Miss U a big boost to tourism — DOT

MANILA, Philippines — Hosting the 65th Miss Universe pageant last January gave the Philippines one of the biggest boosts to the tourism industry, Tourism Secretary Wanda Teo said after noting the increase in tourist arrivals this year.

In an interview during the Department of Tourism’s Women of Significance awarding and gala night on Saturday, Teo said she witnessed in her various tourism promotion trips abroad the rising interest of foreigners in the Philippines as a destination.

“When I went to Russia, the tour operators said they saw the Miss Universe event and they really want to go to the Philippines. The interest is there but they don’t know how to go to the Philippines,” Teo recalled.

The DOT earlier announced that it expects to surpass its target of 6.5 million tourist arrivals this year. During the first half of 2017 alone, it recorded over 3.35 million tourist arrivals or an increase of 12.7 percent when compared to the same period last year.

Teo attributed the increase largely to the partnership with the Miss Universe Organization.

She also believes that last week’s tour of the winner and other candidates of the 66th Miss Universe pageant around the country will further boost the nation’s tourism efforts.

The official said Miss Universe 2017 Demi-Leigh Nel-Peters of South Africa and other beauties confessed to have fallen in love with the tourist destinations they went to, particularly Batanes, Bohol and Camiguin islands.

Nel-Peters, she added, wanted to go back to Batanes and promised to promote the Philippines in her social media accounts.

“When they go back to their countries, they will be able to promote our country. They’ve been taking pictures of the places that they’ve been to so we want them to be tourism ambassadors of the Philippines,” Teo noted.

At least two beauties – Miss Universe-Canada Lauren Howe and Miss Universe-Malaysia Samantha Katie James – have decided to extend their stay in the country with Miss Universe-Philippines Rachel Peters hosting them at her place in Siargao island.

Teo said the two also wanted to visit Palawan, which is listed among the world’s best island destinations.

DOT Undersecretary Kat de Castro said the 15 beauty queens were set to depart yesterday, but Howe and James rebooked their flights to stay and experience Philippines for another week or two. 

De Castro is hopeful the beauty queens’ visit to Camiguin could help brighten the image of Mindanao, especially after the government’s war against the Maute terrorist group in Marawi City.

“I guess they’re very effective in letting everybody know that... it’s safe to go to Mindanao,” De Castro stressed.

Teo cited the benefits of the partnership with Miss Universe Organization as a good reason for the Philippines to again host the pageant next year.

“Actually, they already asked us if we could host again next year. We will have to ask the permission of the President, and hopefully we will have it here,” the DOT chief explained, adding that the possible hosting would be sponsored fully by the private sector. – With Catherine Talavera