More than the Usual Outline v About

More than the Usual

Outline v About the Philippines and Philippine Tourism v Popular Places and Suggested Activities: v. Metro Manila v. Cebu v. Bohol v. Boracay v. Palawan

Location An archipelago of 7, 107 islands, the Philippines stretches from the South China Sea to the Northern part of Borneo on the edge of Pacific Ocean. Latitude- 14 -31 N Longitude 121 -00 E

Accessibility International Gateways: Manila, Cebu Premier gateways: Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), Manila. This airport is served by more than 30 airlines flying to different cities. Roundtrip Economy airfare currently costs approximately INR 25, 000 ++ Airline Connections Singapore to Manila Kuala Lumpur to Manila Bangkok to Manila Hong Kong to Manila Singapore to Cebu Hong Kong to Cebu Onward connections are available on various carriers : Flying Time 3 hrs 2 hrs 3. 30 hrs 2. 30 hrs

Philippines Airlines Direct Flights Philippine Airlines (PAL) will be launching direct flights from Manila to Delhi in March 2011

Fast facts GEOGRAPHY A beautiful archipelago of 7107 tropical islands & stunning beaches. Land Area – 299, 000 sq. km. Population -96, 061, 680 Capital – Manila Climate The weather in Philippines is primarily tropical. March to May –Warm June-October- Rainy November to February- Cool CURRENCY Philippines Pesos Currency Comparison 1 USD = 44. 00 PHP – 45 1 INR = 1 PHP (as on 05 th June 2009) TIME ZONE 8 Hrs + from GMT. (2. 5 Hrs ahead of India) LANGUAGE Pilipino (National Language) and English Philippines is the third largest English speaking country in the world. RELIGION 83% of Filipinos are Catholic. About 5% are Muslim.

More Than The Usual v Worlds Longest Underground river system accessible to man. v Mindanao Trench –World’s 2 nd Deepest underwater Trench. v Palawan - has been declared the natural sanctuary of the world v Tarsier-Worlds Smallest Mammal is found in the mountains of BOHOL v Coastline twice the length of that of the United States, the Philippines can claim to be Asia's Beach Capital

More Than The Usual v Of the 500 known Coral Species in the world, 488 are found in Philippines. v Aside from the Eiffel Tower, the Basilica of San Sebastian is the only other Steel Building v 20, 000 km long stretch of Rice Terraces tagged as the 8 th Wonder of the World. v Nearly 1268 perfect cone shaped hills better known as Chocolate Hills v MORE than the Usual 7107 islands

VISA v Indians need visa to visit the Philippines. v 2 - 3 working days are required to procure the temporary visitor’s visa for business and pleasure. v Visa can be applied from Philippines embassy in Delhi v Mumbai Chennai and Kolkata being the honorary offices and visa could be procured from any of these offices. • Single Entry Visa • Multiple Entry (6 months validity) • Multiple Entry (1 yr validity) • Same day Release • Next day Release INR 2320 INR 4640 INR 6960 INR 2900 (Additional) INR 1450 (Additional)

Filipino Cuisine v Philippine Cuisine is a rich medley of Chinese, Malay, Spanish, Mexican, American, and Indian cooking with sea food topping the list. v Filipinos have a sweet tooth &even snacks are generally heavy on sugar. One can go crazy over the wide array of fresh fruits, caramel custard, ice creams & jelly. v The island will not disappoint the Indian travelers as Indian restaurants are spread all across Metro Manila , Makati & Boracay. v Philippines Mangoes are making their mark in the world in the form of sparkling Sweet Mango Wine & Green Mango Wine.

Indian Restaurants v Bollywood Restaurant v Hossein’s Persian Kebab v Kashmir Indian Cuisine v Queen’s Crystal Garden Restaurant v Spices Restaurant v Swagat Indian Cuisine v The New Bombay Canteen v Zigggurat Restaurant v Banana Leaf Curry House v Indian By Nature Restaurant and Bar v True Food v Crafts Indian Cuisine v The Persian Palate v Taj

Airport Facilities The Airport meets all the International standards and has many things to offer to its travelers v Duty Free Shopping v Eating and drinking v Facilities for specially physically challenged

Mode of Transport METRO RAIL JEEPNEY TRIKES TAXI BUS

Little Known Facts/Trivia v The exotic jeepney is the Filipino version of the jitney, the taxi/minibus that travels along a fixed route found in many countries. v The popular toy, the yoyo, was invented by 16 th century hunters in the Philippines. v Halo-Halo! Halo-halo literally means, "mix-mix". And its is just that: a mixture of sweetened fruits and beans, lavished with pinipig (crisp flattened rice flakes), sugar and milk, topped by crushed ice and ice cream. Halo-Halo is uniquely, unforgettably Filipino! SORBETES This sweet treat was concocted in the early 1920's. v Waling Orchids - With some 800 to 1, 000 species of orchids, the Philippines has one of the richest orchid floras in the world. v Most grow only in old-growth forest, often on branches of huge trees dozens of meters above the forest floor.

