Pinoy congeniality attracts Kiwi tourists to Philippines

CEBU, Philippines - Kiwis are now starting to consider the Philippines as a prospective travel destination owing to the good relationship and network developed with the growing Filipino population in New Zealand.

Despite the fact that they knew little about the Philippines as a leisure destination, they have only learned about the warmth and friendly characteristics of Filipinos from the over 42 thousand Pinoys living in their country, making them want to explore what the Philippines has to offer.

NZ Ambassador to the Philippines David Strachan said apart from the Filipinos living and working in New Zealand, Kiwis have no other means of knowing about the Philippines.

One of the top reasons why Kiwi travelers are eyeing to visit the Philippines is mainly to experience the warmth and friendliness of Filipinos, because they dont know that the Philippines is also rich in scenic views and wonderful beaches, like Palawan, Strachan said.

This means that despite the absence of promotions as a tourism destination, the Philippines is slowly getting attention from Kiwis mainly because of the people.

Traditionally, top destinations among Kiwis in Asia are Bali in Indonesia, Phuket in Thailand, but the Philippines is not part of their travel destination in this part of the world.

 Department of Tourism (DOT) record show that there were a total of 20,579 tourists from New Zealand visited the Philippines in 2015, a 16.24 percent improvement from the precious year.

Likewise, the Kiwi envoy said more Filipinos are now traveling to New Zealand for brief vacation and leisure destination.

In the last 10 years, NZ saw a sharp increase of Filipino arrivals to the country, which is known for its picturesque attractions, rich heritage and history.  (FREEMAN)