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Greece to stagger Acropolis visitors from September: officials
Greece from September will stagger and cap visitors to the Acropolis, its most-visited site, to reduce massive queues and bottlenecks at peak hours, the culture ministry said Wednesday. The new time-slot system would be introduced on a "trial basis" on September 4, it said in a statement. Daily visits at the monument will also be capped at 20,000, and visitors will be assigned to hourly times-lots during the 12 hours that the Acropolis is open each day, it said. The move is designed to protect the 2,500-year-old monument and "improve the experience for visitors," the ministry said, noting that up to 23,000 people turned up at the Acropolis in recent weeks. A similar system at other Greek archaeological sites will be introduced from April 1, Culture Minister Lina Mendoni told Real FM radio. According to the Greek state statistics agency Elstat, over three million people visited the Acropolis last year, up from 1.2 million in 2021 during the Covid-19 pandemic. Authorities in July repeatedly limited visiting hours at the Acropolis, as the country sweltered under a two-week heatwave. Greece is counting on tourism to boost its economy after its near-decade debt crisis. Officials hope to exceed the 31.3 million arrivals recorded in 2019, a record year for the country. Tourist numbers visiting Greece are ticking up to levels rivalling pre-pandemic times as the world witnesses a resurgence in demand for leisure travel. The post Greece to stagger Acropolis visitors from September: officials appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Dengue health reminders
The dengue virus, also known as DENV, is a viral infection transmitted to humans through the bite of infected mosquitoes. Due to the frequent rainy seasons, the virus is commonly present in tropical and subtropical countries like ours. To protect our communities from dengue, Watsons wants to raise the alarm on the severity of this infection and educate the public on the preventive measures against it. The Philippines has an average of 185,008 cases of dengue over a five-year period of 2012 to 2016, and an average death count of 732. As of 25 April, a total of 39,947 dengue cases were recorded in 2023. Compared to the same period in 2022, this number is 43-percent higher. Children between ages five and nine years old made up almost half of the fatalities in the 2019 Philippine dengue virus outbreak. Although there is no cure for dengue, the disease can be managed early and there are many ways to prevent getting infected by it. Watsons recommends using products that will keep you and your family safe from mosquito bites. Since the virus originates from the bite of a dengue-carrying mosquito, it is also advisable to take preventive measures to keep mosquitoes away from your home. To keep you protected against dengue, here are some easy tips from Watsons that you can follow: Remove standing water around your house where mosquitoes could lay eggs. Cover and change the water in any storage containers. Make sure to repair any cracks or gaps in pipes or septic tanks. Use an insect spray made to kill mosquitoes in areas where they rest. Mosquitoes rest in dark, humid areas like under patio furniture, carports or garages. Prevent mosquitoes from entering your home by installing or repairing window and door screens. Do not leave doors propped open. The first line of defense against the dengue virus is boosting our immune system. Multivitamins such as Watsons Vitamin C + Zinc can help strengthen body’s defense and heal wounds faster by protecting and keeping cells healthy, and also maintaining healthy skin, blood vessels and bones and cartilage. Zinc also helps grow cells, build proteins and heal damaged tissues. To also protect yourself from other potential disease-carrying insects, insect repellent lotions and patches provide a safe and skin-friendly repellant that you can have on your person. These work great for traveling or when you’re outside frequently. Putting small drops of citronella essential oil around your home is a stylish and a more organic way to keep your home safe from disease-carrying insects. It’s also safe to apply on your skin. After being exposed to harsh weather changes or when we work ourselves beyond what our body can handle, getting sick can’t be avoided. If you start getting headaches or body pains, or you’re starting to feel a fever setting in, Watsons Paracetamol is always available. The rainy season brings various illnesses so make sure you stock up on Watsons Ambroxol and some lozenges as well to combat colds and coughs. Ambroxol clears congestion in respiratory diseases because it thins down and breaks up phlegm. Meanwhile, lozenges relieve sore throat, throat irritation and also help with cough relief. The post Dengue health reminders appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Angara says Frasco deserves a chance after ‘Love the Philippines’ fiasco
