by Rosario Buenaflor

Created on: November 08, 2010   Last Updated: April 15, 2011

It's a pity how tourism in the Philippines has not been as good as it could be.  The Philippines has plenty to offer a tourist seeking, among other things,  adventure, beauty, culture and relaxation.  It is a country bigger than the United Kingdom and Spain,  yet in 2007, tourists numbered only 3 million compared to UK and Spain's combined 80 million.  It also lagged far behind Thailand's 13 million visitors in the same year.  The Philippines, with its turbulent political landscape, has neglected its tourism industry. The  majority of the visitors are "balikbayan" or expatriates who can hardly be  called tourists as returning for them is just an act of fulfilling strong ties with their family and friends. 

The lack of cheap accommodation had pushed holiday costs too high for the average traveller.  In this respect alone, it probably cannot compete with other holiday destinations like Thailand, Vietnam and Indonesia because tourism is not promoted as much as those countries.  The fact that most Filipinos can speak English well has, unfortunately, not helped improve the poor tourism situation.  Even after the Marcos/Imelda regime, the influx of tourists had been less than satisfactory, considering that the post-Marcos era is a more stable environment. It had even fallen below expectations, considering air fares had become more affordable worldwide.  

Yes, The Philippines is not France, and we should put our expectations in perspective, but still it is a beautiful tropical country with 98 million hospitable Filipinos.  Contrary to what mass media leads us to believe, The Philippines is a safe and relaxing place.  Every country has its own weaknesses and The Philippines has not discounted theirs.  Regardless of the safety profile of the country they are visiting, a responsible tourist must be cautious of their personal safety at all times.  Being cautious that way is something we do in our own country, and being in The Philippines is no different.  You wouldn't knowingly put yourself in grave danger no matter where you are, inside your home or overseas, as in being in The Philippines.  Being a tourist is about exploring places, people and their cultures.  And in the Philippines these aspects rest heavily on the visitor's intention to engage in them.  However, the simplest things may appear difficult to do for someone who is used to first world comforts because

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