Philippines tourism can be considered as the country’s comparative advantage and this is the reason why the government puts great effort in promoting the tourism industry. The country is archipelagic and located in the Pacific Ocean and this is one reason why the tourism is a hit in the country.

The Philippines has been blessed with stunning natural resources made more appealing by its distinctive culture which in turn was influenced by many foreign cultures. Spain, Latin America and the United States have all contributed in its little ways to help make the Filipino culture what it is right now.

The tourism in the country is booming thanks to its natural resources scattered in all parts of the country and also to its unique Filipino identity. The tourism in the Philippines began stepping up in the 1970s and this lasted until the mid 1980s. After that time, tourist arrivals in the country started to slow down. An indicator that the country’s tourism business is on the move down is on the average stay each of the tourist in the country. By 1988, the average stay of a tourist in the country is 8.9 days. This figure is significantly lower than the registered 12.6 days in previous years. But this scenario for the country didn’t last since by 1990s, the sector once again peaked with around 1.2 million tourist arrivals for 1992. This jolt in the arrival of visitor in the country has gave the Department of Tourism a more optimistic outlook and allowed for the Department to say that they anticipate more tourist arrivals in the future.

By the year 2000, the tourist arrivals in the Philippines totaled 2.2 million and this was pushed to 2,838,000 by 2003. The Philippine archipelago is known for many sights, sounds and festivals and these are some of the reasons why the tourism industry in the country is a hit.

From Metropolitan Manila to as far as the Northern provinces to the southern provinces of the country, there will always be a tourist spot that travelers and tourists will love.

. Metropolitan Manila. Intramuros in Manila and Makati City are known tourist draws. The Intramuros in Manila is called the ‘walled city of Manila’. This was built in the 1500s and originally the whole of Manila was confined within the areas of the walled city. But since the city has been growing exponentially, a number of buildings have been built outside the city. Right now, Intramuros is being visited due to its museums, churches and the old fort. Manila on the other hand is known for its vibrant night life. A nightlife and party scene that can rival those found in other Asian capitals. Other than Manila, Boracay and Cebu are also considered as party hotspots in the country. Makati is simply Manila in a modern way. Most modern amenities can be seen here- from shopping malls to major hotels and business centers.

. Aklan. This is one province in the Visayas region and considered as one of the most visited provinces in the country. Aklan is known for its ‘Ati-Atihan Festival that is hosted in Kalibo.

. Bohol. This province in the Visayas region is known for its ‘Chocolate Hills’. These are limestone hills that look like ‘chocolate hills from afar. The province is also the home of the Philippine Tarsier, which is considered as one of the smallest primates in the world.

. Northern Philippines. The Northern Philippines is famous also because of its many tourist spots. One popular destination is Mt Pinatubo known for its massive eruption that happened in 1991. The Hundred Islands is another place worth visiting. The Banaue Rice Terraces are known for its beauty too- rice terraces that are carved from the mountainside. This is a UNESCO world heritage site. A visit to the northern provinces of the country will not be complete without checking the ‘Hanging Coffins’ of Sagada.

. Taal Volcano in Laguna is worth checking too, and this is considered as one of the smallest volcano in the world.

. Palawan. This is a province and an island located in the South China Sea and known for its beaches.

. Boracay. And speaking of beaches, Boracay is one spot worth visiting.

There are a number of great tourist spots in the country and since the country is archipelagic in nature, some of the adventure that can be experienced by the tourists will be mostly water-based. Philippine tourism activities and festivals are often concentrated on some of the best surfing and diving sites in the country.

The City of Cebu Philippines is the oldest and one of the most developed provinces in the country, the educational and commercial center of the Visayas area. The official language of Cebu is Cebuano, though its natives are also proficient in English, Tagalog and other Visayan languages. Roman Catholic is predominant, followed by several religious minorities such as Protestant churches, Taoists, Latter-Day Saints, Muslims, etc.

Cebu lies on the east of Negros Island. It also has Bohol in the southeast and Leyte in the east. It is enveloped by the straits of Cebu and Tanon and is located between 9deg25′N and 11deg15′N latitude and between 123deg13′E and 124deg05′E longitude in the center of the archipelago, approximately 365 miles south of Manila. Through air travel, it can be reached by about an hour.

