TOURISM-RELATED NEWS

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Gordon says Subic economy does not merit big port

Tourism Sec. Richard Gordon said yesterday the economy of Subic Bay Freeport Zone and Central Luzon is not that big to merit a big port. Gordon is supporting the dev’t. of the docking yards at the old Naval Supply Depot  (NSD) as the proper site for port expansion. “There will be no mother ships arriving here as the Philippines is not yet a mother ship destination, and will not be for a long time,” he said.

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M, p. 12

Cubi point devt. plan gets support

Socioeconomic Planning Sec. Romulo Neri says he is likely to to endorse to Pres. Arroyo the planned continued devt. of the Subic Bay Port Project at its original site in Cubi Point, rather than in the alternately proposed naval Supply Depot.

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BW, p. 3

SBMA port devt. bucked

Olongapo City – Coinciding with the Volunteers Day celebration, the volunteers expressed their opposition to the “irresponsible port development that threatens to destroy Subic Bay’s fragile marine life.”

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PJ, p. 11

SBMA volunteers demand share in P 850-M funds

Olongapo City – Thousands of former volunteers here demanded their share of the P850-M funds supposedly given to them as payment for the services they have rendered for the govt. during the time of former SBMA Chairman Richard Gordon. The volunteers noted the findings of the COA that Gordon has actually incurred a total of P855 million in disallowances that represent the salaries of the volunteers, which never reached them.

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DT, p. 2

21 tourists survive ferry sinking

Philippine Coast Guard operatives rescued a total of 21 tourists aboard a ferry that sank amid choppy waters off Caticlan, Antique over the weekend. Except for an elderly woman who was given treatment at the Caticlan hospital, none of the victims of the ferry sinking sustained serious injuries. They all reached Boracay safely to continue their weekend leisure trip, reports said.

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T, p. 5

Senators want 6 Camarines islands to be declared as tourist zones

The Senate tourism committee chaired by Sen. Noli de Castro has favorable endorsed for Senate approval its report declaring the islands of Lahuy, Cotivas, Guinahuan, Luksuhin, Balibagan and Basag as tourist zones.

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MB, p. B-6

Photo release

All roads led to Baguio last weekend for the opening of SM City Baguio. Shown at the ribbon cutting ceremonies are (from left) Gloria Vergara, Tourism Sec. Richard Gordon, Rep. Mauricio Domogan, Baguio City Mayor Bernardo Vergara, SM Group of Companies founder and chairman Henry Sy Sr., former Senator Nikki Coseteng and Vice Mayor Lourdes Tabanda.

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PS, p. 1

Tourist arrivals up

October’s tourist arrivals in the Philippines rose 11.3% from the previous month to 167,573, continuing a recovery after the regional SARS outbreak. Sec. Gordon noted that October marked the second consecutive month when tourist arrivals rose. In September, arrivals rose 2.5%, reversing a downtrend between March and August.

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PJ, p. 2

Kalakbay Awards set (with photo of Sec. Gordon with WG&A CEO Endika Aboitiz)

Now on its 11^th year, the DOT’s annual awards ceremony, the Kalakbay Awards, will present two awards to the Aboitiz Transport Group. Initiated in 1989, the Kalakbay Award aims to develop tourism consciousness in the country by seeking to recognize local and int’l. corporate entities and individuals in the industry who have excelled in management performance and tourism service.

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PJ, p. 13

Transport’s role in tourism devt. highlighted in Kalakbay Awards

Transport modernization and excellent customer service are proving to be rising import in tourism development. The winners – Cebu Pacific (domestic), Singapore Airlines (int’l.) and Supercat Fast Ferry (inter-island shipping) – are all into fleet modernization and/or expansion, service upgrading, and promotional packaging of the country’s tourist destinations to achieve utmost customer satisfaction, widen their captive clientele, and further boost travel and tourism in the process.

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MB, p. B-6

Upsilon mystique (column by Domini Torrevillas)

On Friday, November 28, the Upsilon Sigma Phi Fraternity Alumni Association is presenting “Jazz in Time” / Commemorative Concert XII at the UP Diliman Univ. Theater… Tourism Sec. Richard Gordon, Christian Monsod, Supreme Court Justice and UP law valedictorian Florentino P. Feliciano are Upsilonians.

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PS, p. 13

Agri-tourism in Tagaytay 9feature article)

There is a new kind of tourism that is growing in popularity. In Agri-tourism, the tourists visit working farms, showcases and centers that are involved in agricultural, horticultural or agribusiness operation. Fortunately for us, there is a place not far from Metro Manila – located at the rolling hillsides of Tagaytay and Talisay, Buena Vista Nature Park and Country Club, and Taal View Heights are blessed with rich and fertile volcanic soil. Soon each site will have their own tree havens.

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M, p. 13

Vigan Heritage Mansion restored

Foreign and domestic tourism in Ilocos Sur are booming nowadays with the restoration and opening of the 45-room Vigan Heritage Mansion, where it was built in 1885 by no less than the former Governor Pedro Singson. The latest addition to the hotels in historic Vigan used to be the residence of the Singson family.

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M, p. 13