The archipelagic nation of the Philippines
comprises 7,107 islands clustered just north of Malaysia in the
South China Sea. Baring the brunt of a tirade of bad press, the
Philippines is unfortunately associated with corruption,
dictatorship, terrorism activity, economic weakness and natural
disasters. Although the undertones of all these problems do ripple
throughout the country, the merits of the Philippines should also
be prevalent. With an array of eco-tourism sites, a treasure trove
of underwater meccas and a quite captivating landscape dominated by
the country’s numerous volcanoes, Philippines is a stunning place
to visit.
Its diverse natural environment, with a warm
and humid tropical climate, boasts swathes of jungle and forest,
beautiful beaches, fertile farmlands and a handful of active
volcanoes. Mud walled rice terraces, an ancient town teetering on
the lip of a volcanic crater and the Chocolate Hills, which if
legend would have it are the teardrops of a heartbroken giant are
just some of the Philippine’s delights.
Tourist numbers in recent years have been
growing steadily and reached a record 3 million through 2007. A key
industry for the country, tourism contributed nearly $5million to
the Philippine economy in the same year, most of which was
re-invested into infrastructure improvements. As such, Joseph
Durano from the Philippine Department of Tourism is confident that
his country will see visitors in excess of 5 million by 2010 and
put several measures in place to encourage this. Of all the
islands, Cebu remains the most popular and experienced an increase
in visitor numbers of 24% in the first four months of 2007.
Still in this Chapter
Is this is good place to Buy?
Which type of Property should you go for?
Hotspots
The Purchase Process
Mortgages
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