These days, tourism ads of Thailand and Malaysia are read in most major business magazines around like The Economist, Time, and Fortune. While these places are good vacation destinations, I am definitely sure that they pale in comparison to what the Philippines can offer.
I have met foreigners saying that the archipelago has better beaches and more exhilirating dive spots than its neighbors. Why not, when we are at the center of the famed Coral Triangle. Our festivals are definitely as colorful as our neighbors', our malls are among the best and the biggest in the world, and our people are definitely the warmest in Asia.
And why does the Philippines remain travelers' third choice (or even lower) among the ASEAN countries? Sadly, bad news, either political or security-related, always hover over the archipelago, repelling would-be visitors (including investors) and creating a negative impression to the entire world. Also, this plight is exacerbated by poor infrastructure, a lackadaisical tourism campaign, and underdeveloped tourism destinations. I am pretty sure there's more to the Philippines than Boracay.
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