Costa Cruises make RP stops

Costa Cruises, Italy’s largest cruise group, has made the Philippines one of its stops in its Asian packages.  Tourism Secretary Ace Durano said cruise companies venturing to the Philippines open up more possibilities for tourism.  The firm’s three ships, Costa Allegra, Costa Classica and Costa Romantica, have started regular visits to Manila.

Another cruise company, Britain’s Acromas Shipping Limited, has also included the country in its Asian tour itinerary. Other cruise ships visiting the Philippines are M/V Voyages of Discovery, M/S Amadea, and Silversea Whisper.

Around 20 cruise ships docked in Manila for 2009.  Arrivals from these cruise ships posted a 2.24 percent increase from 17,516 passenger-tourists in 2008 to 17,908 passenger-arrivals in 2009 with most visitors taking the tours in Intramuros, Manila and Tagaytay.