A proverbial paradise of tropical islands and shifting white sands, the Philippines is a destination perfectly suited for beach bums, adventure seekers and heliophiles.
PHILIPPINES
The Philippines has long been synonymous with the idea of paradise, conjuring postcard-perfect visions of white sands and crystal waters. Varying with the shifting tide, this island country is composed of some 7,100 islets sprawled across the surface of the Western Pacific – most inhabitants occupy just 11 of them.
The country can be divided into three areas: the most populous and northernmost island of Luzon, including the capital of Manila, the central Visayas islands, and Mindanao to the south. Unsurprising for an archipelagic nation, the Philippines boasts endless beaches with scenery to rival Jurassic Park – from the popular shores of Luzon to quiet surfer enclaves like the teardrop island of Siargao.
Located on the Pacific Ring of Fire, the islands’ volcanic foundations foster an astonishing diversity in terms of both landscapes and wildlife, from the verdant Chocolate Hills of Bohol to the teeming manmade metropolis of Manila. Although low-lying, the Philippines are far from flat, distinguished by the towering peak of Sacred Mount Apo and the jagged spine of the Sierra Madre in the North of Luzon. These densely forested mountain slopes are home to some of the Philippines’ many indigenous ethnic groups.
With biodiversity in abundance, the islands’ flora and fauna is a major draw for tourism, from mangrove tunnels to the centuries old cultivated Ifugao rice terraces. The Philippines boasts over 30 National Parks, including the highly regarded Puerto Princesa Subterranean River in sparsely populated Palawan. Varied wildlife encompasses the endemic Philippine Eagle, crab-eating macaques, and the bizarre wide-eyed Tarsier to name but a few. Out to sea, unparalleled scuba diving opportunities offer sightings from vast whale sharks to the pygmy seahorse.
Despite its natural splendour, to overlook the tangible culture and history of the Philippines would be a mistake. The heritage of these island people creates a culturally rich destination that encompasses histories both colonial and indigenous. Philippine paleographs and various archaeological sites, such as the mysterious ‘Fire Mummies’ found in the caves towards the north recall the island’s earliest history, while Baroque churches dotted about the archipelago are reminders of the Philippines’ dominating Catholic faith. Indeed, the colonising Hispanic influence lingers to this day throughout the islands – the nation itself taking its name from King Philip II, the Spanish Monarch who initiated three centuries of colonial rule.
Despite the Philippines’ 144 distinct ethno-linguistic groups, English is the most widely spoken language. With famous Filipino hospitality, the fusion of European and Asian influences creates a unique melting pot culture, but gastronomically speaking, local delicacies such as the ubiquitous sisig – a kind of grilled pork – are a direct route to the culinary heart of the island.
Future travellers, prepare to sit back and set your watch to island time.
Facts & figures
Population: 96,500,000
Capital: Manila
Language: Filipino, English
Currency: Philippine Peso
Time Zone: GMT +8, ET +13
TOURISM INSIGHTS: THE HOTEL AND RESTAURANT ASSOCIATION OF THE PHILIPPINES (HRAP)
Formed in 1951, the Hotel and Restaurant Association of the Philippines (HRAP) is the single voice consolidating the Philippines’ private hospitality sector. It was formed when hotel managers and restauranteurs found themselves beset by common issues, such as service charges, breakages and losses, and theft amongst employees. Heads came together to form a united stand, prompting the association’s birth on September 12th 1951. HRAP was subsequently registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission and officially assumed its legal personality. In August 2001, HRAP was reincorporated for another 50 years.
As a non-profit organisation, the Association is operated by members of hotel owners, restaurant managers, and CEOs from various private enterprises. Their goal is to contribute to the development, growth and promotion of the Philippines as an attractive tourist destination. As the President and Chairman of HRAP, Mr. Eugene Yap discusses the federation today and explains why more people should consider adding his home country to their bucket list.
From a handful of owners and managers in the 1950’s, HRAP has grown into a full-fledged national organisation representing the interests and concerns of the hotel and restaurant industry across the whole country.
