7107 Islands beyond the Usual

1. 7107 Islands beyond the Usual

2. LOCATION • Southeastern Asia, archipelago between the Philippines Sea and the South China Sea, east of Vietnam • Geographic Coordinates: 13 00 N, 122 00 E • Capital City: Manila

3. FAST FACTS • Climate • Hot and Dry – March to May • Rainy – June to October • Cool – November to February • Temperature : 78A0F/25A0C to 90A0F/32A0C ; humidity 77% • Population • 89,468,677 July 2006 est

4. FAST FACTS • Languages • 2 official language: English and Filipino • 8 major dialects • Religion • 83 % Catholics • 5 % Muslim • 12 % smaller Christian dominations and Buddhist

5. BRIEF HISTORY • Discovered in 1521 by Ferdinand Magellan • 1565 Miguel Lopez de Legazpi established a Spanish Base in town of Manila • 1898 succeeded in winning Independence after 350 years • 1898 became the 1st and only colony of the United States

6. BRIEF HISTORY • 1935 became a self-governing Commonwealth • Manuel Quezon was elected as President – prepared the country for Independence after 10 year transition • 1942 Philippines fell under Japanese occupation during WWII • US and Filipinos fought together in 1944-45 • 1946 regained Independence • Went through a series of political upheaval until the present day

7. PROFILE • 3rd largest English speaking country in the world • Democratic Government * Executive Branch - Headed by Chief of Staff (President) and V.President - Cabinet * Legislative Branch - Senate - House of Representatives * Judicial Branch - Supreme Court

8. ECONOMY • Major industries • Agriculture : sugarcane, coconuts, rice, corn, bananas, cassavas, pineapple, mangoes, pork, eggs, beef, fish • Industry : Electronics assembly, footwear, pharmaceutical, chemicals, wood products, food processing, petroleum refining, fishing

9. ECONOMY • Currency : Peso • GDP (purchasing power parity) $451.3 B (2005 est) • GDP: $91.36 B (2005 est) • GDP (real growth rate) 5.1% (2005 est) • GDP (per capita, PPP) $5,100 (2005 est) • GDP (composition by sector)- (2005 est) • Agriculture – 14.8 % • Industry – 31.7 % • Services – 53.5 %

10. ECONOMY • Labor Force – 36.73 million (2005 est) • Agriculture – 36% • Industry – 16 % • Services – 48 % (2004 est) • Unemployment Rate – 12.2% (2005 est) • Population below Poverty line: 40% (2001 est)

11. ECONOMY • Household income or consumption by percentage share: (2003 est) • Lowest 10% -2.3% • Highest 10% – 31.9% • Inflation rate : 6.2 % (2006) • Investment : 16.3 % of GDP (2005 est) • Revenues : $12.38B • Expenditure : $15.77B

12. ECONOMY • Public debt : 77.4% of GDP (2005 est) • Imports : $42.66B (2005 est) • Raw materials, machinery and equipment, fuels, vehicles and vehicle parts, plastic, chemicals, grains • Import partners: US 18.8%, Japan 17.4%, Singapore 7.8%, Taiwan 7.3%, South Korea 6.2%, China 6%, Malaysia 4.5% (2004)

13. ECONOMY • Exports: $41.25B (2005 est) • Electronic equipment, machinery & transport equipment, garments, opticla instruments, coconut products, fruits & nuts, copper products, chemicals • Partners: Japan 20.1%, US 18.2%, Netherlands 9%, Hongkong 7.9%, China 6.7%, Singapore 6.6%, Taiwan 5.6%, Malaysia 5.2% (2004)

14. TRANSNATIONAL ISSUES • International Disputes: • Philippines claim sovereignty over Spratly Islands • Island also claimed by China, Malaysia, Taiwan and Vietnam • Illicit drugs: • Domestic methamphetamine production • Marijuana

15. The Country and its People What you need to know…. • Pinoy –Filipino Male • Pinay – Filipina Female • Filipinos love to eat • “Po” or “Opo” – form of acknowledgement when one calls an elder’s name

