Five Reasons: Philippine Tourism can Survive Without China

Mountaineers can trek Mount Pinatubo and enjoy scenes like this in the country


The Philippines do not need to cry when China announced that they’re putting the country out of the Chinese tourists’ map. It’s not the Philippines’ lost when Chinese authorities campaigned against the country because of the Scarborough Shoal stand off. Here are some of the reasons why:
1. Language – English is the common language when people of different nationalities communicate and talk. Chinese can opt to go to Thailand, Vietnam, or Indonesia but they will not be able to communicate as clearly and solidly like Filipinos can.
2. Climate – The Philippines is blessed with warm tropical climate and tourists can enjoy the season with sunbathing, windsurfing, wakeboarding, and the likes in a lot of tropical destinations like Camarines Sur, Cagayan de Oro, Bohol, Palawan and not just Laoag and Boracay where tourists usually flock to.
3. Budget – Compared to Malaysia, Thailand, and even Guam, the Philippines can extend the value of any foreign currency. Can you imagine eating lunch – a la Filipino style – in Lucban, Quezon for just a dollar? Imagine all that food you can take in if you double, triple, or quadruple your budget and still feel like a millionaire with all the money to spare?
4. Hospitality – When it comes to hospitality, there’s nothing like the hospitality of this part of the continent. Where else can you feel closer to home than in a country that treats visitors with much care and love like the Philippines? It is something that Koreans and Americans know and sadly Chinese don’t think the same way.

Gota Beach. An upcoming attraction


5. Adventure – Boracay may have missed 200,000 visitors in May but there’s still a lot of nations it can tap to replace the loss the Chinese authorities are bragging about when they don’t see the beauty of other tourist destinations in Davao, Iloilo, Cebu, Albay, Zambales, Batangas, Pampanga, and a lot more other spots that they will not enjoy.
There’s more to the Philippines than the couple of hundreds of thousands of visitors the country is missing right now but it’s not really our loss when their government is trying to control the very freedom that each Chinese should experience flocking to a country that has yet to be explored. There is really more fun in the Philippines and 200,000 people are missing all the fun. It’s a pity that Crossroads Backpackers Hostel wishes that the Chinese will unveil themselves so they can soil in the fun and know how they can be part of the country’s beauty.
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Guinness: Philippines Claims Largest Captive Croc

[slideshow]Crossroads learned that The largest Crocodile in captivity can now be found in The Philippines. The Guinness World Record confirmed that ‘Lolong’ – the name villagers gave the croc – took the top spot away from an Australian saltwater crocodile that measured 17 feet (5 meters) only. Lolong, who measured 20.24 feet (6.17 meters), can be found in the southern island of Mindanao in the town of Bunawan, Agusan del Sur. The town is getting a lot of fame and has earned about PhP3 Million (US$71,000.00) since the gigantic reptile was captured in September 2011. The mayor said most of the income went in to feeding Lolong and the upkeep of the park that houses the crocodile. The crocodile, though not an endangered specie, is prized for its leather and this latest proclamation of Guinness will focus on the importance of the town’s biodiversity and the need to protect it. Villages still believe that there’s a repltile larger than Lolong when another saltwater reptile was seen escaping after the latter was captured.
Crossroads invite you to backpack in the southern island of Mindanao not just to see the mammoth-like creature but to enjoy the vast marshlands and wetlands of Agusan del Sur, which is a haven for mountain trekkers who discovered the beauty of Bega, Gibong, and Binaba Falls just to name a few.
[googlemaps https://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=bunawan,+agusan+del+sur&aq=&sll=14.554729,121.024445&sspn=0.03971,0.077162&t=h&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Bunawan,+Agusan+del+Sur,+Caraga,+Philippines&z=10&ll=8.165278,126.054444&output=embed&w=425&h=350]
Picture Sources:

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I want to go to Bohol! Have you been there? What’s your most memorable place you visited there? Why?

