12 Reasons Why I Firmly Believe in Tourism

Yeah, there are economic development, foreign exchange, business and job generation. But tourism goes much deeper than those. More than 20 years as an active player in the tourism industry as a researcher, writer, product developer, consultant, teacher, and environmental advocate.... you can say that I've seen tourism from a lot of perspectives.

And yes, I firmly believe that tourism can make significant difference to a nation, a community, a family, an individual, and the environment they all live in.

Here are the 12 reasons why I am a firm advocate for a healthy tourism industry.

1. It makes a whole lot of meaning to many communities that had little economic choices.
2. It brings back or enhances the cultural pride of the host community. But this is s walk on glass. It can  easily go the other way and exploit, trivialize and commercialize the local cultures. So be very careful on this one.
3. It doesn't destroy the mountain or the forest that gives value to the destination.
4. One tree could build one section of a house. But if it becomes a tourist attraction, it can build hundreds of houses!
5. It rehabilitates damaged areas. Corals blown into smithereens are resurrected because of scuba diving.
6. It has been saving endangered wildlife - talk about whales, dolphins, birds, whale sharks, manta rays,
7.  It is a good excuse to clean up a decaying urban environment.
8. It is a good excuse to built roads towards waterfalls.... that pass through farmlands or schools .
9. It keeps families intact. Mom or dad need not go abroad or to the urban capital to find a job.
10. Tourism is an agent of peace, and tolerance, and understanding
11. It gives a a deeper, more spiritual meaning to the traveler, the community he interacts with, and how they view the world they both live in. I know, this is a bit hard to swallow. But you can actually easily relate to it if you've been to different places.
12. And lastly, travel is a good excuse to live.


And while you're still reading this entry, may I ask you to download our various iPhone travel apps:

• My Travel Philippines
• My Travel Thailand
• My Travel Singapore
• My Travel Hong Kong
• My Travel Malaysia
• My Travel Indonesia
• Travel Itineraries Philippines

No iPhone app? Then check our website - www.mytravel-asia.com

A Milk Tea Station in a Most Unlikely Place

I was walking in one of the side streets of UP Diliman when I got a nice surprise for that day! You see, very few people use that road and many of them have the intention to spend a few romantic moments sitting on logs while staring at the green grass and open space of a track field.


For the UP people, you may have a good idea where this is - its that street beside the post office and Provident Fund building that leads to the track and field (and also to Bahay ng Alumni)

And so cheap, ha! Compared to the mall versions, php60 will provide you with this one plus some jelly and nata de coco.

They just opened a month ago. I asked them who their markets were. True enough, they're those lovers sitting by the logs watching the green grass and wide empty space.

Bohol in our iPhone App

Here's a screenshot of the iPad version of our app, My Travel Philippines. Its a product of more than 15 years of continuous research on the tourist attractions and destinations in the country. The photo shows the map of Bohol with all the attractions, hotels and resorts.

If you don't have it yet in your device, just search for MY TRAVEL PHILIPPINES in the app store. Here's the weblink - http://itunes.apple.com/ph/app/mytravelphilippines-com/id376830684?mt=8

You can also see the information in our website - www.mytravel-asia.com

Bayanihan Parade

For almost a decade, I held on to this idea of an event that is uniquely and proudly Filipino. It would be a very compelling moment that should leave the participants ecstatic and the audience bewildered.

Friends told me to keep this idea secret and shared only to those who are in the position to make this into a reality... and with me in it.

I did keep it confidential and shared only to a very few people.

But I guess a decade of confidentiality and waiting is long enough. And I bet, this is not a unique idea. Some may have already thought of this. Also, many more would claim that this was originally their idea once they read this. 

Actually, I don't care. People, government agencies or private entities can take this, steal this, share this.... I just want this done by whoever and wherever. 

I will not go into details, but show the pages of the powerpoint presentation I already shared to some (just excuse the watermarks that serve as shallow claim to ownership and opportunity to show my other tourism advocacy).

The Philippines and the Filipino people deserve this kind of an event to remind them of their true spirit.