Q&A WITH EUGENE YAP, PRESIDENT AND CHAIRMAN, HRAP
Can you talk us through the origins of HRAP and its initial vision?
Mr. Eugene Yap (EY): The tourism industry in the Philippines just after WWII was quite challenging, as everyone was busy recovering from the war. Amidst these rebuilding efforts in Manila, the heart of the Philippines, there were just four hotels that were operating at the time. The managers and owners sought to unite among themselves just the four, and along with some restaurants they banded together and formed the Hotel and Restaurant Association of the Philippines in 1951. So, we have been operating as early as the 1950’s. At that time, our tourists were mostly newspaper men and photojournalists, documenting the recovery and development of the islands. Manila was very much the centre, since there was not much development going on elsewhere.
HRAP was registered on September 12th 1951 and has survived even up to today. From a handful of owners and managers, HRAP has grown to a nationwide organisation representing many interests and concerns both at local and national level. We now deal with legislators, both national and international, and we join other associations around the world. We expect to expand into Europe probably in a couple of years.
What are your organisation’s current goals?
EY: We here in the HRAP hope to continue to take leading roles representing the Philippines’ private business tourism sector in the hotel and restaurant industry. Our membership comprises several sectors; we have the hotel, the restaurant, and suppliers are now part of it. We also have the education sector where we partner with colleges and universities because we believe that the education sector will produce the tourism leaders of the future. Unity and cooperation among industries is the key goal of the association. We encourage and foster high technical standards in business.
How do you market the Philippines as a destination?
EY: The Philippines is extremely out of the way for international travellers. We are situated in the far, far east – it’s not as simple as crossing a border or hopping on an airplane for half an hour. It takes much longer than that! So, we only promote our very best. This includes the unique topographical features in the Philippines, and the personalised travel packages that we can offer to highlight outdoor activities.
We are marketing ourselves as both a natural and urban destination. In terms of nature, we have the beaches, the resorts, hiking trails and wildlife reserves which are slowly opening up. For indoors, we have plenty of sports activities in the urban areas and restaurants, modern and classical. Accommodation still abounds in the urban areas, but when you talk about the Philippines, you are really talking about nature and the outdoors. This is where we centre our marketing efforts.
In the Philippines, it is the local government agency at the Department of Tourism that really guides the tourism industry. Right now, the tourism department is looking into a travel bubble strategy, even within the Philippines. So hopefully when the pandemic restrictions are lifted, we can develop bubble destinations among the cities here.
How do you promote off-season travel (i.e. during rainy season)?
EY: In the Philippines, it is like summer all-year round – there are only two to three months when we experience the rainy season. This is a huge advantage for us as a more consistent travel destination. So, what we do is modify our travel packages if the outdoors are not available. Since the Philippines is a very big archipelago, we market from the north to south, east to west, and modify travel plans to go to different parts of the country. The other way we promote it would be by hosting special events. Both the Department of Tourism and even the private sector sponsor events to invite international travellers. Right now, these organisations will be inviting local travellers also. Right now, we continue to maintain online bookings all year round because online is key as the window to the future.
Can you tell us how COVID-19 has affected the organisation, and the associated hotels and restaurants?
EY: In the Philippines, pre-covid in 2019, we had as many as eight million arrivals. For the Philippines, this is a good number, and we were hoping to increase it to nine million for 2020 but of course the pandemic hit. As a result, there have been challenges for everyone. Throughout 2020, a lot of agencies and restaurants reported that their revenue for the year had been halved or worse. What many of our members did, to save cost or to be practical and realistic, was suspend operations. For permanent closures, we are still unsure on the figures but at present it is few. Mostly, people are just waiting for the lifting of restrictions and so have undertaken temporary hibernation to reduce overhead.
