World Economic Forum upgrades PH

Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

Vacation mode on!

Ecstatic over the country’s rise in ranking in tourism competitiveness, Malacañang on Friday encouraged Filipinos to “take advantage” of the remaining long weekends to explore the best local tourist spots.

Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte made this statement in a press briefing where she announced that the World Economic Forum (WEF) Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Report 2015 has ranked the Philippines 74th out of 141 countries.

Valte noted that this was an “improvement” from 2013, where the Philippines was 82 out of 140 countries in tourism competitiveness.

The Philippines’ improved ranking is “good news,” Valte said, as the Aquino administration continues to take strides “to craft and to implement the tourism development plan.”

She said the development plan not only promotes tourist spots in the country but also the improvement of infrastructure that would allow tourists to get to their destinations, such as the airports and roads, which are undertakings of the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) and Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), respectively.

Where PH scored very high

Valte said the latest report “highlighted that the Philippines scored very high in price competitiveness and prioritization of travel and tourism and international openness.”

She said that at the end of 2014, there were 4,833,368 international visitor arrivals.

“We hope to continue to see those numbers going up as well as numbers for domestic tourism as well. There are a number of long weekends for 2015. We encourage everyone to take advantage of these long weekends,” Valte said.

Long weekends

A long weekend is expected in June, as June 12, Independence Day, falls on a Friday.

There are two long weekends in August: Ninoy Aquino Day on Aug. 21, a Friday; and National Heroes Day on Aug. 31, a Monday.

The country will commemorate Bonifacio Day on Nov. 30, which falls also on a Monday. Christmas Day, Dec. 25, is a Friday.

At the briefing, Valte said the DPWH has completed the P150-million access road to the Rafflesia flower sanctuary in Baungon town in Bukidnon province, under the Tourism Infrastructure Program.

Access to flower sanctuary

The Rafflesia Yard is in Sitio Kalanganan in Barangay San Vicente in Baungon.

Valte said the flower sanctuary has been declared by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources “a critical habitat of the largest flower in the Philippines, known as the bo-o or the kolon busaw.”

“It is the second largest flower in the world with a diameter that can reach up to 80 centimeters. So because of the new access road that has been built and completed, our visitors and our tourists will now have an easier time to access the flower yard,” Valte said.