NO CLEAR BASIS FOR EXPECTED 4M TOURISTS!

I have very strong reservations on the Department of Tourism’s (DOT) 4-million tourist arrival forecast for this year.

But believe me, people, I sure hope they can attain it. That will mean more jobs and livelihood opportunities.

At 365 days a year, four million tourists mean an average of 10,000 arrivals a day. Honestly, I don’t know if this is a normal expectation in the travel industry or a little too high.

But in the DOT press release which you will find today, Feb. 5, in the Philippine Star, no physical basis was cited for the optimistic forecast other than statistics from last year’s tourist arrivals.

For example, NO SPECIFIC or DETAILED safety and protection measures or programs were cited.

No perks or come-ons for tourists were mentioned.

No big event which tourists can look forward to was announced. Neither was there anything new about the Philippines which could help arouse the curiosity of tourists and lure them to our country.

What was noted instead was the recent travel advisory of the United Kingdom to its citizens against going to the Philippines.

Considering the economic problems of various countries worldwide, travelers will surely look for a destination which can give them their money’s worth.

And they’ll only choose among countries which tell them SPECIFICALLY what can they expect should they decide to visit. Not the generic statistics from last year’s arrivals.

The DOT can do better than this. THEY SHOULD!

                                                          ***

From the readers:

THE REAL MEANING OF LLAMAS ADMONITION!

BENIGOMO AKONO

I fully agree with your premises in the first four paragraphs. Well said.

LETTY RODIL

Korek na korek yan. Wala na akong masabi!

JUNN OFREDO of Minglanila, Cebu

Pag nagraid ang OMB, sasabihin na lang ng mga tindero: “Kay Llamas ito. Huwag ninyong galawin."

KEITH HARCOURT of Vienna, Austria

“We will be continuing our pursuit, conviction, and punishment of those who have done wrong,” Aquino said. He has just stopped from doing this with Llamas.

BETH FERNANDEZ

What’s the use of the OMB?

MELONA PILLO of Paranaque City

Marami akong kilala na government employees and officials na bumibili ng pirated na DVD. They said ‘will you give me money to buy those very expensive and original DVDs?’ It would be better to buy pirated kaysa magnakaw sa pera ng bayan, at humingi ng mga commission sa mga government projects at tumangap ng suhol sa mga kumpanya.

RODEL RAMIL

Si Llamas talaga…

BIG, FAT LIE OF CORONA TRIAL PROSECUTORS

SERGIO NEPOMUCENO

Let us not all be carried out by the tide of fanaticism and blind partisan belief. Let the prosecutors and the defense do their jobs to prove that in this country, the Constitution is held supreme. Bickering over the impeachment will not bear the desired truth but rather, a divided country. If you some of what it takes to exonerate or find guilt, then be a friend of the court and volunteer what you have.

ALON VALDEZ

The prosecution and the administration started all this brouhaha of "trial outside the impeachment court.” Suddenly, they have one of their biggest blunders, lying, and indirectly point to media as the culprit, Nagkaroon na ng duda sa lahat ng ipalalabas ng prosecution. Kailangan may susunod agad na tanong pag may press release: "Totoo ba ito, Mr Spokesman?" or "Hindi mo ba idedeny ito, Mr Spokesman?"

AUDI MAGNAYE of San Pascual, Batangas

The problem with our government is that it had discredited intentionally all existing blunders for our nation to become a communist country of their liking. It has discredited the Church, the Supreme Court and the Judiciary, the present educational setup (K plus ten) and the health sector.

JOMACVER VERA

The yellow tards claimed that 21 or 45 properties don't make any difference if they are all stolen. But they forgot that the 21 properties are yet to be proven that these are really owed by the CJ, who claimed that he only had five properties which were mentioned already in his SALN.

RODEL BANARES

Si Tupas, big lying lawyer!

ANONYMOUS

Taumbayan, magmasid, magbasa bawat panig at alamin ang lahat, at ang puno’t dulo. Huwag padala sa emosyon at kadramahan. 

‘PA-POGI’ TIME FOR PNOY!

SEVERINO NICOLAS

Pa-pogi? He's not just hideous, he is a mental basket.

BIEN

People making comments about tax evasion, when they clearly don't understand a word being said in the impeachment proceedings. Does "Alpha List" ring any bell? Please do try to pay attention. 

TONTO

What is SALN? Secret Affair of Lee and Noynoy!

SOLID PROOF OF PNOY’S POOR PERFORMANCE!  

ANONYMOUS!

Sa mga Pilipinong bumoto kay Pnoy, tiisin n’yo ang hirap ng buhay under his leadership. After GMA’s term, dapat smooth sailing na ang pagpapalago ng ekonomiya dahil yung mga economic policies are already in place. Ngayon, inilabas ng NSO ang statistics/ Halos  pareho pa rin ang dami ng mga tao na walang trabaho for 2010 and 2011. Ano ba iyan? 30