What do you feel when you see foreigners in our country?

[~yufa~]

Sorry guys I don't know if this should be posted here but I'm just wondering. I just read an article with data about the Tourist Arrivals in S.E. Asia and it says that we have around 3% share of that. Like what? Just 3%? Seriously? It makes me sad that Vietnam is visited more than Philippines by a million (as of 2009) and  I am pretty sure that these tourists come in SEA because of the weather...but I guess we all have the same weather....which is hot. haha.  I honestly believe kasi na Philippines is a beautiful country.. Without a doubt and has more to offer. There's so much to see and it makes me sooo happy and proud to see foreigners visiting our country. I remember, I went to Malaysia once and everywhere I go I bump into tourists like me. Here, not so much. Like way off. Hope the recently appointed tourism secretary will do his job like Gordon and Durano. As a Filipino, I brag online (whenever I can) how beautiful Philippines is. haha. How about you guys? What do you do?

Anyway, here's the sad figure I found online:

2009 Tourist Arrivals (in mlns)
Malaysia      23.6
Thailand      14.1
Indonesia    6.45
Vietnam        3.8
Philippines   2.7

Source: http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/business/09/07/11/ph-launch-winning-tourism-campaign-year-says-jimenez

[Ysabelli]

Yun nga sis all we can do is be a role model ourselves to show them that we really are good people. Nahihiya ako everytime dumadating ako sa airport na may kasabay ako na mga foreigners and they see the state of our airports, dun ako pinakanahihiya. Pag nakikita ko na nilalamangan sila ng mga customs & immigration officers. Pero wag naman natin lahatin no may mga masasamang loob din na dayuhan.

[mooncake and leaves]

How do I feel when tourists come to the country? I love it. Natural naman ata sa ating mga Pinoy talaga yun na maging very receptive to guests unlike in other countries or cities wherein tourists are sometimes seen as a nuisance. Tayo talaga excited pa eh no. Haha ang cute cute

If I'm going to be optimistic though- I really think we'll eventually see a rise in those numbers. Some other websites and publications mention The Philippines more now, no thanks to DOT. I want to give where credit is due but I feel like if we are becoming more popular, it's through the collective effort of everyday Filipinos who blog and rave about our country.

As for those numbers, for me, it's not enough that DOT rallies and campaigns relentlessly- the biggest stumbling block for us is our bad rep when it comes to safety and security. The fairly recent events of massacre, kidnapping and hostage overshadow the positive sides of travel to The Philippines. Kung mismong mga Pinoy natatakot, paano pa ang mga foreigners. And who can blame them or us for that matter.

Also, mahirap din puntahan ang Pinas talaga. It doesn't enjoy the advantage that other SE Asian countries have where it's relatively easy to hop from one country to another (Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia). Nor do we possess a long history of exotic, faraway travel that Indonesia has projected for so long. Sometimes I think we are really neophytes in the global tourism industry.

[IronLady]

uhm, pg nakakakita ako, kadalasan sa city, feeling ko andito lang sila kasi mas mura dito saten. in terms of education-learning english, properties and goods. nega no? well at least nagiinvest sila satin. pero pag nakakakita o may naririnig ako na foreigners na nagbabakasyon sa mga magagandang tourist spots dito saten syempre proud ako. kasi dinadayo pa nila dito.

[goddessjem]

sari saring emotion..minsan naiisip ko parang ang dami dami nila dito sa bansa naten. mas nakakamura nga siguro sila dito sa madaming bagay. parang sa kanila, napakadaling makapunta sa  bansa naten. pero tayong mga Pinoy, hirap makapunta sa iabt ibang bansa ang daming proseso except sa turista ka lang ng ilang araw.minsan natatakot ako,baka kase kung anong pakay nila dito. magkakalat ng lagim..

[akthung]

I see them as people who trust us.

I've dealt with foreigners when i was in still living in Pinas. And still encourage Foreigners to go to Pinas. In fact today, i was talking to one and i encouraged him to visit Manila. A few weeks ago, i even sponsored an event for a documentary maker. I did it because i want to put the Philippines in the map for a certain kind of Tourism.and its not Sex Tourism ha!

but anyway, one common misconception nila is SAFETY. They see the Philippines as a dangerous place to visit. although maraming namang manloloko/magnanakaw (based from my experience with two of my Filipino Japanese interpreters.)

But what they generally fear kasi is yung mga armed rebel/muslim groups and that how guns are so loose.

anyway, i still encourage all my non Filipino friends to visit the country. Hindi lahat ng magandang bagay ay ilalagay ng diyos sa isang bansa lamang.

[cindylulu]

^i agree bro. safety is their utmost concern. our expats in the org regularly receive security updates in their emails. if i were to interpret these security precautions, it seems phl is an unfriendly country to foreigners indeed. and the only deemed safe place is makati. and mindanao is considered dangerous. if they really need to go on official duty travel to mindanao, besides obtaining the required security clearance from our mother org and the receipt of per diem, they would also get a hazard allowance. sometimes, me and my pinoy colleagues react to these security alerts, so overrated and overzealous.       

[felicityinlove]

I feel proud kasi sa dami-dami ng puwede nila pasyalan, Pilipinas ang napili nilang puntahan. And I am used to seeing foreigners na din kasi I get to deal with many of them up-front almost everyday sa office.

