[av_one_full first min_height=” vertical_alignment=” space=” custom_margin=” margin=’0px’ padding=’0px’ border=” border_color=” radius=’0px’ background_color=” src=” background_position=’top left’ background_repeat=’no-repeat’ animation=”]
[av_heading heading=’Chinese arrival ushers in PH Tourism Week’ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=” subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=”][/av_heading]
[av_textblock size=” font_color=” color=”]
POMP and gaiety welcomed 2,275 Chinese tourists in Boracay Island during their arrival on Saturday morning on board the cruise ship Legend of the Seas from Xiamen, China.
The huge visitor arrival, which ushered in the celebration of Philippines’ Tourism Week, marked the first trip of an international cruise since the Duterte administration took office on July 1.
Department of Tourism (DOT) secretary Wanda Teo said the success of the event was brought about by the shared efforts of stakeholders, including the tour organizers, DOT Region 6, and the municipal administration of Malay, Aklan.
“This event goes to show that our country remains a safe place to visit despite travel warnings due to international politics and travel warnings,” Teo said.
She said Chinese tourist arrivals dropped slightly after the international tribunal ruling on West Philippine Sea but it soon recovered and has grown in recent weeks.
It shows a 64 percent increase, from 257,014 from January-July period last year to 422,801 from the same period this year.
DOT assistant secretary Gwen Javier and DOT-6 regional director Atty. Helen Catalbas were on hand to greet the visitors at the Cagban Jetty Port.
A colorful ati-atihan group performed as local DOT staff handed out handcrafted leis to the tourists, including Chinese professionals, retirees and families with children.
“We are pleased to note that a charter has been initiated by travel trade counterparts in China. This underscores our continuing warm tourism and culture ties amidst the ongoing territorial strife. This augurs well for our industry and as we pursue our National Cruise Tourism Strategy grounded on ports development and rehabilitation,” said Javier.
The visitors took a dip into the crystal-clear water; others lay on the white-sand beach for hours, and some went sight-seeing to nearby Aklan islands.
“We’re so happy to host and accord our visitors from China the best tourism experience in Western Visayas as a world-class tourist destination,” Catalbas said.
The DOT-6 chief disclosed that two more Royal Caribbean cruise ships are due to arrive in October and November.
Next to Koreans, the Chinese comprise the biggest tourist market of Region 6.
At least 183,708 Chinese visited Western Visayas, mainly Boracay, last year while Koreans numbered 331,269, according to the DOT.
The Legend of the Seas first visited the Philippines in 2012. Since then, the country became part of its regular itineraries to Asia./PN
[/av_textblock]
[/av_one_full]
