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The Philippines is an attractive tourist destination in Southeast Asia. It offers year-round tropical weather with more than 7,000 islands to explore. The country is home to scenic resorts, pristine white sand beaches, friendly people, and some truly unique regional cuisine. In case you are thinking about visiting this island nation, here are a few things to consider.
Scenic beauty
The Philippines is a country with great biodiversity. The islands may look small on the map, but they are very rich in natural resources. Visitors often comment on the many natural attractions including crystal clear waters, white sandy beaches, and rolling hills. In contrast with some of its neighbors, the Philippines is less commercialized. It is still possible to find secluded beaches and unspoiled natural beauty. Many islands are only accessible by boat. Reaching these remote places can be challenging, but rewarding.
Activities
Scuba diving is among the most popular tourist activities. It is supported by a robust diving ecosystem with seasoned operators. The sea life around the islands is remarkably colorful and diverse. More enthusiastic divers should opt for liveaboard, which let you discover the less-frequented dive sites. Many tourists look for opportunities to swim with whale sharks. Kiteboarding and wakeboarding are also growing in popularity.
Land-based activities include exploring caves, ziplining, and visiting adventure parks. Other popular activities are island hopping, surfing, and hiking. Some of the more distant islands are gateways to smaller islands still further away. Tourists visiting these remote hideaways are more than likely to find stunning beaches all to themselves. Some tour operators offer overnight camping on deserted islands.
Safety
Filipinos are naturally very friendly, polite and cheerful. Filipinos are generally hospitable and respectful towards tourists. The government has taken a strong stance against drugs, which is bound to bode well for tourists and tourism in the long run. Big cities like Manila do have their problems with crime. Despite this, the country is still considered very safe overall.
Like many other countries in Asia, the Philippines suffer from gaping economic disparity. Tourists can find luxury resorts and quaint fishing/farming villages with equal ease. Almost everyone in the country can speak at least a little English. Street signs, menus, and all other necessary info are given in English. This makes it very easy to get around. In fact, the Philippines is one of the largest English-speaking populations in the world. Also, a significant chunk of the population lives abroad as Overseas Filipino Workers. OFW’s send money to the Philippines to the tune of $35 billion annually. Given the emigration mindset, Filipinos learn to speak English early on.
Uncertainty
Tourists visiting the Philippines are advised to be flexible with their plans. Transport to and from remote islands can be a challenge at the best of times. Watch out for the wet season from June till October. Buses, ferries, and other means of public transport are generally not known for timeliness. They are frequently late, or cancelled without explanation. Sometimes this happens because of the weather. Mostly, this simply seems to be a natural manifestation of a laidback, carefree approach to life. Experienced travelers will find that islanders throughout Asia tend to take this approach. A side effect of this is that most things are cheaper. Hotels, local travel, activities, cuisine, and drinks generally cost less in the Philippines compared to neighboring countries.
COVID-19 Formalities
Before the pandemic hit, travelers from 150 nations could enjoy visa-free travel to the Philippines for 30 days. It was also possible to stretch your stay in the country almost indefinitely with various visa extension options. Things have changed quite a lot since. All arrivals must undergo a 14-day quarantine. Quarantine must be pre-booked in an approved hotel/facility. Arrivals must take mandatory paid COVID-19 tests. Face masks are required inside all airports, along with other precautions. Travelers from 7 countries are currently not allowed to enter the Philippines till July 15, 2021. Others can visit, subject to ongoing precautions, regulations, and visa requirements. The Department of Tourism website has up-to-date guidelines for all areas of the country. The Philippine Airlines site also offers useful and current travel info.
About the author:
Hemant G is a contributing writer at Sparkwebs LLC, a Digital and Content Marketing Agency. When he’s not writing, he loves to travel, scuba dive, and watch documentaries.