Tourism Mandate v Encourage, promote and develop tourism as a major socioeconomic activity to generate foreign currency and employment, spread the benefits of tourism to a wider segment of the population and assure the safe, convenient and enjoyable stay and travel of both foreign and local tourists in the country”

Key Source Market Top 10 Tourist Market- December 2009 USA is the key source market followed by Korea, Japan, China, Taiwan, Australia, Canada and United Kingdom

Tourism Situation to Philippines from India Volume / Percentage Growth of Tourism to Philippines from India: 7. 9% Period

Target Audience and the Activities Business Travelers v Conference sites v Picturesque Island Getaways v Cultural sites v Night Life v Quality Service Tour/Incentive Groups v Spacious Conference facilities v Exotic Post tour options v Night life v Sightseeing Tours (History and Culture)

Target Audience and the activities v Pristine Beaches Honeymooners v Shopping & Entertainment v Festivals-Unique cultural experience v Spas v Exotic Island Getaways v Beaches v Shopping & Entertainment Family v Amusements Parks v Varied tourist attractions v Dining Options

Popular Cities in the Philippines §MANILA BORACAY PALAWAN BOHOL CEBU

Metropolitan Manila

Manila- City of Sun and Fun SHOP, DINE & PLAY – a lively metropolis. SHOPPING v Manila is one of the world’s low cost cities, be it designer wear, south sea pearls or low end shopping v 3 of the largest Shopping Malls are in Manila, one of them being the SM Mall of Asia. NIGHTLIFE v Excellent Restaurants for Dining. v Dazzling cultural shows v Ultramodern discotheques v Entertainment lounges v Stylish cafes. CASINOS v Lively Casinos for not only Filipinos but also for the tourists visiting all through the year.

Manila Sightseeing INTRAMUROS Old Spanish town with cobbled streets contains museums, churches, ruins, schools, parks, cafes and restaurants. FORT SANTIAGO Another historic site is one of the oldest fortifications of Intramuros San Miguel By The Bay San Miguel-By-The-Bay has a stream of al fresco restaurants serving fresh Filipino cuisine. This is the place to view the spectacular Manila Bay sunset.

Manila Sightseeing SAN AGUSTIN CHURCH v The oldest stone church in Metro Manila is one of the four v Philippine Churches inscribed in UNESCO’s v World Heritage List. RIZAL PARK v Rizal park, outside the walled city of Intramuros is considered as one of the largest parks in Southeast Asia. v It is dedicated to the national hero of the Philippines Jose Rizal.

Sensational Shopping Up-Market Department Stores v For up market designer malls, head straight to Green Belt Mall in Makati v Wide array of products – from perfumes, designer bags, home accessories, jewelry, footwear, souvenirs and other items that may catch your fancy. v Shop till you drop in the SM Mall of Asia, one of the biggest chains in the Philippines. v Malls are air-conditioned and you can negotiate in English. Green Belt

Leisure & Family Fun- Theme Parks v Star City v Manila Oceanarium

Flea Market Shopping Green Hills- Flea market shopping experience v Philippines a shoppers’ paradise has it all, from malls to markets, from exclusive South sea pearls to handicrafts, footwear, branded bags. v Prices are extremely competitive in this flea market.

Rocking Nightlife Manila is a city that rarely sleeps and one that offers different varieties of nightlife. v The Greenbelt features world-class night clubs in the form of live music, bars, discos, and restaurants. v A pleasure-lovers paradise, Malate district of Manila is the most famous region of the city for nightlife. The only place that offers a vast array of choices of bars, nightclubs, discos, karaoke, restaurants, gay clubs and lounges. v Stroll along San Miguel-By-The-Bay at Mall of Asia and enjoy the nightly live music, karaoke, street food, and, on Fridays and Saturday evenings, fire works. v Casinos abound in the Metropolis.

