The Philippines - What is the problem with Philippines tourism industry?

What is the problem with Philippines tourism industry?

Some foreigners enjoy their stay here and some have a nasty and lasting experience with locals that make our country seem uncivilized. Is the filipino attitude degrading the country?

Public Comments

i think most of our foreign visitors enjoy their visit here in our country, beautiful places, and hospitable people, maybe those who dont, doesn't know how to appreciate beautiful things .....
Most resorts here have become too expensive, are overrated and the management has gotten very greedy. There are a lot nicer beaches for free and nicer resorts for only a little more money than Boracay and Plantation B (D? X?), but they are cleaner, have better food and the help doesn't constantly walk around with their hand out for a tip. Those places normally end up being less expensive than Philippine destinations too because they are closer and the flights cost a lot less. Another thing that hurts tourism here is the reputation people have here for scams and gambling, both online and when they travel. Do you know that Las Vegas is probably the most popular spot for "wealthy" Filipinos to visit? That was started by gangsters in the middle of a dessert and it is still run the same way as it was back then. Gambling, prostitution/strippers and scams. No decent, moral American would be caught dead there and here the Filipinos brag about it as if it were the nicest family get away spot on Earth. People in other countries hear of those escapades and definitely are afraid that the whole population of the Philippines are like that. This is not a condemnation, just an observation and a fairly full answer to your question, which should have been more like "What are we doing wrong here"?
Just try booking a flight and hotel from NY or LA to Paris and then NY or LA to Manila. The problem with the tourism industry is that PAL isn't competitive enough to keep the costs coming here down. Then on top of that the best places are not even here in Manila and the best hotels are so expensive for what you get. Finally there is still corruption and pollution. You'd think that taking over those multi billion peso properties in Subic, Angeles and Baguio would have helped but our corrupt politicians squandered a golden opportunity. I think when the Americans bases left so did about 80% of our economy and the % of filipinos working abroad has increased.
Since you asked: 1. The greater majority of Filipinos still living in Philippines view foreign tourists as a "target" for getting money from them into the hands of Filipinos by any means necessary as quickly as possible. 2. Filipinos don't know the first thing about making someone comfortable. You expect any and all visitors to adjust to your way or get the hell out. Your not very accomodating. Knowing this, why would I want to go there? 3. After all the years of steady traffic and foreign money coming into the country, nothing ever improves. There is no significant change in anything that I can see since 1984 to the present. Still stuck in a time warp. A few struggling internet cafes with outdated computers that don't boot up does not constitute "modernization". 4. The same jeeps that Douglas Macarthur left here in 1946 are still on the road belching diesel smoke and hauling jobless thugs around while trolling for an unsuspecting foreigner to rob. You need to stop that. Potential tourists pay attention to that kind of stuff. Even when a foreigner does ride a jeepney successfully, your all talking shlt about him and insulting him in tagalog right to his face. (Hint: some of us understand tagalog better than you speak english) 5. You all routinely charge foreigners 4 or 5 times what things cost a Filipino standing right next to him. If you do that in a civilized country, you will be charged with a crime and likely put in jail. Get a clue. 6. Your country is infested with lazy drunkard rooster fighting deadbeats who's only ambition is to make it to receive the remittance on time. 7. Your sense of family values is totally warped. It's all about "gimme my share". Thats the main reason everybody chooses to have nothing. You gain nothing by working hard to acquire something when you have to give it all away to the waiting vultures. How long is anyone willing to do that? You asked........so there!
here's the facts from an outsider that lives in the philippines. sorry to piss off the filipinos that have pride in their country but i need to be honest about what i see. 1. prices to fly to the philippines are much higher than they should be. 2. there is too many silly little things that seem just to create useless jobs for some people. for instance, why do you need to pay a seperate tax at the airport instead of including ALL the taxes in the price of your ticket? 3. the manila airport is rather unfriendly and hard to use. how do you get from the international terminal to the domestic terminal easily? i've been here for years and still dont know. 4.l why is it so hard to get taxi drivers to use the meter and not rip you off? 5. why cant you find a metered taxi at the international terminal? if you ask you are told there are none. they are there but you need to walk out of the terminal, through the parking lot and then make a right to where the taxis come down from dropping people off. then the drivers still refuse to use the meter. (i must admit the new domestic terminal has made their taxi system much better). 6. the philippines really isnt that great of a place to visit. boracay is nice but a pain in the butt to get to. 7. a large amount of repeat visitors are sex tourists. this means that a large amount of actual tourists dont come back for a second visit. this needs to be fixed. 8. the one thing the philippines does having going for it is that it can be a inexpensive place to visit. it has that potential but it never lives up to it as too many people are short sighted and try to rip off and overcharge the few tourists they do get instead of trying to build up the industry. 9. the philippines has a reputation for setting up tourists. this includes the police in some areas. there is no faith that if something does go wrong that justice will be served. (take the subic rape case for example. a guy has consensual sex with a registered sex worker and he still loses several years of his life to racist propaganda.) i could go on and on....
