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by Sheila Crisostomo http://www.philstar .com/Article. aspx?articleId= 451183&publicationSubCate\ goryId=63 The Department of Tourism (DOT) yesterday endorsed more than P20 million worth of tourism-related investments for 2009 that are expected to generate some 3,000 jobs for Filipinos. Tourism Secretary Ace Durano said these investments will also create more than 2,000 rooms, boosting efforts to promote tourism. "With this initial list of investments, the country is assured of a vibrant tourism industry, with bigger revenues and more jobs. And consequently, these will lead to developments in transportation and road infrastructure, " he said. The tourism projects include nine resorts, six hotels, two theme parts and one condotel or condominium- hotel. Durano added that for the first quarter, the establishments that opened were Park Bed & Breakfast Hotel and Restaurant (48 rooms) in Pasay; Sugihara Villa Resort, Vauban Villa Resort, Salamanca Villa Resort, Almonavide...

by Sammy Martin and Jayson Cruz Luna THE Department of Tourism claimed that the domestic tourism industry generated some $1 billion during the first quarter of 2008. Foreign tourist arrivals in the first quarter of the year rose marginally from a year earlier, still led by visitors from South Korea. The Tourism department, which sourced its data from arrival and departure cards and shipping manifests, counted 858,244 arrivals from January 2008 to March 2008, which is 8.5-percent higher compared to the 790,888 tourist arrivals recorded during the same period last year. The tourists spent a total of $1.022 billion during the period, the department said. "Tourist spending amounted to $1.02 billion, with Korea accounting for the biggest bulk. The Scandinavian region, as well as Germany, Russia, Canada and Hong Kong, registered double-digit gains as shown by their increasing expenditure and length of stay over the previous years," the statement added. Koreans topped the arrivals,...