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Cebu Flowerpecker has recently received the Bird Life Species Champion award in the British Birdwatching Fair 2009 in Oakham, Rutland, United Kingdom.  Known as the ‘Woodstock of Birders,’ the British Birdwatching Fair is an exclusive event where all sectors in birdwatching and wildlife conservation from all over the world gather.

Presented by BirdLife International, the award was given to the Department of Tourism (DOT) which was also named as the Species Champion for the said endemic bird.  “This award seals our country’s status as a premier birdwatching site in the global birders’ community.  More importantly, it will draw further support for biodiversity awareness and wildlife preservation from our local sectors,” said Tourism Secretary Ace Durano.

More than 65,000 expats or foreign nationals have visited the Bureau of Immigration (BI) since the start of 2011 for their annual report. 
Data from the bureau’s alien registration division shows that a total of 65,155 resident foreign nationals or expatriates reported to the bureau as of 3rd March 2011, up by 5,123 or 8.53 percent from a year ago. 

CNN cites 3 Philippine beaches. Cable News Channel (CNN) has included three Philippine beaches on its list of the best 100 beaches in the world.  The Atlanta-based CNN said Puka Beach in Boracay, El Nido in Palawan, and Palaui Island in Cagayan are among the best destinations for beachgoers around the globe. It listed Palaui at No. 10, the only Southeast Asian beach in the Top 10.

“Glorious white sands meet volcanic rocks and blue-green waters topside, while coral gardens and a rich marine reserve meet divers under the surface. Palaui is all about raw beauty,” CNN said of the island off the northeastern tip of Luzon.

“Treks to get there require battling thorny grass, muddy ground and a mangrove forest…. With no resorts or hotels, Palaui has only two real options: camping under the stars or home stays,” it added.

A world-class commercial, residential and tourism centre may soon rise in the middle of Manila Bay.  Manila Solar City, which spans 148 hectares, is a reclamation project that will feature a park and a Boracay-inspired man-made beach. It will also have a terminal for international cruise ships, which are expected to bring between 2,500 to 5,000 tourists every week.

The Hong Kong-based parent of the Mandarin Oriental hotel and landlord Ayala Land are in advanced state of negotiations to cut short the luxury hotel's property lease in Makati City, according to reports.  ...

Jiangsu province in China and the Philippines have agreed to intensify their marketing efforts to accelerate the movement of tourists between the two sides.

"For 2009, we are optimistic that the growth of arrivals from China will be sustained.  We will intensify our marketing efforts and strengthen mutual cooperation," said Ms. Arlene Alipio, head of the Department of Tourism (DOT) Team China during a visit by a 30-person delegation from Jiangsu province in Manila this week.

Entertainment City blooms. Property prices at the Entertainment City project in Paranaque City may further increase in the coming months, after doubling over the past four years, according to a report by Manila Standard Today.

Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor) CEO Cristino Naguiat said the government bought the Entertainment City property for PhP23,000 per square metres in 2008.  “We’ve recently had it priced by Landbank. It is around PhP47,000 now,” he said.

The state-owned gaming regulator owns at least 50 hectares of land in the Entertainment City project, which is leased by hotel groups Travellers International Hotel Group and Bloombery Resorts Corp.  He said the tenants pay the rental fee annually to the government via Pagcor.

Tigerair Philippines is making it easier for tourists to visit Boracay, as it launched the Tiger Transfer service.

The Tiger Transfer service is offered to its passengers going to Boracay from Kalibo and vice-versa. Guests who purchase the transfer ticket online, onboard the flight or upon check-in, will only pay PhP500 for a one-way transfer to Boracay.

Advertising company BBDO Guerrero has launched the first of a series of advertisements under Phase II of the “It’s More Fun In The Philippines” campaign by the Department of Tourism.   While Phase I...