RATHER than copy the attractions that have made other places around the world popular, British Ambassador to the Philippines and Palau Asif Anwar Ahmad said that locals should embrace what has made them unique and improve these qualities instead. In a visit to Cebu last week, Ahmad said the Philippines needs to be proud of what it naturally has, such as its food, jeepneys and bancas. Malls and casinos, in contrast, are easy to build and can be found in most major cities in the world. But to draw in more tourists, the country needs to make it easy and safe for tourists to explore natural attractions on their own. The ambassador pointed out that travelers from the United Kingdom will have to take a 14-hour flight to reach the Philippines. After spending nearly a day to reach their destination, they don’t want to spend the rest of the holiday traveling long hours on buses to reach another attraction. He said uniquely Filipino things like the jeepney should be embraced and made attractive so tourists can use it. Food, he said, should maintain its Filipino characteristics and not be changed to taste like Western fare. He cited the way Thai and Chinese cuisine have become globally recognized because of their authenticity to their culture. Tourists from the UK are mostly families who have about two weeks to spend on a holiday or students who are more adventurous. There are also some retirees who enjoy going on trips to tropical places. “They don’t mind exploring but they need to feel safe. They need to know that if they get into an accident, they will have access to medical care,” he said. Continue reading...
