Mount Pinatubo

As Filipino tourists are growing more dicriminating when choosing new destinations for business travel, emerging alternative markets have found their niche of affluent travelers in the business sector who are seeking top-of-the-line corporate incentive tours and meeting packages.

For the longest time, destinations like Cebu, Tagaytay, and Boracay have been the top choices of companies for their out of town conferences and team buildings. However, with the emergence of new hotels and convention centers around the country, a significant number of corporate buyers are looking into up-and-coming destinations that offer the same quality of travel with new access roads and good accommodations at half the price.

Recently, the Department of Tourism (DoT) and the Philippine Tourism Authority (PHILTOA) unveiled a list of thriving cities and destinations around the country that got the distinction of being awarded as “Top Emerging Destinations for 2010.”

Good accessibility, communication network, availability of meeting facilities and standard accommodations were the criteria to qualify as one of the top emerging destinations of the Philippines. The DoT and PHILTOA scoured the country’s 17 regions to come up with this extensive list with hopes of encouraging corporate buyers to discover what the rest of our 7,107 islands can offer.

Awarded business destinations include: Laoag and Dagupan (Region I) for their heritage sites and beaches;  La Trinidad Valley (CAR) for its magnificent strawberry fields, vegetable terraces, and  cut flower industry;  Zambales (Region III) which is a multifaceted destination for beach holidays, mango agri-tourism, and sports adventure activities;  San Juan, Batangas (Region IV-A)  that boasts of endless beautiful beaches and stylized type of resorts; Marinduque (Region IV-B)  with its world class resort and rich cultural traditions; Sorsogon of Bicol ( Region V) which is synonymous to eco-tourism activities like whale interaction and firefly tour.

In Visayas:   Silay City (Region VI) for its preserved ancestral houses and rich culinary heritage and newly constructed world class airport; Danao in Bohol (Region VII) considered the new eco-adventure mecca complemented by nearby white sand beaches and the natural wonders of the “Chocolate Hills”, and tarsier; the island destinations of Northern Samar (Region VIII) with its pristine beach areas, rich flora and fauna, and iconic natural land formation.

Down south: The Island Garden City of Samal (Region XI) for its paradise-like coves and beaches, eco-adventure sites and activities; Cagayan De Oro ( Region X)which is not just the gateway to the northern part of Mindanao but  also caters to city based-adventure  activities; Butuan  City (Region XIII) of Caraga is the historical mecca of the Philippines with good access to Agusan marshlands and surfing capital of Siargao;  Sarangani  (Region XII) can always pull a surprise with its beautiful coastlines, diverse cultural  heritage and aqua tourism activities; Dapitan City (Region IX) of Zamboanga del Norte holds one of the historical treasures  of Dr. Jose Rizal  complemented by its rustic surroundings and thriving aqua culture industry.

“Identifying these top business destinations goes alongside DoT’s vision of developing a product-centered industry. We aim to use our funds in improving established, as well as undiscovered products that will surely speak for themselves when it comes to tourism promotion,” said Tourism Planning and Promotions Undersecretary Vicente Romano III.

He continued: “To strengthen our priority destinations, we will work together with the other departments of the government to make sure there are roads to get to those destinations, improve the accessibility of our airports for local and foreign tourist influx.”

PHILTOA president Cesar Cruz, for his part said that these business destinations are perfect for corporate travelers and holiday-makers. Each place has something unique to offer, and they are hoping that more and more people will understand the fact that the Philippines has what it takes to be one of the world’s premier business travel destinations.

The aforementioned destinations will be featured at the 21st Philippine Travel Mart as part of the Biyahe Exchange Program, a one-on-one business meeting between corporate buyers and travel sellers where travel adventures, trips, and tours are offered to companies for corporate outings and company incentives. The 21st Philippine Travel Mart will be held on September 3-5 at the SM Megatrade Halls, SM Mega Mall.