Tourism in the Philippines
While the Philippines has encountered political and social challenges that have affected its tourism industry, the country has also taken steps to address these issues.
[4] Over the past years, there have been efforts to improve political stability, enhance security measures, and promote social inclusivity, all of which contribute to creating a more favorable environment for tourism, such as the Boracay rehabilitation.
Tourist arrivals jumped to 4.27 million in 2012, after the Aquino government launched a widely publicized tourism marketing campaign entitled "It's More Fun In the Philippines", which became an international success.
[citation needed] The tourism industry flourished during the late 19th to early 20th century due to the influx of immigrants from Europe and the United States.
It was listed as one of the best countries to visit in Asia aside from Hong Kong and Japan, earning the nickname "Pearl of the Orient Seas".
The tourism declined during and after the World War II, leaving the country with a completely devastated economy, and a landscape filled with destroyed heritage towns.
After the People Power Revolution, the tourism industry continued to decline due to the domino effect caused by the Marcos dictatorship.
[citation needed] The tourism industry flourished again at the early part of the 2010s under the "It's More Fun in the Philippines" slogan of the administration of President Noynoy Aquino, which was regarded as an international success.
[24] The tourism industry was severely affected during the COVID-19 pandemic, when tourist arrivals dropped to only 1.48 million in 2020 due to government pandemic-related lockdowns to control the spread of the virus,[25] and when Super Typhoon Odette ravaged tourism-dependent remote islands, including Siargao, in central and southern Philippines in December 2021.
[28] In 2018, the Department of Tourism recorded 7.1 million foreign tourists to the Philippines that year, despite the closure of popular destination Boracay for cleanup.
[29] A total of 8.26 million international tourists visited the country throughout 2019, breaking the department's record and exceeding the NDTP target.
[31] Following a decline in tourism due to a COVID-19 border closure of two years, the administration reopened the Philippines to international tourists[27] and stopped requiring RT-PCR tests of fully-vaccinated passengers upon arrival.
[70] Shopping malls can be found around the metropolis, especially in the business and financial districts of Makati, Ortigas and Bonifacio Global City.
Aside from movable heritage under Philippine possession, there are also Philippine-originated artifacts and art pieces that have been looted or bought by foreigners and are now housed by other countries.
[90] The other two elements inscribed by UNESCO are the Darangen Chant of the Maranao people of Lake Lanao[91] and the Punnuk tug-of-war Game of the Ifugao.
The style of cooking and the food associated with it have evolved over many centuries from their Austronesian origins (shared with Malaysian and Indonesian cuisines) to a mixed cuisine of Indian, Chinese, Spanish, and American influences, in line with the major waves of influence that had enriched the cultures of the archipelago, as well as others adapted to indigenous ingredients and the local palate.
Well-known Filipino food include adobo, sinigang, kare-kare, pinakbet, lumpia, pancit, lechon, sisig, halo-halo, pandesal, puto, chicharrón, bibingka, dinengdeng, suman, and balut.
Among the most popular beach and diving choices in the country include Boracay, El Nido, Coron, Cebu, and Siargao.
[97] Due to the country's diverse flora and fauna, researchers from around the world have visited various biodiversity sites in Philippine environmental corridors.
[citation needed] Arts and crafts tourism in the Philippines has recently expanded following several attempts to establish a cultural renaissance.
The Philippines is the Catholic pilgrimage capital of Asia, possessing hundreds of olden churches, most of which were established between the 15th to 19th centuries through the earthquake baroque architecture.
Today, only the centers (poblacion[clarification needed] or downtown areas) remain in most of the expansive heritage cities and towns in the country.
However Silay, Iloilo City, and San Fernando de Pampanga have ordinances giving certain tax exemptions to owners of heritage houses.
However, immigration officers at ports of entry may exercise their discretion to admit holders of passports valid for at least sixty days beyond the intended period of stay.
[103] Upon arriving, visitors are allowed to bring in duty-free personal belongings, two cartons of cigarettes or two tins of pipe tobacco and up to one liter of alcohol.
[103] It is illegal for any incoming or outgoing passenger to bring in or out Philippine pesos in excess of $10,000.00 without prior authority from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas.
Terrorism may pose the greatest threat to tourists' safety in the Philippines, notably in the southern regions bordering Malaysia.
[109] Certain militant Islamist groups such as Abu Sayyaf and Jema'ah Islamiyah are particularly dangerous, since they are responsible for the majority of recent attacks, which have included bombings, piracies, kidnappings and killings of foreign nationals if their government failed to pay the demanded ransom.