Right now, hotels are mainly getting their business from returning overseas Filippino workers. As you know there is a big market for that, since the Philippines is one of the biggest exporters of human labour. Right now, people are returning home and before returning to their own homes they have to quarantine in the hotels – so the hotels and restaurants have been benefitting from this market since last year. Of course, the revenues are lower, but it’s still a welcome market for us. In the education sector, they have adopted online learning to find ways to synchronise their internships during this time.
Why, in your opinion, should someone visit the Philippines?
EY: It’s not only because I am from the Philippines, but I love the Philippines – it’s a beautiful country. Filipinos are known for our hospitality, we are friendly and warm, and the summer weather is practically all year. So even if you encounter a typhoon, you can just transfer to another area.
The natural wonders and the uniqueness of the Philippines is really second to none. We have Philippine festivals; we call them fiestas. It is tradition for every city to have a couple of citywide festivals every year, so you can see the numbers of provinces and municipalities that we have. Just thinking about that, you can imagine just how many festivities and celebrations we have just in the Philippines alone.
What are some of the country’s most unique landmarks?
EY: As a tropical area, we have many beaches that are entirely different from the beaches that you may find in Europe or North America. The beaches in the tropics make for an incredibly welcoming tourist destination, and our beaches and resorts are what we are most proud of.
We have underground rivers and then we have several new wildlife reserves. They are not as big compared to other countries but located in the northern and southern part of the islands where the land mass is more concentrated, so slowly wildlife is being introduced to tourism.
What trends are transforming the tourism industry in Philippines and how are you utilising them?
EY: We continue to look over developments in the Philippines and we encourage our members also to look beyond themselves to see how we can help out. We really have been learning a lot, and I think education is foremost – both in our destination and for the tourism workers that will eventually become leaders.
The urban areas here are fast catching up with the rest of the world – we have a lot of structures now that are catering to the international business traveller. It’s not only nature that people are looking for, since there are times when you may need to do business in an urban environment. If they come here, the Philippines is so far away that you may as well travel as a tourist during your free time. I think the urban landscape will continue to sprout up fast.
The most important is a shift from the international market to the local market. As mentioned, we have more than 100 million Filipinos in the local population here, so if just a small portion of this can travel it will make a huge impact for the improvements of the tourism industry. This will play a big part for hotel and restaurant marketing strategies.
Furthermore, we are now focussing on travellers’ demographics. Individuals used to mainly join group tours, so now we are also encouraging travellers such as couples and families to tour independently and not wait for other people. We continue to focus and promote online bookings, but personalisation above all is the most important. Travel agencies are as important as any sector, since they are in a position to personalise the traveller’s requirements. Tourists aren’t always well-versed, or they’re not seasoned travellers, so the travel agencies are essential as the first vehicle to the travel destination.
Are you optimistic about the future of the tourism industry in Philippines?
EY: In the Philippines we are so excited about reopening. As soon as we can lift our restrictions, everyone will go back to work and we are really gearing up for it. I manage one of the hotels here at HRAP, and we are refurbishing, refitting, and renovating a lot of things, so we are preparing. So, if you ask me are we optimistic – yes, we are!
We want to go back to pre-covid days. We’re looking forward to the future to lift the restrictions so that we can continue where we left off with tourism. I am proud to say that we are excited and we are ready. We must hope that the health situation will continue to improve around the world, so that we are raring to go.
OUTLOOK RECOMMENDS
Eat:
For Filippino fine dining…
Antonio’s – An illustrious gastronomical destination set in a colonial style mansion, Antonio’s is a hot ticket in the idyllic city of Tagaytay. The menu is intercontinental and offers tantalising set courses.
For a quirky dining experience…
Van Gogh is Bipolar – An eccentric hotspot in Quezon City at the heart of Manila’s culinary scene. Expect a shoes-off experience and eclectic decoration that is as unique as the dining. Reservations recommended.
Do:
Travel like a local…
Jeepney Tours – Take a tour of downtown Manila in the back of the Philippines’ most iconic mode of transport – the colourful Jeepney – a converted WWII truck. Bookings will re-open when restrictions permit.
