Why is the Philippines One of the Most Popular Tourist Destination in Asia?
When discussing the most popular tourist destinations in Asia, China, with over sixty-five million tourists visiting the country every year, tops the list. Alongside China, other popular tourist destinations in Asia are the Philippines, Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore, South Korea, Japan, Indonesia, and Taiwan. According to the latest reports on the most popular tourist destinations globally, China appears fourth, with Thailand following eighth.
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The Philippines is also highly positioned, with around eight million international travelers visiting the country every year. The Philippines is also known for well-established casino tourism, with the best Philippines casinos accommodating thousands of locals and international visitors daily. In the following sections, we explore the country's rising casino tourism and the different factors that make the Philippines one of Asia's most popular tourist destinations.
Tourism in the Philippines – The Rise of Casino Tourism
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Tourism in Asian countries offers the most spectacular artificial and natural wonders. Visitors from Europe and other parts of the globe get to see some of the most impressive architectural achievements when visiting China, India, Thailand, and the Philippines. Asian countries also house some of the most spectacular beaches, crystalline waters, and tropical rainforests.
According to the latest reports, tourism and travel industries in Asia have significantly grown over the last several years. Due to improved connectivity, both tourism and travel revenues have increased in the region by around 5% to reach a value of over US$2,9 billion as estimated in 2019. Essentially, tourism and travel industries account for over 9% of the region's GDP (gross domestic product).
The Philippines is a trendy casino tourism destination in Asia, and land-based casinos can be found in many major cities. One of the most famous casino resorts in the Philippines is Solaire Resort and Casino Manila, located in the country's capital city. Casino Filipino Pavillion and Casino Bacolod are equally renowned. Land-based casinos can also be found in Angeles City, Cebu City, Clark Freeport, Davao City, Lapu-Lapu, and Laoag City.
With most online gambling forms being perfectly legal in the Philippines, Filipinos can choose from this list provided by BestCasinoSites.net to play online casino in the Philippines. The best casino sites in the Philippines are licensed by the PAGCOR, which stands for the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation. The PAGCOR is a government-controlled and owned corporation responsible for the country's thriving land-based and online gambling industry.
Essentially, Philippines casinos licensed by the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation must operate according to strict laws and regulations that were put in place to protect players. Aside from employing responsible gambling tools to ensure their players' well-being, PAGCOR-licensed online casinos must use advanced privacy and security measures.
According to this report released by Statista, the country's tourism industry is one of the most important sources of its gross domestic product, which was around US$402 billion as estimated in late 2021. Land-based casinos operating in the country significantly contribute to the country's tourism industry. This does not come as a surprise, considering that casinos are essential catalysts in stimulating the overall tourism industry.
At the moment, PACGOR operates over thirteen land-based casinos, and the vast majority of these are located in popular tourist destinations, including the cities of Manila Cebu City. Due to the presence of casino resorts, Manila and other bigger cities in the Philippines have been enjoying extreme tourism. Aside from casino tourism, many other factors make the country one of the most favored travel and tourist destinations.
Reasons to Visit the Philippines
One of Asia's most popular tourist destinations is known for its impressively rich biodiversity, numerous different heritage towns, tropical beaches, rainforests, stunning diving spots, and much more. The country is located on an archipelago consisting of over seven thousand islands. Thanks to its position in the Pacific Ocean, the country is gifted with hundreds of tropical beaches. In fact, Siargao, Palawan, and Boracay are among the best, most visited beaches in the world.
While the Philippines is an idyllic destination for beach lovers, the country offers so much more. The Philippines is a tropical country, so locals enjoy summer weather almost all year round. The country's climate is one of the reasons why visitors return. The warmest months are March, April, and May, and these are ideal months to visit the country if you are looking for a perfect summer holiday getaway. Even if you visit the country in January or February, you still enjoy warm weather.
Aside from numerous different picturesque spots and stunning beaches, Filipino hospitality is another reason to pay a visit to this Asian country. It is not a secret that the Philippines is one of the friendliest Asian countries, and its genuinely loving and caring people will make your stay even more precious. Filipinos are also very proud of their culture and country. The locals are also willing to help you find the best spots in the local areas. Communicating with them is not a problem since most Filipinos speak and understand English.
You also should not be surprised if locals invite you to their homes to cook some homemade meals for you. The hospitality and warmth of the local people are another reason why the Philippines is one of Asia's most favored tourist destinations. Of course, there are some factors, and one of these is affordability. If you are looking for a budget-friendly tourist destination, the Philippines is one of the options. Aside from affordable accommodation, there are lots of different affordable guided tours. In addition, you can enjoy the nightlife and dine at fancy restaurants without breaking your bank.
We have already mentioned that the Philippines is home to some of the most stunning beaches in the world. However, many foreigners visit the country to explore its natural wonders as well. Those looking forward to such experiences usually visit the Puerto Princesa River National Park and the Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park. The Rice Terraces, Tinuy-an Falls, and Biri Island Rock Formations are other natural wonders worth visiting.
Foreigners visiting the country also get to enjoy some of the loudest and widest fiestas that Filipinos are known for. Throughout the entire year, different cultural, historical, and religious festivals are held, with the most famous being the Ati-Atihan Festival which is held every year in January. Add to this delicious local cuisine some of the most incredible snorkeling and diving spots, spectacular hiking adventures, and fun nightlife. You have the significant factors that make the Philippines one of the most favored tourist destinations in the world.