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AirAsia Factor to Boost Philippine Tourism

If they’re excited so are we in The Philippines


Crossroads Hostel noted that budget airlines, Airasia, started flying Filipino passengers to Kuala Lumpur, Saturday, June 9, to expand its business and operations in Southeast Asia. Filipinos own a major stake in this Malaysian airline brand and it will further capitalize on the momentum of bringing in more tourists to the country.
To date, Malaysia accounts for 32,363 tourists or the eleventh biggest source of visitors in the country in the first quarter of this year. So far, the number of Malaysians going to the Philippines increased by almost 75% since 2009 and it seems there’s no stopping them from finding out why it’s more fun in the Philippines.
We are excited to see more Malaysians in the country who can see their Malaysian Ringgit’s value multiply in a country that is known for it’s hospitality. Crossroads Hostel is a perfect place to receive Malaysian travelers who want to discover what is in store for them in a country that may not be truly Asia but it’s definitely more fun than anything they have experienced.

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Taste our Philippines

Filipino dishes, instead, colors the ‘palate’ of your mouth


I find it hard to title this piece but yielded to what will catch your imagination of our food in the Philippines. Filipino dishes can be the most un-colorful bunch but dishes like Chicken Adobo, Lumpia, or Pancit can give your tongue a delightful sensation only your mouth can define.  Filipino dishes burst with flavors from salty, sweetness, and spicy and everything in between. I remember my lunch that my wife cooked me this morning. A spoonful of savory sweet, salted shrimp paste pork (called “Binagoongang” <Bee-na-go-ong-ang Bah-boy>) White Jasmine rice, and a bite of an unripened mango breaking off in your mouth releasing flavors that just screams with impact. It haunts my mouth giving my palate a bit of work. My senses gets flooded with thoughts that nothing has ever discovered it. It’s indeed a find, the best of Philippine dishes in gastronomical proportions.
Why don’t you taste our Philippines and the Department of Tourism’s Kulinarya Food Trips? This is where visitors and locals alike can dive deep into the different flavors of foods found in different parts of the country’s regions. There are more than ten food trips you can join and enjoy a hearty feast while touring the country with your belly filled and fulfilled.
Come and visit the Philippines and bite into the fun of sumptuous dishes not all can partake. We guarantee that booking your travel with Crossroads Hostel will not just add more value to your tours, give more into your pockets but will allow your taste buds to go wild screaming for more of these flavorful dishes that only our country’s Kulinarya Food Trips can give.
[slideshow]
Images Acknowledgements

  • Dinguan – http://www.skiptomalou.net/2010/06/to-be-fierce.html
  • Chicken Adobo – http://bakecookeat.blogspot.com/2009/08/adobong-manok-chicken-adobo-filipino.html
  • Chicken Pastel – http://totoslechon.com/chicken-menu/chicken-pastel/
  • Bistek – http://onefilipinodish.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/03/small_bistek004.jpg
  • Halo Halo – http://365greatpinoystuff.wordpress.com/2010/01/11/11-halo-halo/
  • Chicken Afritada – http://www.alicekalaw.com/files/2011/02/DSC02944.jpg
  • Caldereta – http://www.filipinouk.co.uk/forum/showthread.php/36925-Beef-Caldereta-(Or-is-it-Kaldereta-)
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Launched! Philippines Tourism TVC

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ecfEmSJrrbs]

Dare to stare with a Tarsier


The first thing that caught my attention was the engaging of what seemed like the 70s Disco-era beat then a techno-sounding voice of who I thought was Apl.D.Ap of Black Eyed Peas (Also Filipino!) repeatedly saying, “It’s more fun in the Philippines, It’s more fun…”
I couldn’t believe that this 30-second ad is what my country is playing now in CNN showcasing the memes of a viral campaign the Department of Tourism started months ago that caught a lot of Filipinos’ fancy. The ad is indeed fun and it poses an intriguing question to suspecting travelers who have yet to discover the country’s appeal and charm, “What will you come up with?”
So why stand in the sidelines? Play this ad over and over and dive into what you can uncover and tell us what you think of fun in the Philippines mean. Book your travel to the Philippines now and add Crossroads Hostel to your plans and save more while you savor the allure of this country.