You cannot have a strong Tourism Industry and hate foreign visitors at the same time. Those shanty shacks the MMDA tear down is not the thing that needs to be fixed. It's the people.
The first step in how to appreciate diversity is to realize that your race and culture is not superior to any other race or culture. Understand that some issues you have with that race or culture may just be a reflection of your own insecurities or fears. Understanding other cultures can erase misconceptions and help you get along with people. Ask a neighbor or coworker about their culture if you are having issues. Going to the source (instead of listening to hearsay or reading skewed texts) is the best way to understanding other cultures. Step 2The next step to easing your race and cultural issues is to avoid grouping people of one culture with one big label. Cultural diversity does not end with one’s native country, language spoken, or garments worn. Understanding other cultures means also recognizing that there are often many subgroups within a culture. For example, instead of dismissing a Spanish-speaking coworker or neighbor with a simple Hispanic label, ask that person about his or her heritage. You will learn how to appreciate diversity more when your knowledge of race and culture expands. Step 3The last step in how to appreciate diversity is to not limit your understanding of other cultures to labels. If a person of a different race or culture acts in a certain manner or participates in a certain custom, don’t assume that all other people of that culture do the same. Think about your own race and culture. Do you have the exact same beliefs and behaviors of your sibling or cousin? Appreciate cultural diversity for what it is: diverse. You’ll get along with people of other cultures and races when you treat them as individuals first and get to know them personally.
In any tourism industry there are problems but with regards to Philippine Tourism is the problem is coordination in terms of the major players in the industry. We need to promote tourism to the world and be assertive about it. The Philippines is rich in natural resource and we should take of it. We have been doing our part by making a Manila Tourism Directory to help promote tourism in the Philippines. You can check the website at www.manilatd.com for more details. Let's help promote tourism and create jobs.
During my visits to Philippines the people I met were friendly and kind. The Philippines is a great place for a vacation I highly recommend it to my friends. I agree with the others about MNL airport. Why the huge charge for a visa extension after 21 days? Foolish rule.
I can say that the tourism rate here in my place, Camarines Sur is improving. I mean, foreign and local tourist are really flocking in this place because of the Cam Sur Watersports Complex(CWC) which really boasted some pride among the Bicolanos. With regards to experience, we just had a German exchange student in our dorm and she really enjoyed her stay here!!! We're so happy to know that she really cried a lot when she was about to leave our country at the NAIA. There are instances when we meet some other Caucasians downtown and when they ask her if she's staying here or just on a vacation, she answers that she's living here as a citizen. She had also experienced walking on some nasty areas like the public market but she didn't complain that much. I think that she could be the Phil. Ambassador for Tourim to Germany. In short, it is just up to them on how they would want to view the people and experiences here. I mean, we are all better off than those on some Asian countries coz communication would not be so hard to them and they don't need to hire any interpreter any more.
Wow, Some of the greatest responses I have ever read about the truth of the matter pertaining to the stumbling block that prevent Philippines from growing and prospering. I have learn something from most of the answerers to this question. Cebu Customs Filipina Parferio Sarajena Fizz Josey Wales Randy vous Very good analysis. These responses should be submitted to those who can make a difference in turning a system around for the better. Many defend the country to cover up the lowliness because of pride but be real about how it can improve for the better.
We wanted to go on a beach holiday, but it was cheaper to go abroad than be a domestic tourist. The more inexpensive spots have less infrastructure as well--- too hard to get to, limited or no facilities at all in some places (no toilet, no water even if there's a toilet, no shower facilities in some beach areas), very little choices in terms of accommodation and places to eat--- and I'm already speaking as a Filipino wanting to holiday in a domestic destination. What more for the overseas traveler who has no idea how things work here. The advertised rates for domestic travel are very deceptive. There are so many hidden charges not mentioned in newspaper ads. After the hidden charges are counted, the actual cost of domestic travel can go up by as much as 70% of the advertised rate. Why can't we be more upfront with the real cost of holidaying domestically. We seem to want the revenue that tourism brings, but we don't make it easy for tourists to navigate our country. If we really wanted to, we can make tourism thrive for both the international and the local traveler. But instead, local governments do not coordinate with local businesses and think up a long term strategy for tourism. Everyone's in it for the quick buck, not thinking that if they do the legwork now and set up a system for the long term, if they set up the infrastructure now, then it will pay off in a big way for their province/town.
I stayed in a top Cebu Hotel. The deluxe room was 4500 P for the night with no other services, breakfast or meals extra. 4500P is not a lot for a foreigner but in the morning --no hot water to shower or shave. No one at the desk or in management would do a thing, just walked away as my questions got more insistent. No discount offer , no free breakfast, nothing. I paid for a room with a shower and didnt get it, and was treated like it was all MY fault. If you want to know whats wrong with Tourism, its this attitude Filipinos have of, its not my job, Cant help you, go away. Wake up and DO something to help, dont shrug your shoulders and walk away--fix it.