[prisma]

Honestly, if I see "old white men" in our country...the first thing that comes to mind is they're here for sex tourism- ie.  paedophiles perverts.  Sorry, I have a malicious mind and a bit racist with this comment but can't help it.  IMO.

Pero pag Koreans or Chinese from mainland- I feel na malakas loob nila and they came here for business or a better future.  Obviously for Koreans, since everyday they meet the prospect of annihilation from the north, bale wala ang occasional news ng bomba or kidnapping sa kanila.

As for the other white tourists, I saw a lot of them in Bohol deep sea diving and all.

[jennyg]

I feel proud somehow because maybe they want something in this country that others don't have. Like mura? hehe! or our beaches dba? magaganda rin kasi and [textspeak!] given that being here is cheaper.

[Kady_14]

Happy ako, kasi ang daming mas malapit na places for them to visit yet they chose our country. I look at it positively.

Plus it would help our country's tourism.

[Kikiyo]

I think ang problema lang talaga natin dito is security. True ba yung naheard ko na may mga embassies daw na nagbigay ng warning na huwag pumasok sa SM yung mga citizens nila? Not sure ako kasi. Minsan nga iniisip ko sana strict yung mga tao dito sa Metro Manila. Gawin dito yung ginagawa ng mga Duterte sa Davao kasi effective eh. Though, it is harsh makikita mo talaga na hindi ganoon karampant ang petty crimes (snatching, et. al.) doon. There is no reason para hindi tayo maging tourism hub ng Asia. Human factor lang talaga.

[thegimp]

i think with the news about media killings, instability in Mindanao and kidnapping cases are taking its toll sa tourism natin.

Ace Durano and Gordon did a good job before in promoting WOW Philippines..Too bad the DoT secretary now can't even match what these two gents have done.

[cindylulu]

^you're right sis. wow philippines slogan really caught on and ace durano was everywhere, promoting local spots here and there. sadly the current tourism sec is so quiet, so quiet in fact i can't even recall his name coz he's not that visible. at least si lim kilala ko pa.     

[~yufa~]

^ I agree. Yun lang ang naalala ko na campaign ng DOT. The rest ewan ko. But medyo mayabang ang sabi nung new DOT secretary natin like "selling the philippines should be easy as selling chickenjoy". Di ko alam kung may plans or nagawa na siya para maprove niya yung sinabi niya.

[i_miss_sleep]

if the government wants to attract tourists, maybe they should serve Filipinos first who ourselves are our own tourists. Basic things like clean bathroom (please ilibre na ang tissue!), safe food (no more botcha), honest taxi drivers (no more tampering of meters) and secure facilities, everything will flow naturally.

Yun lang naman ang basic needs ng mga tourists. When they come, leave them alone to enjoy the places they go to. Help out and bring a smile when needed. They're also human like us, iba lang ng tangos ng ilong o kulay ng hair. Maski naghahanap ng asawa o asawa ng ng Filipino, keep your thoughts to yourself and stop staring! The beauty of the Philippines will shine naturally and these tourist themselves will become the promoter, spreading good things about the Philippines.

Does that makes sense?

[~yufa~]

Maski naghahanap ng asawa o asawa ng ng Filipino, keep your thoughts to yourself and stop staring!

Yea I agree with you. Kahit yung maging malinis lang talaga Pilipinas. Minsan nga gusto ko umbagan yung nasa harap ko pag nakita kong dumura or nagtapon sa kalye. Instead, tinititigan ko na lang sila hanggang tignan nila ako. Asar kasi. Di naman kailangan maging mayaman para malaman na bawal magtapon sa kalye diba? Di ko alam ang rason nila.

But anyway, the one I quoted above was funny. I am one of those who looks (not naman stare) at "the couples". Haha. Can't help but think "naku pera nanaman"...tsk. Kaya bumababa tingin ng iba sa mga Pinay. Though I am not saying na ganun ang lahat ah.

[iluvescadasport]

what do I feel? honestly? It's pity. specifically, sa metro manila lang. They're just wasting their time here in metro manila.

para gusto ko sabihin sa kanila, "if you're going to invest, don't do it in the philippines. peperahan ka lang nila. corrupt mga gov't officials. Kahit na "tuwid na daan" gusto ng president, mga corrupt ang mga nasa baba. If you're in the Philippine to enjoy, go to the beach or go to other provinces, avoid metro manila. there's nothing to do here, everything's so expensive. shopping is useless. instead, enjoy the nature in our country."

[cristyles]

Whenever i see foreigners, a part of me feel ashamed dahil tingin sa kanila ng ibang tao ay walking ATM machine. And nakakainis minsan dahil may discrimination sa ibang food establishment, for example pag kukunin ng waiter yung order mo ay hindi naka-smile pero pag foreigner na yung oorder eh todo all smiles sila which pisses me off .

[tipC_shoegal]

What do I feel when I see foreigners here? I feel alright but at the same time, can't help but feel frustrated. Why? Because these foreigners CAN afford to travel around our country while MOST OF US can't. Why? Because the fare rates, the room rates in resorts/hotels are sky-high and most of them  cater to tourists, not locals. Unaffordable ang karamihan ng beautiful destinations dito. Imagine, for a person to travel and enjoy the majestic landscape of Batanes, he/she needs at least 10k plus to achieve this! How stupid is that?

Sarili mong bansa, hindi mo malibot...what an irony.