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Philippines

National Tourism Week

National Tourism Week in the Philippines is held every last week of September. Its schedule is set to coincide with the World Tourism Day which is observed every September 27th.

History of National Tourism Week

National Tourism Week is an annual tourism event in the Philippines that happens in the last week of September. It was promulgated through the issuance of Proclamation No. 894 that was approved by then President Fidel V. Ramos on October 3, 1996. Its purpose was to “instill national consciousness on tourism as an instrument of progress,” and it enjoined the Department of Tourism to come up with activities for the said week-long event.

In previous years, the National Tourism Week was observed in summertime every first week of May. It was set by Proclamation No. 549 that was signed by former President Corazon Aquino on April 6, 1990.

The proclamation that was issued by the Ramos administration effectively moved the schedule of this annual event to September. The date was chosen so that it can include the observance of World Tourism Day that falls on every September 27 as declared by the World Tourism Organization, a United Nations agency.

World Tourism Day began in 1980. In the country, September 27 was declared officially by virtue of Proclamation No. 1942 that was signed on February 1, 1980.

Tourism and the Philippines

The country boasts of beautiful spots, rich natural resources, warm hospitality of its people, good food, and favorable year-round climate. Studies have shown that tourism existed in the country prior to the coming of the Spaniards pioneered by the pre-colonial migration of people via land bridges and who made the islands their home.

From about eighth century onward, visit to the archipelago was spurred by trading prospects. The natives were in contact with merchants from other lands to conduct barter of imported goods in exchange for local merchandise.

According to Robert Charles Capistrano and Kyrie Eleison Muñoz, travel was motivated by “migration, leisure, recreation, and education” during Spanish era. And during the American period, there was the presence of “tourism-oriented infrastructures.”

In post-war years, tourist arrivals in the country were not on par with other nations in Southeast Asia. However starting in the 1980s, tourism became an important public policy, government priority program, and an important vehicle for economic prosperity.

The country’s tourism department adopted national slogans throughout the years. These included “Philippines: Where Asia Wears A Smile”, “Fiesta Islands Philippines”, “Rediscover Philippines”, and “Consider the Philippines.”

And then it changed starting in 1992 with “WOW Philippines”, “Pilipinas Kay Ganda” (2010), and “It’s More Fun in the Philippines” (2012).

National Tourism Week Activities

Activities of National Tourism Week are organized by the Department of Tourism and its regional offices across the archipelago.

Other private institutions, organizations, and local government units also mount their own activities that are taking place during the week such as:

How to reach Philippines

Visitors can reach the Philippines via international airports in Clark, Cebu, Manila, Kalibu, and Puerto Princesa.

References

National Tourism Week Summary

NameNational Tourism Week
CelebrationTourism
Contact1-386
CountryPhilippines
DateLast week of September
Duration1 week
EstablishedOctober 3, 1996
Facebookwww.facebook.com
FounderFidel V. Ramos
Instagramwww.instagram.com
OrganizerDepartment of Tourism
Simultaneous eventWorld Tourism Day
Tiktokwww.tiktok.com
Twittertwitter.com
Websitetourism.gov.ph