Rocking Nightlife High end nightlife - Malate v Hobbit House v Bed Malate v Cafe Havana v Suburbia v Bedrock v Music Zone v Padi's Point v The Library - comic bar

Rocking Nightlife Red light area in Makati is Burgos Street v Jools v Heckle and Jeckle v Cathouse v Rogues v Stardust v Pussycats v Blush v Wild West v Howzat Bar and Grill v Wow

Hotels in Manila 5 star hotels: v EDSA Shangri-La v Diamond Hotel v Sofitel Philippines Plaza v Hyatt Casino 4 star hotels: v Renaissance Makati Hotel v Makati Crown Regency Hotel v Pan Pacific hotel v Traders Hotel EDSA Shangri-La Traders 3 star hotels: v Best Western Astor Hotel v Millennium Plaza v Imperial Palace Suites v City garden Suites Traders Best Western Astor

MICE-Convention centers Manila Convention venues in Manila with capacity of 1000 + v SMX Convention Centre Sofitel Philippines Plaza v Dusit Thani v Philippines International Convention Center Convention venues in Manila with capacity of 500 v Hyatt Hotel Casino and Casino Manila v Makati Shangri-La v Traders Convention venues in Manila with capacity of 300 v Pan Pacific v Diamond Hotel

Day Trips from Manila CORREGIDOR (full day) v One hour ferry trip from Manila. v Intriguing island in Manila Bay whose monuments and battle sites stand as testimony to the ferocious combat here during the Second World War TAAL VOLCANO (half day) v An hour’s hour drive (60 Km) south of Manila, it is considered the smallest and the lowest live volcano in the world. v Watch the panoramic views of Taal Lake and Volcano while sipping your drink! PAGSANJAN FALLS (half day) v A 2. 5 hours drive south of Manila through the countryside takes you to the waterfall. v Take a swim or board a bamboo raft through the falls into a cave right behind its veil of water.

CEBU-Queen City of the South- Map of Cebu v Cebu City is the second largest and most populous city in Philippines. v Only a few minutes away from Cebu city are numerous white sand beaches, crystal blue waters, and swaying palms, making Cebu a perfect destination for both business and leisure.

How to reach CEBU A rich tropical, contemporary and heritage paradise Airlines flying ex India to Cebu v Cathay Pacific v Malaysian Airlines Domestic Airlines flying in to Cebu v Philippine Airlines v Cebu Pacific v Asiana Airlines Airport in Cebu v Mactan Airport

Cebu Blend of ethnic and contemporary v Treasure Trove for Antiques, Furnishings, handicrafts and Guitars v Savor the native Delicacies of dried mangoes and mango preserves available all round the year. v Truly picturesque islands with pristine beaches, opportunities for water sport lovers and resorts of international standards v Buzz all night in the various watering holes of the city.

Fascinating Sights MAGELLAN’S CROSS v The monument marks the very spot where Portuguese explorer v Ferdinand Magellan planted a cross after baptizing 800 v natives led by Rajah Humabon and his wife Queen. Magellan's Cross FORT SAN PEDRO v Located at the pier area in Cebu City, is the smallest triangular bastion fort built of wood in May 1565. The first fort the first Spanish built on Philippine soil. Taoist temple TAOIST TEMPLE v The temple preserves the teachings of Lao-Tse, the 600 B. C. Chinese philosopher. Everyday people climb its 81 steps (representing the 81 chapters of Taoism scriptures) to light joss sticks and have their fortune read. Fort San Pedro

Tie the knot in Cebu v Cebu is famous for beaches, resorts, picturesque 5 star property hotels. It is endowed with white sand beaches and crystal clear waters. What better way to say “I do”. v Plantation Bay Resort and Spa, Marigondon, Mactan Island at Cebu are the ideal spots for taking the wedding vows. v Department of Tourism is projecting Cebu as the wedding capital of the Philippines.

Hotels in Cebu • Waterfront Hotel and Casino • Shangri-La's Mactan Resort and Spa Cebu • Marco Polo Plaza, Cebu • Crown Regency Hotel Cebu City Mactan Shangri-La Waterfront Hotel and Casino

MICE Convention centers in Cebu Convention Centre in Cebu with capacity of 1000+ v Cebu International Convention Center (CICC) v Marco Polo Cebu Convention Centre u with capacity of 500+ v Shangri-La Mactan Convention Centre in Cebu with capacity of 300+ v Hilton Cebu Resorts and Spa Hilton CICC Shangri-La Mactan

Beautiful Bohol - God’s Little Paradise

Eco Cultural Bohol Chocolate Hills v Known throughout the Philippines as ‘Hershey's kisses’ they v turn brown during peak summer Island Hopping Tour v Bask under the golden sun while hopping from one real island to another in motorized boats known as bancas Mangrove Forest Tour v Bohol has the diverse mangrove ecosystems. v Tourists who prefer places which are eco and environmental friendly v must visit this place Pamilacan Island v A small island lies at the heart of the Bohol Sea. The area around Pamilacan Island is a Marine Sanctuary and home to at least thirteen species of dolphins, whales. v Dolphins, Whales are a daily sights in these waters.

