Swedish tourists shun Philippines due to poor infra

CEBU, Philippines — The Philippines’ weak infrastructure has dampened the interest of Swedish travelers to consider the country as destination despite its beautiful attractions.

According to Herald Fries, Sweden’s Ambassador to the Philippines, it is difficult for Swedish nationals to travel to the Philippines, not only because of the absence or very few direct flights from Stockholm and other main cities in Sweden to major tourism destinations in the Philippines like Cebu, but also the “not-good” road networks going to different tourism sites is a major turn-off.

Fries admitted that Philippine tourism has great future, but it has to double time in fixing its road infrastructure, as well as other transportation facilities to provide hassle-free land and sea transfers.

Like Thailand, where close to 400 thousand Swedish visit the country every year, the Philippines has the same allure—a tropical paradise for them. The only difference is, Thailand has much better road infrastructure, and wide choices of direct flights, the Ambassador said.

Despite Filipinos’ friendliness, good English speaking community, the Philippines only attracted about 30 thousand Swedish to visit the country last year.

Swedish, because of their longer cold season, like to go to the beach, and bask in the sea and sun. While the Philippines has plenty of these kinds of offering, the hassle to travel from airport to the resorts is one of the discouraging factors, he added.

“The Philippines cannot afford [yet] to offer nice things like Thailand is offering now,” Fries added.