Take a snorkel Safari…
Sleep:
For capital comfort and convenience…
Belmont Manila – Boasting contemporary design, sophistication and simplicity, Manila’s Belmont Hotel is ideally suited for the business traveller. Currently closed to tourists exempt from ‘essential requirements’, when restrictions lift the Belmont offers world-class facilities in the strategic location of Newport City, just a short walk from the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3.
Savoy Hotel Manila – Also located within Manila’s Newport City, the Savoy Manila gives you the space to experience and savour the taste of the Philippines. Spacious rooms with tasteful contemporary design are the ideal base to unwind after taking in the sights of Manila, including nearby shopping malls, spas and entertainment centres. The hotel will reopen to leisure travellers once restrictions permit.
For hedonistic island escapism…
El Nido Resorts – A serene collection of resorts on paradisiacal Palawan, spread across four miniature islets offering Filipino style thatched cottages and all the activities to best enjoy your tropical surroundings. Travel between the resorts using El Nido’s recently launched travel bubble.
MANILA IN FOCUS
The ‘Pearl of the Orient’ has ballooned into a teeming metropolis. Previously the Western hub of trans-Pacific trade, the capital of the Philippines is an underrated historic city where ancient monuments rub shoulders with skyscrapers and shanty towns.
Manila is much more than a stopover destination or the gateway to your Philippines itinerary. Indeed, ‘Metro Manila’ as it is known, encompasses 17 separate cities.
Visitors should start at one of the Philippines’ most important historical sites – Fort Santiago, the colonial seat of government during Spanish occupation which contains the iconic shrine of the National Hero. Found within Intramuros – the restored walled city of Manila – this area is rich with colonial heritage. Nearby, San Augustin Church is well worth a visit, as is the world’s oldest Chinatown in Binondo.
Harbour Square, the port on the capital’s west side, boasts tranquil views out to the South China Sea. Meanwhile, the 60-hectare wide Rizal Park offers peaceful escapism amidst the urban bustle.
The city’s food and drink scene is renowned, with an abundance of notable restaurants and a wealth of street food options to be found in the markets of Quiapo and the famous Tutuban Night Market. A lively capital, Manila’s nightlife is legendary, with districts such as contemporary Makati and Quezon City offering a wealth of clubs and cutting-edge bars ideal for those who prefer to carpe nocte.
LANDMARK ATTRACTIONS
Chocolate Hills
So named due to their chocolate-like brown appearance during the dry season, the Chocolate Hills of Bohol are a geographical oddity that offer an impressive vista. Various local legends attest to the 1,000 or so natural conical domes, suggesting that they sprouted from the tears of a lovelorn giant. Nearby observation decks make for fantastic photo opportunities.
Palawan
Widely perceived as the jewel in the archipelago’s crown, the UNESCO protected biosphere reserve of Palawan is a coral-fringed island whose verdant swathes of rainforest lend the province an Amazonian appearance. Paradaisacal El Nido in the north offers a good base for marine adventures in the Bacuit Archipelago while nearby Puertro Princesa boasts underground rivers that beg exploration.
Ifugao Rice Terraces
Nestled at the foot of the Philippine Cordillera, these impressive rice terraces were carved by hand into the mountainside by the ancestors of the Ifugao tribe centuries ago. Known as the ‘Eighth Wonder of the World’, the terraces cover around 4,000 miles with a total length that is half of the world’s circumference.
GETTING THERE AND AROUND
Most international travellers will arrive in the Philippines at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (MNL), located just seven kilometres from Manila. The majority of resort stays are reached primarily by boat or charter flight from Manila – but over-packers beware! It is worth remembering that luggage on charter flights is limited to 10 kilogrammes per person.
Public transport around Manila has a reputation for not being the most tourist friendly, but if you can, try and secure a ride in the brightly painted converted World War II trucks known as Jeepneys that are iconic to the islands. Asian ride-sharing service, Grab, is a good option for getting round the city, as is Manila’s Metro and Light Rail Transit which links most of the major tourist attractions.