16. The Country and its People What you need to know…. • Touching an elder’s hand to ones forehead is a sign of respect • One of the highest literacy rates in Asia at almost 100% • 2nd happiest country according to the world happiness index • When giving directions, most Filipinos point with their lips

17. The Country and its People What you need to know…. • Known for being compassionate people and know how to pay debt. • Pakikisama or knowing how to get on well with others • Utang na loob or a sense of gratitude • Hiya or fear of losing face or not wanting to trouble anyone

18. The Country and its People What you need to know…. • Bahala na means what will be, will be • Filipinas are known for their grace, beauty and warmth • Filipinos celebrate anything & everything – (festivals for all kinds of saints and native dances)

19. The Country and its People What you need to know…. • Bayanihan or spirit of Kinship and camaraderie • Hospitality • Piousness • Close Family Relations

20. TOURISM SITUATIONER

21. Department of Tourism • The Department of Tourism (DOT) shall be the primary government agency charged with the responsibility to encourage, promote, and develop tourism as a major socio-economic activity to generate foreign currency and employment and to spread the benefits of tourism to both the private and public sector.

22. Department of Tourism Region III Department of Tourism Vision: - Improve accessibility of travel destinations • Make tourism products better and more affordable • Promote a culture of tourism among local residents - Increase recognition of tourism as an effective and efficient tool towards socio- economic development of the Philippines

23. Department of Tourism Region III Department of Tourism Mission: - To generate foreign currency and employment - To spread the benefits of tourism to a wider segment of the population with the support, assistance and cooperation of both the private and public sector - To ensure the safe, convenient, enjoyable stay and travel of foreign and local visitors in the Philippines

24. 8 Anchor Destinations • MANILA • Country’s capital • Fast growing metropolis • Showcase different cultures

25. 8 Anchor Destinations • CEBU • Queen City of the South • Site of new and exciting business ventures between local and foreign capital

26. 8 Anchor Destinations • DAVAO • Industrial hub of Mindanao • Mt. Apo – highest peak in the country and home of the Philippine Eagle

27. 8 Anchor Destinations • BAGUIO • Country’s Summer Capital • 1500 meters above sea, 8 degrees cooler than lowlands • Jump-off point to the famous Banawe Rice Terraces

28. 8 Anchor Destinations • BORACAY • Known as Island paradise • Powder white sand, crystal blue waters • Located at northern tip of Panay island, 3 hours from Manila

29. 8 Anchor Destinations • PALAWAN • Country’s Last Frontier • Situated between Mindoro Island and North Borneo • Home to over 80 minority groups, Calamian deer, Palawan bearcat • White sand beaches, black marble caves, breathtaking dive sites

30. 8 Anchor Destinations • BOHOL • Country’s 10th largest Island • Pristine white beaches, wonderful dive sites, Chocolate Hills and Tarsier • Site of historic Blood compact between Sikatuna and Legazpi

31. 8 Anchor Destinations • LAOAG/VIGAN • Located in Ilocos Norte and Ilocos Sur • Impressive wide highways and narrow cobble stoned homes, antiquated towns, Antillan ancestral homes

32. Philippine Tourism: Breaching Three Million Arrivals and 40% Growth in Tourist Spend for 2007 Sec. JOSEPH H. DURANO Department of Tourism

33. The 2007 has been a breakthrough for Philippine tourism as healthy growth in visitor arrivals was recorded.

34. For the first time ever, foreign expenditure posted a hefty growth of 40.99% to reach US$4.885 Billion.

35. The Department of Tourism’s ultimate goal is to attract not only more tourists, but also higher value visitors that stay longer and spend more generating more opportunities for the country.

36. The DOT will target US$ 5.8 Billion in tourist spend in 2008, surpassing two years earlier the medium term goal of US$ 5.0 Billion in 2010.

37. THANK YOU DEPARTMENT OF TOURISMwww.visitmyphilippines.com