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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.

International visitor arrivals in the Philippines grew 17.3 percent year-on-year in January 2011, on increased visitors from Korea, China and Taiwan.  Even arrivals from Hong Kong, which prohibited its nationals from visiting the Philippines in August 2010, bounced back with a growth of 11.9 percent during the first month of the year.

The Department of Tourism said tourist arrivals reached 349,713 in January, up from 298,119 visits recorded a year ago.  South Korea was the top source of arrivals, representing about 26 percent of the total.  Arrivals from Korea posted a 28 percent growth to reach 92,249 in January.

Transportation Secretary Manuel Roxas said he has signed a memorandum of understanding with Japanese firm Takenaka Corp. to complete the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3.  He said the terminal could be fully operational either by end of 2012 or early 2013.

Twenty-three different areas of construction are still lacking at the terminal, including baggage handling, fire alarm, flight information and closed circuit television surveillance systems.

The deal with Takenaka will reportedly cost about US$45 million.   “We would like to thank Takenaka Corporation for both being thorough and sincere in negotiating with us,” said Mr. Roxas.

Takenaka Corp. was the original contractor for NAIA 3. Its work at the facility was not completed because the airport was expropriated after the concessionaire, Philippine International Air Terminals Co. (Piatco) was declared a mere dummy firm for partner Fraport AG from Germany.

The government expects tourists from Taiwan to return to the Philippines, after Taipei lifted the red alert status for Taiwanese travellers bound for the country.

The Manila Economic and Cultural Office (MECO), which represents the country in Taipei, said the lifting of the travel ban would bring back thousands of Taiwanese tourists to major tourist destinations in the country.

SkyJet Airlines has launched the fastest flights and only jet-service from Manila to Boracay Island via Caticlan Airport on 15th April 014. The airline began operating the route with three flights per week.  ...

International arrivals grew 14.1 percent to 238,941 in April 2006 from 209,381 a year ago.

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.

The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) has agreed to provide incentives to airlines that will operate flights in the Brunei-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East Asian Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA).

CAAP director general Ramon S. Gutierrez said the air linkage technical working group of the BIMP-EAGA is working towards the designation of more entry points and (entrants will) enjoy the privileges provided for under the Fifth Freedom air services agreement.