Northstar

www.travelweekly-asia.com 14 | ATF OFFICIAL SUPPORTING DAILIES destination ///Philippines O ne of South- east Asia's most beautiful countries, the Philippines, consists of more than 7,000 islands and has around 36,000 kilometres of coastline. Substantial stretches of shoreline mean that holidaymakers head to the country to enjoy the beautiful beaches on offer, but beyond that, the Philippines offers lush tropical landscape, an intriguing history and possibly the friendliest locals around. The tourism sector is a significant economic driver in the Philippines. In 2015 it contributed a total of P1.43 trillion to the economy (equivalent of roughly 10.6% of GDP), and according to the World Travel and Tourism Council this figure is expected to rise by 6.6% for 2016 and continue steady expansion over the next decade. Beginning with the Tourism Act of 2009, the tourism sector saw a good amount of growth, particularly after the implementation of the National Tourism Development Plan (NTDP) 2011-2016 which set the framework to enhance the competitiveness of the Philippine tourism sector. Those five years saw an improvement of international and domestic access, connectivity and destination infrastructure. The next wave of the NTDP (2016- 2022) seeks to build on the success of the previous plan and implement more tourism programmes through a focused approach. At the core of the plan are improvements to transportation networks, primarily through the expansion of airports, seaports and highways. To complement the Tourism Act of 2009, the Bureau of Internal Philippines is even more fun as new tourism products emerge. PHILIPPINES UPS THE FUN ANTE By Brittany Panter Revenue recently issued Revenue Regulation (RR) No. 7-2016 which outlines the rules and regulations concerning the tax incentives available to tourism enterprises. And after listening to the trade and heeding the advice of UNWTO director general Taleb Rifai, the Philippines' Department of Tourism (DoT) will retain the 'It's more fun in the Philippines' campaign slogan. What's hot Wellness retreats and holistic centres are taking the world by storm, and the Philippines has seen its fair share of health resorts set up in the country. After all, what better setting to feel at one with nature than in the lush environs of the Philippines? One of the newest wellness resorts, The Farm at San Benito, is a haven for lovers of holistic treatments. The retreat CUTTING THROUGH THE RED TAPE Philippines Improving Competitiveness in Tourism (PICTourism) is a pilot programme that was launched after the Department of Tourism's 'It's more fun in the Philippines' campaign saw a positive impact on the country's tourism industry. The programme focuses on putting the Philippines on par with their ASEAN neighbours when it comes to quality and standards in the tourism industry. One of the focus areas for PICTourism is to help businesses in the tourism sector by simplifying regulations, and making it more simple, efficient and sustainable to build a business within the tourism industry. Through the Regulatory Impact Assessment (RIA), the programme aligns regulations with best practices to streamline regulations to create better business opportunities in the tourism industry. By easing compliance and reducing regulatory costs that harm businesses, the programme aims to help businesses flourish. Palawan Pool at Mövenpick Resort & Spa Boracay Room at Mövenpick Resort & Spa Boracay PHOT0S CREDIT: DEPARTMENT OF TOURISM, PHILIPPINES

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