7 Top Things to Increase Tourism in the Philippines

The Philippines is a country that has limited resources with its best assets vested in its inherent tropical locale. One way to increase country revenue & employment is to improve their capacity to attract tourism. It is incredible how very few Filipinos have focused their entrepreneurial endeavors into a tourism project which would could prove lucrative as well as beneficial to the country overall.

Below are a few basic things that could increase tourism in the Philippines and attract more tourists to choose the Philippines as their travel destination.

1. Create docks at the Beaches of Boracay.
For those not familiar with Boracay, it is a popular tourist spot located south of Manila,Philippines. The sands are white and the waters are aqua blue. The only drawback is that docks are nonexistent for boats to unload tourists & their belongings. As a result, a subculture of workers have developed to transport tourists and their luggage, literally, over their shoulders.

In my opinion, some tourists may not prefer to be carried by strange Filipino men whether it be because of social discomfort, modesty or the fact that they themselves may weigh more than the native workers of the Philippines. In fear of their safety, tourists may not want their children carried by those slim individuals who may inadvertently stumble into the water. Also, tourists may not want to risk having their baggage & suitcases accidentally dropped into the water. Being 'carried' may also shun away the older tourist, who may be the bulk of tourists being able to travel.

The presence of docks would increase the comfort level. My 62 year old mother has stated that if she had the choice to visit a tropical beach, she would choose to visit Hawaii for the fact that they have a 'safer' method of reception for tourists. Unfortunately, she would not return to Boracay because of the lack of docks.

2. Teach airport personnel the art of customer service.
Customer service is a big issue here in the U.S.A. If most Philippine businesses would apply the basic principles of courtesy, then many would love to return or recommend their place of business. The airport personnel were clearly not the same personnel depicted in those travel commercials that advertise their friendly service. If their managers could have them imagine how they would like to be treated as a weary traveler, then the personnel could better empathize with a traveler who's journeyed 17 hours across the globe, stood in line for 1 hour with cranky tired children, has taken off their own shoes and the shoes of their young children to pass security, paranoid about pickpockets, and then has been told that they've been standing in the wrong line when no publically visible sign directed that weary traveler to the proper area in the first place.

3. Clean up the bathrooms.
If improving a bathroom in a home can increase its value, then wouldn't it make sense that it could improve the country's first time impression for a tourist? By simply providing the essentials: toilet paper, cleanliness & hand soap. With the exception of one, all the public restrooms I visited in the Philippines have failed to supply toilet paper and hand soap. It makes me wonder if their own employees are even washing their own hands without a supply hand soap in their restrooms.

4. Improve the plumbing in tourist areas.
Nothing is worse than bathing under a shower head that only 'trickles' lukewarm water after a hot, humid day in the Philippines. Older hotels need to update their plumbing to ensure that visitors have a stream of water to take a shower with. I was missing my shower after the first few days in the Philippines. By improving the level of comfort for the tourist, they will promote the tourist spot to their friends and keep coming back.

5. Create outdoor walkways around tourist spots.
Walkways would help to create an inviting atmosphere for tourists to 'come.' By creating a simple walkway for tourists to stroll, the business is telling the tourists to come and enjoy shopping in their establishment. To include misters to cool the environment above the walkways would be an added invitation to tourists looking to spend the day shopping or learning about the history of the Philippines.

6. Help the poor with the increased tourist revenue.
Donate a portion of all tourist proceeds to the betterment of the country like in charities similar to Gawad Kalinga. By helping the people help themselves, hopefully self pride will be instilled amongst the people. In the long run, this will help the people get up from poverty, crime, and foster hope.

7. Create a community program.
Encourage entrepreneurs to hire the less fortunate to work at their establishments by giving them government assistance to fund their payroll. Teach them the skills that will allow them to move up in similar work areas, customer service, etc. Perhaps, the government assistance will increase the entreprenuers' work force thus improve customer service.