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Asian tourism industry chiefs ponder rebound from SARS

HK (AP) – SARS cost Asia’s travel business US11$ B in the first two months of the outbreak, said Phil. Tourism Sec. Richard Gordon, who also serves as chairman of the PATA. Gordon said joint marketing and promotion of Asia as a destination where travelers from outside the region can make several stops would help the industry recover and make it stronger in the future.

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MB, p.A-4

Sketches: A national shame (column by Ms. Ana Marie Pamintuan)

Losing Streak: Tourism Sec. Richard Gordon just can’t win. As Al-Ghouzi and company were waltzing out of Camp Crame, Gordon was on a marketing blitz for the Philippines. Where? In Australia.

H/S

PS, p. 16

PATA responds to Gordon’s challenge

Responding promptly to the challenge posed by its chairman, Phil. Tourism Sec. Richard Gordon, the PATA is embarking on a global advocacy campaign dubbed “Project Phoenix” that will restore confidence in the industry and regenerate demand for travel and tourism all over the region.

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PS, p.I-4

Six direct flights from Korea coming to Laoag

A large group of Korean tourists from Incheon, Korea are expected to arrive starting next week in Laoag, kicking off a series of six direct flights to the North in an effort to boost tourism in the country. “This endeavor marks a significant event as these direct flights signals that we are on the right track to recovery”, Sec. Gordon said.

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MB, p. B-15; MB, p. 9

Kidnapped ‘Americans’ in Sulu 

Zamboanga City – Reports about the alleged abduction of an American couple in Tawi-Tawi now kept in the jungles of Sulu have sent chills on the spines of local officials, the military and police. However, PNP Task Force Turista – Western Mindanao showed that a couple was indeed abducted several days ago but said the victims were not Americans.

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MB, p H-4

Neri hit for baring RP stand in air talks

Ex-Senator Wigberto Tanada yesterday chided NEDA Sec. Romulo Neri for making public the govt.’s negotiating position in the air talks with the US even before the two sides sit down to talk today. Tanada, who is the lead convenor of the protectionist Free Trade Alliance, said Neri’s statements on his proposal for the Clark airport were “inappropriate and ill-timed”.

HI/S

PDI, p. A7

Open skies, code sharing top RP-US air talks

The govt. of the Philippines and the US start today the two-day talks on the air transport agreement between the two countries. Foremost on the negotiating table are the “open skies” on passengers, the 3^rd country carrier code-sharing and/or the same country code sharing and the open skies policy on cargo with the 7^th Freedom rights.

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MB, p. B-1

Editorial: Open skies a boon to Philppine tourism and the economy and ultimately beneficial to our people

Starting today will be a series of discussions on possibly introducing new amendments to the 20-year open skies issue and other issues on the existing air agreement between the two countries. The thrust is for a more liberal air agreement, which RP should move rather than oppose.

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MB, p. 10; T, p. 6

Our skies. Our patrimony (full-page advertorial of various organizations led by the Free Trade Alliance)

There are at present 12 million airline seats available per year, but only 6.2 million of these are utilized, including 2 million tourists, which is the average number of tourist arrivals in the country for the last 3 years. In Asia, countries attracting the largest volumes of tourists such as China, Malaysia, Vietnam and Thailand do not have any open skies agreement with the US or any other country.

H/S

PS, p. 

Powerless Subic hotel cries SBMA harrasment

One of the original investors of the Subic Freeport has accused the SBMA of bludgeoning and destroying his business when armed policemen swooped down on his hotel in a “Gestapo-like” raid and cut off its power supply in spite of the fact that it was current in its bills. Anthony Trillo, owner of the Crown Peak Hotels, said the action was unjustified and was the latest act of the “systematic harassment” by SBMA Chair Felicito Payumo against his businesses owing to his friendship with Payumo’s arch-rival, former SBMA chair and now Tourism Secretary Richard Gordon

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PS, p, A4

Opinion: Guns of July-August / Why pick on Trillo? (column of Teddy Benigno)

Trillo’s answer was simple and to the point. He maintains hi friendship with Richard Gordon, now tourism secretary. So what’s the beef? I would therefore counsel my friend SBMA chair Tony Payumo to forget his bitter feud with Dick Gordon.

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PS, p. 17

On Mr. Anthony Trillo’s urgent appeal for justice and common sense – a reply from SBMA

In his article, Mr. Trillo complains that he is “ the only hotel operator that has been singled out by SBMA for systematic harassment owing to his friendship with now Sec Richard Gordon”. We invite Mr. Trillo to check our records, if only to find out for himself that we have indeed disconnected Legend’s power supply at one point and that the other hotels, including the Subic Yacht Club, have been slowly settling their obligations, as re-structured, in good faith, which is more than what he claims.

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PS, p. 19

Thailand starts to offer US$100,000 free death insurance coverage to every tourist

In Thailand’s tourism recovery campaign, one gimmick htat have cvaught everybody’s attention is that of free insurance coverage against SARS-related death or hospitalization for all visitors to Thailand.

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MB, p. B-15

T-nalak fest kicks off in Koronadal

Even as the city grieves over blast victims

GenSan – A huge parade went through downtown Koronadal City late last week amid tightened security as South Cotabato began the week-long T’nalak Festival. Despite Thursday’s blast, residents went out of their houses as revelry started to engulf the streets of Koronadal, which since the past days have been in a festive mood.

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MB, p. H-4

Photo release: Makati Shangri-la hosts Fil-Am media group

Makati Shangri-la recently hosted a group of distinguished FIl-Am media personalities from Los Angeles, California. Organized jointly by the DOT and Phil. Airlines, their purpose was to cover prime tourist destinations in Mainla and Tagbilaran.

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PS, p. B-8

Photo release: Palawan street dancers

The street dancers from Taytay, Palawan were adjudged again as the champion in the streetdancing competition that highlighted the “Baragatan 2003”, Palawan’s week-long festival held in Puerto Princesa City recently.

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MB, p, H-2