This long narrow island of Cebu stretches 225 km or 140 miles from north to south. It is surrounded by 167 smaller islands like Mactan island, Bantayan, Daanbantayan, Malapascua, Olango and the Camotes Islands. For the most part, Cebu has rolling hills and rugged mountain ranges traversing the northern and southern lengths of the island.

The native people of Cebu are called Cebuanos. Most descended from Austronesians and some have Spanish and Chinese ancestry. Cebuano culture has preserved strong Hispanic traditions in its native culture. Contemporary music, movies, fastfoods and the wide use of English are dominant influences from Americans. Cebu takes pride in being the country’s oldest colonial city. In April 14, 1521, Magellan planted a large wooden cross that commemorates the archipelgo’s first encounter with the west. From mainland Cebu, Magellan crossed the channel to the island of Mactan in an effort to spread Christianity. The chieftain of Mactan, Lapu-lapu, together with his warriors, resisted the attempt and killed Magellan as he reached the shore. A monument now marks the historical site.

Cebu has, in recent years, become a model for independent industrial development. It is a busy capital, next to Manila, in comercial activity and cosmopolitanism. Shipping is a chief industry in Cebu. Manufacturing of processed foods, textiles, and chemicals are among other industries in the city. When it comes to rattan furniture Cebu is considered a world center for production. It is well known as the guitar producing capital of the Philippines. The guitar-making industry is centered in Maribago and Abuno on Mactan island, where a day’s production includes at least a hundred assorted instruments including mandolins, banjos and string basses.

Cebu Philippines is well known for its sun-drenched, white sand beaches and year-round tropical climate. In terms of accommodation, a good range of beach resorts from mid-priced to luxury is concentrated on Mactan Island. Mactan upholds the still unblemished allure of the quite uncongested countryside.

Off the northwestern tip of Cebu Island is Bantayan Island, now becoming popular among venturesome beach fanciers with a taste for excellent soft shell crabs. One the southwest coast, Moalboal, about three hours overland from cebu, has been a haven for scuba-diving enthusiasts as well as budget trallers, earning a reputation among some as “the Philippines’ best-kept secret.”

About the Philippines: The Philippines is an archipelago in Southeast Asia composed of more that 7,100 islands. Many of the volcanic islands that constitute the archipelago are isolated. The 11 largest islands namely Luzon, Masbate, Mindoro, Palawan, Bohol, Cebu, Leyte, Samar, Negros, Panay, and Mindanao, account for more than 94% of the total land area.

The topography is generally hilly, rising to a high point of about 3 kilometers at Mount Apo, a volcano in the island of Mindanao. Luzon and Mindanao islands only have wide lowland areas. There are various dormant and active volcanos, particularly Mount Pinatubo in Central Luzon, which made a big noise in 1991.

Wildlife incorporates the carabao (water buffalo), monkeys, reptiles, and tropical birds. There are rich deposits of gold, lead, manganese, silver, nickel, cobalt, chromium, copper, iron ore and coal and an excellent hydroelectric and geothermal power impending. Volcanic steam provides an increasing factor of the nation’s power supply demands.

There are two distinct seasons, the Dry and the Wet. The dry season is somewhere between the month of March to June whereas the wet season is from the month of July to October. The period in between is neither too hot nor too wet for comfort. Humidity is relatively high, about 80%. The climate is warm but healthy. It was considered that it is one of the most favorable tropical climates all over the world.

The mean annual lowland temperature is about 27°C (80°F). Temperatures fluctuate more between day and night and high and low altitudes than between seasons.

The Filipino people is a mixture of races. Racially, most Filipinos are a mixture of Malaya and Mongoloid races, with some mixture of Chinese, Indian, Arab, Spanish, and American elements. The Spanish expression ‘mestizo’ is used to describe anyone of mixed blood.

Although the Filipino people speak a variety of languages and are spread across many islands, they have a rather high degree of cultural resemblance. The long fight for self-government, the utilize of Filipino (which is the national language) and English languages in the schools, the persuade of Christianity, and the rural-to-urban relocation have contributed to union. Least saturated are the Muslims of the south, the upland hill tribes, and recent Chinese immigrants.

Generally, Filipinos have these qualities: friendly, hospitable, devoted to family, respectful of authorities, devoted, sentimental and happy. They could easily adjust to new situations almost certainly because of the fact that they had been under several colonial rules in the past.