by magnolia_eic | Jan 17, 2012 | Headlines, National News
Malacanang expressed elation over the HSBC Expat Explorer Survey result, which ranked the Philippines as the eighth friendliest country in the world.
Earlier, the 2012 Index of Economic Freedom, published by The Wall Street Journal and The Heritage Foundation gave the Philippines a 57.1 score for economic freedom, making its economy the 107th freest in the 2012 Index. The score is 0.9 point higher than last year.
“We’re also happy to note that in one of the surveys conducted by HSBC, the Philippines ranked as one of the… the eighth friendliest country out of most of the countries rated in the world. And this is why we believe na talagang it really is more fun in the Philippines,” DeputyPresidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte said in a radio interview over dzRB Radyo ng Bayan
on Saturday.
The administration will always promote what is good… what is good with the economy and people,” Valte said countering the criticisms being leveled against the Aquino administration.
According to HSBC’s Expat Explorer Survey released last year, the Philippines is the eighth friendliest country in the world for expatriates. HSBC surveyed 3,385 expats in 100 countries between May and July 2011.
The countries were ranked based on four categories: ability to befriend locals, success in learning the local language, capacity for integrating themselves into the community, and ease in which they fit into the new culture.
Forbes.com, citing the results of the HSBC survey, said the Philippines is a country “friendly on wallets,” with large number of expatriates saying they have an increased access to luxuries, including domestic staff, swimming pools and owning properties.
New Zealand topped the list of the world’s friendliest countries, posting excellent scores in all four categories. (PCOO)
by magnolia_eic | Dec 1, 2010 | Headlines, National News
Malacañang have welcomed the modification of the travel advisory to the Philippines by
France.
The old advisory warned French citizens of the “risk of terrorist attack” in the Philippines,
especially in public places in urban areas frequented by foreigners.
The revised advisory cites the possibility of terrorist activity only in certain areas of Mindanao
rather than the entire country. However, the advisory also warns of rising crime rates in the
Philippines especially during the Christmas season.
“France was able to modify its travel advisory. We welcome that decision,” said deputy
presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte. “We are hopeful that the other countries will follow
soon.”
Five other nations – the United States, Australia, United Kingdom, Canada and New Zealand
continue to advise their citizens against traveling to the Philippines due to perceived terrorist
threats brought on by events like the botched hostage crisis back in August 23, 2010 which
resulted in the deaths of 8 Hong Kong nationals. (PIA)
by magnolia_eic | Nov 24, 2010 | Headlines, National News
NILUWAT sa pangatungdanan niadtong Martes si Tourism- Undersecretary Vicente Romano
III nga maoy ‘utok’ sa kontrobersyal nga slogan ug logo sa Department of Tourism (DOT)
nga “Pilipinas Kay Ganda”.
Nangayo’g pasaylo si Usec. Romano kang Presidente Aquino, kang Tourism- Sec. Alberto
Lim ug sa publiko ug giako ang ‘full responsibility’ sa palpak nga logo ug slogan sa DOT nga
ni ani og mga pagsaway gikan sa mga stakeholders ug bisan sa Presidente.
Sa usa ka statement, ni ingon si Romano nga siya ang nagmando sa Campaigns & Grey
nga mokuha og inspirasyon sa logo sa mga European countries sama sa Polska, España,
Portugal, Italia ug Maldives diin namugna usab ang Pilipinas Kay Ganda slogan.
Si Romano nagtuo nga nindot ang maong disenyo mao nga gidali kini ug wala na mikonsulta
sa tourism sector.
Matud pa ni Romano nga wala niya gi konsedera nga ‘plagiarism’ ang gihimo nilang pagkuha
og inspirasyon gikan sa “Polska” tourism logo sa Poland tungod kay usa lamang kini ka
common practice.
Nasayran nga migasto ang DOT og P4.8 milyon alang sa paglusad sa kampanya sa maong
palpak nga logo. (PIA)
by magnolia_eic | Jun 25, 2010 | Headlines, National News
TOURISM investments for the period of 2000 to 2009 have reached P62 billion, providing robust employment to more than 46,000 Filipinos, a recent study showed.
The Asian Foundation (TAF) and the Centre for Research and Communications (CRC) cited data from the National Statistical Coordination Board (NSCB) revealing that tourism-related establishments produced 46,048 jobs.
In Central Philippines, 2,002 establishments provided 28,629 jobs; 240 Metro Manila establishments offered 16,082 jobs; and Tagaytay produced 1,337 jobs with its 101 establishments.
Cherry Lyn Rodolfo of the CRC said the number of jobs generated by the tourism industry hit three million for the past nine years.
In terms of local area development, there is at least a demand of P14 million for food supplies in tourism destinations.
Of this, 60 percent is sourced from local markets and neighbors, citing the experiences in Palawan resorts like Amarela, El Nido, Dos Palmas, and Microtel in Boracay.
Investments from private stakeholders also contributed to the increased jobs in tourism-related businesses. (PIA-Bohol)
