FILIPINOS TO REACH TOURIST VISITS GOAL?

MANILA, Philippines - In a press briefing aired over the state-run radio station dzRB on Sunday, Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte said that all Filipinos should help the government achieve the Department of Tourism's (DOT) goal of 4.6 million tourist visits for 2012.
She said such a goal can be achieved with the help of every. "The benefits would rebound to all," she said, encouraging Filipinos to make foreign visitors' stay in the country more enjoyable.
When the tourism department set a target for tourist arrivals for the year, the presidential palace called on the most obvious resource; the Filipino people.
Valte said, it is not only the government that can make the [tourists'] visit to the Philippines more enjoyable and more memorable but the contribution of every Filipino.

• It could be something as simple as giving the tourists the right directions or just smiling at them or giving them some assistance, telling them where to go. Filipino can all pitch in to help, she added.
• According to Valte, the DOT reported that for January 2012 alone, 411,064 tourists have arrived in the country, representing a 17.5 per cent increase from the same period last year.
• She expressed confidence that with the people's help, the government can sustain this record and achieve the tourist arrivals target for 2012.
• "Remember its more fun in the Philippines and it is imperative that we are one for fun in the Philippines and we will all benefit if we achieve the target of the DOT of 4.6-million visitors for this year," Valte said as she referred to the DOT's campaign theme.
• "Hopefully, we can all pitch in and do our share in making the visit of foreigners to our country more enjoyable and more memorable," she concluded.
• According to the DOT, visitors from Korea comprised the biggest number of arrivals for January 2011 as it yielded a volume of 102,166 visitors to the country.

Source: Agency