MERLIZA M. MAKINANO
THE Philippines has, inarguably, some of the world’s best beaches and islands. Palawan and Boracay are often on top of the world’s best and must-visit lists. Yet, somehow it has lagged in international tourist arrivals compared to its Asean neighbors. In 2017, based on official figures, Thailand had 35.38 million international visitors, Malaysia had 25.9 million, Singapore 17.4 million, and Indonesia 14.04 million. In 2017, only 6.6 million visited the Philippines, though it was a slight increase from the 5.97 million who visited in 2016. According to the UN World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), travel and tourism account for 4.2 percent of the country’s gross domestic product generating 1.2 million jobs (2015).