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2009 Destination and Travel Trends
by Jonathan Dionisio
23 January 2009
With the current economic
downturn, it doesn’t mean that you and your partner
should forget your dream sunset beach wedding in Boracay or
postpone your honeymoon plans. Instead, consider these tips
based on a recent study conducted by the Tourism Journalists
Association (Association
des Journalistes du Tourisme). According to the study,
these are the forecasted travel destinations, type of tours,
and activities that will shape the tourism industry for 2009.
Bohol Beach Club1. Domestic Tourism
Due to financial constraints,
more tourists will go local than abroad. And why not, when
we have 7, 107 islands of the Philippines to explore. Since
local travel is less expensive, you and your partner can afford
to have a longer travel itinerary. There are hundreds of scenic
places, add to that the number of old churches in the country
where you can hold your wedding. Also, there are so many honeymoon
havens here in the country. Local airline companies are now
offering travel packages that fit your budget, especially
when traveling in groups. No visa needed; just you and your
partner and that drive for adventure and fun.
2. Travel to nearby countries
If you really want to get
married or travel abroad for your honeymoon, the best option
is to go to our neighboring countries. Travel to nearby countries
like Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, South Korea, Thailand, Indonesia,
or Nepal. Foreign exchange rates in these countries are favorable
to the Philippine Peso. It’s economical and at the same
time, some countries, like Hongkong and Thailand do not require
visa.
3. Faith tourism
An alternative to the usual
honeymoon itinerary, why not engage in something fulfilling
for the soul? Find yourself, seek inner peace, or simply go
on sabbaticals or pilgrimage. Aside from the famous religious
destinations like Vatican City, Israel, Palestine and Italy,
other countries that have religious historical backgrounds
are Greece and Turkey for the 11-day “Footsteps of the
Apostle Paul” tour, Germany for the Protestant Reformation
Tour, Saudi Arabia for the Hajj, Ireland for the “Footsteps
of St. Patrick”, Japan for the Kii Mountain Range pilgrimage
tour, and Mexico for the Virgin of Guadalupe Shrine. Local
spots include Pink Sister’s Convent in Tagaytay City
and Our Lady of Lourdes Grotto in Baguio City.
4. Camping
Instead of staying in a
luxury hotel, why not consider experiencing the great outdoors?
There are a lot of safe camp sites in the Philippines. With
tents, sleeping bags, bonfire, and the stars in the sky; you
and your partner will surely love communing with nature.
White Water Rafting in Cagayan de Oro5. Nature trips
Game for some romantic adventure?
You and your partner may want to experience mountain climbing,
rappelling, white water rafting, base jumping, and other adventurous
activities. These types of activities are well suited for
couples who want to appreciate the beauty of nature in a unique
way.
The Department of Tourism
(DOT), in collaboration with local tour operators and associations,
has come up with cost-effective, safe adventure packages in
different parts of the country. Some examples include whale
shark watching in Sorsogon and white water rafting in Cagayan
de Oro.
6. Eco-friendly hotels
Go green with your honeymoon
suite. With the advent of environmental awareness worldwide,
several hotels here and abroad have converted their facilities
to be eco-friendly. Not only are these hotels less expensive
than conventional hotels, they offer unique packages where
you and your partner can experience more of what nature has
to offer. Examples include Edsa-Shangri-La
Manila, Dolarog
Beach Resort in El Nido, Palawan, and Oasis
Park Hotel in Paco, Manila.
7. Visitations
A common practice of Filipinos
during long weekends and holidays, more and tourists prefer
to travel somewhere where they have relatives. This is economical
and at the same time, it allows family members to rekindle
and strengthen family ties. In that case, why not have your
wedding or honeymoon in the province of your parents or your
in-laws?
8. Virtual tourism
It’s a good year to
google your way to your destination. In an internet usage
study released last year, there was a 600% growth of internet
users here in the Philippines from 2000 to 2008. And with
more people relying on the Internet for information, websites
like www.wowphillippines.com.ph,
the official website of the Department of Tourism, websites
of local governments, and online travel agencies will play
a key role this year in informing what each province or country
has to offer. With this, tourists will plan their travel itineraries
based on the information posted in travel sites. Even blogs
which talk about experiences about a certain tourist spot
will play a role in choosing their destinations. So get those
fingers moving and start searching for a possible wedding
or honeymoon destination!
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Whether you and your partner
are on a tight budget, you should never forget to enjoy each
other’s company and make sure that you get the most
out of your wedding travel or honeymoon. If you think you
are in for any of the travel trends for 2009, start planning
your trip as early as now. Enjoy! |
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Kasal.com
thanks the following sources for this article:
Biado, Ed, Manila Standard
Today (Life Travel section). 2009 Tourism Trends (Published
January 8, 2009) Retrieved January 23, 2009 from
http://www.manilastandardtoday.com/?page=goodLife1_jan8_2009
Baedeker, Rob, Fobres Traveler.com.
Greatest Religious Tours. Retrieved January 23, 2009 from
http://www.forbestraveler.com/best-lists/religious-tours-story.html
ETurboNews.com. Philippines
offers eco-friendly resorts and activities. Retrieved January
23, 2009 from
http://www.eturbonews.com/6553/philippines-offers-eco-friendly-resorts-and-activities
Re-posted at Lakbay Pilipinas Travel Blog at
http://www.lakbaypilipinas.com/blog/2008/12/06/philippines-offers-eco-friendly-resorts-and-activities/
Thomas, Jennifer, The Travel
Advocate. Travel Trends for 2009: Going Green. Retrieved January
23, 2009 from
http://www.travel-advocate.com/2008/10/01/travel-trends-for-2009-going-green/
Miniwatts Marketing Group,
InternetWorldStats.com. Internet Usage in Asia: Internet Users
& Population Statistics for 35 countries and regions in
Asia. Retrieved January 23, 2009 from
http://www.internetworldstats.com/stats3.htm
Ignatius Javellana, CNET
Asia. Sensible Netnonsense. Retrieved January 23, 2009 from
http://asia.cnet.com/blogs/sensiblenetnonsense/post.htm?id=63004940
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