch with her on many occasions. After she had repeatedly rebuffed him, he telephoned the main sponsor of the Miss International competition, she said. (YAHOO)

 

A FILIPINA CLINCHED MISS TOURISM FOR 3RD TIME

MANILA, Philippines – A Filipina clinched the title for the second straight year at the Miss Tourism International pageant held on New Year’s Eve at the Marriot Hotel and Spa in Putrajaya, Malaysia. Angeli Dione Gomez, 20, beat 59 other contestants from around the world to win the title, which was handed to her by Miss Tourism International 2012/2013 and fellow Filipina Rizzini Alexis Gomez. Thailand’s Sunidporn Srisuwan (Miss Tourism Queen of the Year) won first runner-up; Australia’s Sarah Czarnuch (Miss Tourism Metropolitan) won second runner-up; Dominican Republic’s Michelle Alexis Torres (Miss Tourism Global International) won third runner up and Malaysia’s Thaarah Ganesan (Miss Tourism Cosmopolitan International) won fourth runner-up. Vietnam’s Phan Hoang Thu was named Ms. Southeast Asia. Ms. Gomez’s victory in the Miss Tourism International pageant is a perfect way to cap the country’s impressive streak in the pageant scene and is wonderful news to start the new year. During the coronation night, the candidates were asked how they will promote world peace. During her turn, Ms. Gomez said that she will promote tourism because it involves people-to-people movement and communication, which will make each one understand cultures, beliefs and traditions. This is the third time that the Philippines won the title in the international beauty contest. In 2000, Ma. Esparanza Manzano of Quezon City won the title. The Miss Tourism International pageant began in 1994 in Kuching, Sarawak with candidates from 20 countries. The title is now franchised in over 80 countries worldwide.