Korea and the Philippines are true lovers

By Maricon Ebron

When it comes to the Philippines, Koreans almost always think of the country's staunch support of their country during the 1950-53 Korean War, and the 60-year long-standing relations between the two countries that have lately crystallized in the rush of Koreans to the Philippines in search of rich and exotic tourism experiences.

The new campaign ``My♡Philippines" launched recently by the Philippine Department of Tourism aims at putting the relations between the two countries to the level of true lovers. Especially with Koreans falling in love with the exotic destination.

Honeymooners and beach vacationers will fall in love with the jewel-like oceans of Boracay and Palawan. Golfers can't even imagine what it's like to tee off into the Pacific. Children can benefit from the English-speaking environment.

And the entire family can enjoy retirement without a huge financial burden. These are just a few of the qualities that will bring people back to the Philippines. Through the campaign Koreans will be shown the best of the Philippines.

For the past four years, Korea has been the Philippines' top source of tourist traffic with an average of over 600,000 Korean tourists visiting annually. With 7,107 islands the Philippines is a beloved exotic vacation destination where vacationers can enjoy various marine activities and spectacular sights and foods.

An additional attraction is the fact that low-cost airlines are serving the two countries. In recent years, exchange students have flocked to the Philippines to take advantage of the low-cost American-based well-structured educational system.

The room capacity in key Philippine tourist destinations for the first quarter of 2009 expanded with the opening of new hotels and resorts. Last year a total of 1,231 additional rooms opened in the Philippines. The 616-room Imperial Palace Water Park Resort and Spa opened and increased the room supply in Cebu by 4 percent to 14,792.

The San Remigo Beach Club in the northern part of Cebu also opened its new facilities, including a convention facility to capture the MICE (meetings, incentives, conferences and events) market, both international and domestic.

Shangri-la's Boracay Resort and Spa, a high-end 217-room resort on Boracay Island, opened just in time for the influx of tourists on vacation. Seven locators investing in 28 cluster villas in the Amanpulo Tourism Enterprise Zone in Palawan also began their operations during the first quarter last year.

In Metro Manila, the opening of the Legend International's Park, Bed and Breakfast Hotel, Eurotel Hotel Branch in Makati, and the expansion of Oakwood Serviced Residences increased the total room supply by 320. Early this year, some 1,946 people will be directly employed nationwide with the additional 2,315 rooms in the following destinations: Metro Manila, Cebu, Boracay, Puerto Princesa, Tagaytay and Albay.

A $200 million luxury spa and resort is also set to be developed by Banyan Tree in a 55-hectare property on Diwaran Island, Palawan. Cebu remains the most frequently visited destination for foreign tourists, followed by Boracay, Bohol, Camarines Sur, Palawan, Baguio and the Metro Manila environs.

In 2009 the government threw its full weight behind the sector, declaring tourism to be the main engine of investment, employment and growth.

We want the approximately 7.5 million Koreans who have been to the Philippines, to come back with their friends and families. We are certain that 98 percent if not a 100 percent of those Koreans who visited the Philippines can say ``My Philippines."

Maricon Basco-Ebron is the tourism attache at the Embassy of the Philippines and concurrently director of Philippine Department of Tourism Office in Korea.