Breaking Journey Information interview: Bernadette Romulo-Puyat, minister of tourism, the Philippines | Focus
World Journey Awards, the main authority that recognises and rewards excellence in tourism, has revealed its Asia and Oceania 2021 winners.
The Philippines has a lot to have fun, having been recognised as among the many finest within the area by voters.
Right here Breaking Journey Information speaks to Bernadette Romulo-Puyat, minister of tourism for the Philippines, to learn how it feels to have gained.
Breaking Journey Information: Congratulations in your victory on the World Journey Awards – with the Philippines having been honoured with the titles of Asia’s Leading Beach Destination and Asia’s Leading Dive Destination. How does it really feel to have gained?
Bernadette Romulo-Puyat: That is the fifth time that the Philippines gained as Asia’s Main Seashore Vacation spot and the third time as Asia’s Main Dive Vacation spot.
However yearly that we win is particular as a result of it not solely proves the distinctive great thing about our islands, but in addition validates our sustainable efforts in growing and selling our pure locations.
These awards are much more significant throughout these difficult instances as they’re manifestations of the enduring cooperation that we’ve with our tourism stakeholders and trade in direction of restoration.
BTN: What’s it that makes diving within the Philippines so particular – what do you suppose attracted the attention of voters?
BRP: The Philippines, recognised because the centre of world marine biodiversity, is house to biologically various marine and aquatic assets.
The Philippines “has all of it,” from the smallest critters to pelagic animals, there’s a dive spot for each sort of diver, whether or not you might be an underwater photographer, a dive fanatic or a newbie.
Diving within the Philippines provides all kinds of unimaginable sights and experiences like exploring caves and World Conflict II shipwrecks, drifting via large reef partitions teeming with marine life, and even blackwater diving, an excessive sort of evening dive over deep oceanic waters.
On high of all these spectacular underwater sights, diving within the Philippines is year-round and it’s all in heat, crystal clear waters with nice visibility.
With diving alternatives that appeal to divers with a variety of pursuits, distinctive service from well-trained and skilled dive professionals and locals, and real Filipino hospitality, the Philippines really is house to a number of the world’s finest scuba diving.
BTN: How will you be utilizing the award to advertise the Philippines as we head into 2022?
BRP: These awards will certainly enhance our efforts to maintain the Philippines a top-of-mind vacation spot for vacationers all around the phrase as we await the resumption of worldwide leisure journey to the nation.
Solar and seaside, in addition to diving, are amongst our high tourism merchandise, and we’ve additionally developed new tourism circuits which might be attuned to the brand new regular journey preferences.
These recognitions make the Philippines a longtime seaside and dive vacation spot, and may be our jump-off level in selling new choices, along with our efforts to make sure compliance with world well being and security requirements.
BTN: Lastly, are you able to inform us slightly in regards to the temper among the many tourism sector within the Philippines – the place is the vacation spot with the restoration from Covid-19?
BRP: Tourism has been a major pillar of Philippine financial growth over the previous ten years for the reason that enactment of the tourism act of 2009, however with the arrival of the pandemic, it additionally turned one of many hardest hit sectors due the restriction on journey and shutting of borders.
Within the midst of this pause, our tourism stakeholders have been very affected person – they perceive that everybody’s well being and security come first, and that the sooner we will curb an infection charges, the sooner we will reopen the trade.
At current, we’ve been steadily reopening locations to home vacationers in areas which might be deemed prepared based mostly on the evaluation of the Nationwide Activity Power Towards Covid-19, and anxious native authorities items.
From what we’ve noticed, the Filipinos’ urge for food for journey stays robust.
With the Philippines’ sturdy home tourism base, we stay optimistic in regards to the prospects of tourism regardless of the challenges posed by the pandemic.
The locations which have to this point reopened to vacationers from all around the nation embody the Philippines’ crown jewel, Boracay Island, the award-winning island locations of Cebu, and El Nido and Coron in Palawan, the nation’s browsing capital of Siargao, and different stunning spots close to Metro Manila resembling Clark, La Union and Ilocos Norte.
This pandemic has given the Philippines’ tourism trade a novel alternative to discover, develop, and strengthen all of the fantastic locations and actions that we’ve with a view to present a greater journey expertise for vacationers within the new regular.
Extra Data
Discover out extra about visiting the Philippines on the official website.