Post Tours from Cebu to beautiful Bohol Loboc River Cruise v Located 21 kms from Tagbilaran City, a boat cruise along the Loboc river exhibits an exciting boat ride along palm fringed banks and serene waters. v Enjoy a delicious lunch whilst a Filipino guitar player serenades you with romantic songs. Tarsier Sanctuary v Bohol is the home to the world’s smallest monkey.

Map of Boracay

How to reach Boracay Access Points Airlines flying in to Boracay v Philippine Airlines v Cebu Pacific v Asian Spirit v Seair Airports in Boracay v Caticlan Airport v Kalibo Airport

BORACAY Beach Capital of the Philippines v A 4 km stretch of incomparable powdery fine white sand clear calm waters v Resorts, shops, adventure sports, spas, restaurants and above all live band along the beach makes it a versatile destination. v Stylish bars, homely restaurants, International cuisine, vibrant nightlife, golf, top hotels v Laze around the famous white beach. v Above all get a view of the majestic sunsets. v Skilled masseurs offering massage services by the beach

Water Sports in Boracay The Philippines is to scuba divers what Switzerland is to skiers, Hawaii to surfers and Nepal to mountaineers! Scuba Diving v Many diving sites around Boracay offer a good variety from easy shallow walls to deep drop offs and fast drift dives. v Beach night dives offer a close view of unusual creatures like sea goblins, blue ringed octopi, mandarin fish and ghost pipefish. Sea Kayaking v Paddling out to the sea is a great way to commune with nature v Discover the pristine palm fringed limestone islands that the indigenous people have been exploring for generations

Get your thrills above and underneath the waves in Boracay Kite Boarding v Huge attraction at the beach paradise of Boracay. Surfing v Whether you are a novice surfer or a veteran tube rider, Boracay is a surfer’s paradise.

Boracay Nights If you like the nightlife this island offers many night spots for drinks, dancing, karaoke and other entertainment Shows and live bands Discos Bars v. Fridays v. Beachcomber v. Coco. Mangas v. Bom v. Summer Place v. Café De Sol v. Sulu Star v. Wave v. Pat Creek Bar 24 hour spots If you are late and still hungry and thirsty try: v. Jammers v. Dalisay v. Bamboo Beach Resort v. Lake Town Disco House

Flea Market Shopping v Talipapa is a flee market with countless stalls, boutiques, shops for clothes, jewelery, souvenirs and handicrafts. v Plazoleta is a small and a market place. Here the shops and boutiques are mostly unique and offer carefully exhibited articles, pieces of fashion and artistic objects. v D’Mall -Stretches from the white beach to the main door. Specialty items such as artwork, unique Filipino handicrafts and antiques are available here.

Hotels in Boracay 5 star hotels in Boracay v Shangri-La Boracay Resort and Spa v Boracay Regency Resort v Discovery Shores Boracay v Mandala Spa and Villas Shangri-La v Fridays 4 star hotels in Cebu v Tides Boracay v Panoly Resort Hotel 3 star hotels in Boracay v Sheridan Villas Boracay v Microtel Inn & suites Tides Fridays

The Last Frontier Palawan

Palawan Highlights v Scuba Diving in Busuanga One of the most thrilling diving in Asia v Tubbataha Reef Take a live board boat to dive among sharks and manta rays v Port Barton Laid back and friendly beach town with simple accommodation and rustic nightlife. v Culion Spanish architecture and a fascinating museum charting the island’s history as a leper colony v This perfect, peaceful, isolated and romantic destination has lots to offer. Butterfly Garden Crocodile farm St. Paul Underground River

Why The Philippines ? v Many Indian travellers have already been to Thailand, Malaysia, and Singapore. . the Philippines is the unexplored gem in the Pacific. v The Philippines is stunningly beautiful, with excellent weather, white sandy beaches, and many attractions for tourists such as: resorts, bars, restaurants, casinos, shopping malls in all the cities of the Philippines v The Philippines is an extremely affordable destination, cheaper than other Far East countries v Almost everybody speaks English – making it easy for Indian people to find their way around. v Value of Indian Rupee is same as Philippine Peso

MABUHAY!! A beautiful archipelago of 7107 tropical islands, stunning Beaches and picturesque tribal villages, the Philippines is an extraordinary country of remarkable sights. Philippines they say is where Asia wears its smile. We have everything from sensational shopping, pristine beaches to dazzling nightlife.