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Remarkable Tourist Arrivals in First Quarter

Smile. It’s just more fun in the Philippines


The Philippines broke the one million tourist arrivals mark during the first quarter of this year. It’s well on its way to reach the tourism department’s goal of 4.5M tourist arrivals in 2012.
The aggressive “It’s More Fun in the Philippines” campaign hatched by former advertising executive and now the country’s Tourism Secretary Ramon R. Jimenez, Jr. broke ground in the international scene by placing ad spots on cable giant CNN, hiring more than fifty English cabs to carry the country’s slogan and invite more European travelers to this side of the planet.
Tourist arrivals in the first quarter of 2012, reached 1,148,072 or 16% more compared to 2011’s first quarter tourist arrivals. The proactive campaign attempts to capture the imagination of prospective travelers who are looking for more fun in Asia by visiting never-before-seen places and unparalleled hospitality Filipinos can give visitors.
Asian countries dominate the top five number of visitors with South Korean travelers holding the number one spot with more than quarter of a million visitors just in the first three months of this year. The United States, on the other hand, is at number 2 yielding the most number of western vacationers in the country with 179,561 visitors to date.
If you’re testing to see what The Philippines can offer because of your limited budget, don’t worry because Crossroads Hostel can help you control your budget without costing you an arm and a leg just to discover how much more fun the Philippines can be. Check out our reservations and tweet us a question (@chostel) so we can help you decide how inexpensive it is to travel in the Philippines with the help of Crossroads Hostel.
Acknowlodgment: http://www.philippinebeaches.net/2011/05/two-jumps-for-boracay/ (cover)

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Security Intensifies in Philippine Airports

Tourists trust tighter security at NAIA


Expect passengers to feel safer and more secured when they travel to the Philippines this year. The Philippine government wants to get the US Federal Aviation Administration’s (USFAA) standard of security operations as it will introduce a two-layered security procedure in all forty-five airports in the country. Secretary Manuel Roxas explains that only twenty-one airports have state-of-the-art security machines that can check passenger baggages.
Several reports have noted the fleet population of commercial airlines flying to the country has doubled to 119 compared to sixty-two only in 2008. This means more tourists are flocking to the country to discover what the tropical nation, known for its fine, white sandy beaches and hiking trails, has to offer.
The country is also developing its medical tourism, which aims to be an alternative to those seeking elective medical procedures without costing more than they should.
Crossroads Hostel offers inexpensive accommodation to both cost-conscious travelers and those who are planning to hike and discover the fun in the Philippines. Check out the properties Crossroads Hostel has to offer.

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Stay and Save With us on Your Medical Tour

If you’re looking for a place to stay in Manila while you have your elective medical procedures, we offer Crossroads Hostel services to you. With our promotional rate of US$7/night/pax, you can be sure to save more have more of The Philippines before you fly back home to your country.
Medical Tourism is a growing industry in the Philippines with doctors and experts patients can rely on. According to the Philippine Medical Tourism, Incorporated, Filipino doctors frequently travel to different countries, especially the United States of America, to learn more about the latest in medical and technical medical procedures that patients may need.
Patients can choose from these fine clinics and hospitals:

You should note that these hospitals and clinics are growing steadily in The Philippines with state-of-the-art equipments within Metropolitan Manila that you can choose from.
Crossroads Hostel will also provide shuttle services so you don’t need to worry about traveling to and from clinics you want us to take you. Inquire now and book your reservation conveniently with our California Garden Square property or to our thirty guest capacity Hostel that will open in October. Use paypal.com and lodge with Crossroads Hostel.

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Whale Shark Swimming in Oslob


Domesticated Whale Sharks of the Philippines has gotten Huffington Post to notice. Travel writer, Kip Patrick, talked about his unforgettable experience swimming with these gentle giants of the ocean. His experience started when fisher folks of Oslob, Cebu (a tiny municipality of 26,000 people) creatively looked for alternative income to defray daily cost of living when their dwindling livelihood was caused by a huge visitor in their fishing area.
Read more about his experience and how a growing number of tourist can have this unique adventure only in The Philippines.
Links:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oslob,_Cebu
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whale_shark
http://drakieness.blogspot.com/2012/01/cebus-oslob-whale-sharks-tourism-over.html

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