Senators have differing opinions on the controversies surrounding the newly launched “Love the Philippines’ campaign by the Department of Tourism. Senator Sonny Angara said the recent video mess “should not diminish” the accomplishments made by Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco in promoting the country to the world. Angara also commended Frasco for swiftly terminating the DoT's contract with advertising agency, DDB Philippines, for more promotional videos. "Clearly there were issues with what was presented by the advertising agency, but what is important is that Sec. Frasco acted immediately to address the issue and ensured that no public funds were wasted for this purpose," he said. Angara added that Frasco should be given a chance to redeem herself, citing the latter’s efforts to revive the country’s tourism industry hit hard by the Covid-19 pandemic. "What the DOT has done over the past two years following the pandemic has been remarkable and with Sec. Frasco leading the charge in declaring the Philippines open for tourists, I am confident that Philippine tourism will be able to reach new heights and the world will see the many reasons to Love the Philippines,” he said. According to Angara, the DoT recorded over 2 million international visitor arrivals in the country from January to the middle of May this year,—which already breached the department’s 1.7 million visitor target for the year. For the period of January to April, the DOT recorded P168.2 billion in inbound visitor receipts, which represents a 782 percent increase from the P19.1 billion in tourism revenues generated over the same period last year. Under the leadership of Sec. Frasco, Angara noted that the Philippines has received six nominations in the World Travel Awards Asia namely: Asia's Leading Island Destination; Asia's Leading Beach Destination; Asia's Leading Dive Destination; Intramuros as Asia's Leading Tourist Attraction; Cebu as Asia's Leading Wedding Destination; and the DoT as Asia's Leading Tourist Board. Angara also cited the move of the DoT to develop the Philippines as a health and wellness tourism hub—an idea that he has been pushing for some time already. The Philippines was also recently elected as vice president of the 25th General Assembly of the United Nations World Tourism Organization and chairman of the Commission for East Asia and the Pacific. Meanwhile, Senator Jinggoy Estrada lauded the DoT’s move against the advertising agency saying that its prompt response and responsible handling of the situation deserves recognition. “Mistakes happen but it is how we respond and rectify them that truly matters…The DOT exemplified accountability and commitment to learning from this incident,” he said. Estrada believes that the DoT’s acknowledgment of the gaffe and taking immediate steps to rectify the situation “demonstrated” the government’s dedication to maintaining the integrity of our tourism industry. “Understandably, any campaign of this magnitude may face criticisms and differing opinions. Yet, how Sec. Frasco's handling of the issues confronting the DoT is both admirable and necessary,” said Estrada. “It is through proactive measures that we can continue to promote the Philippines as a premier tourist destination while ensuring accuracy and responsible marketing practices," he added. The post Angara says Frasco deserves a chance after ‘Love the Philippines’ fiasco appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Prices trend down after BSP moves
Inflation has trended down for the fourth straight month in May as the economy showed signs of resilience in the face of aggressive interest rate hikes by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas. Inflation in May registered a year-on-year decline to 6.1 percent from 6.6 percent in April due to easing transport and food costs, Philippine Statistics Authority reported on Tuesday. The May 2023 inflation outturn, within the lowest year-on-year inflation rate since July 2022, is within the BSP’s forecast range of 5.8 percent to 6.6 percent and matched the 6.1 percent median estimate in a Daily Tribune poll conducted last week. Last month’s inflation also brings the year-to-date average inflation to 7.5 percent, which is still above the government’s two percent to four percent target band. The stock index closed at 6,479.93 down 41.71 points or 0.64 percent yesterday. “It was a sell on news session in the local market with inflation coming in line, right within market expectations. With little impetus locally, movements were mainly influenced regionally by the news that regulators are contemplating increasing capital requirements for large banks,” Regina Capital Development Corp. managing director Luis Limlingan said. PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis Mapa said in a briefing the steady slowdown in inflation can be attributed to slower food and transportation inflation. Among the 13 commodity groups, Mapa noted a decrease in the transportation index by 0.5 percent compared to the previous month’s annual increase of 2.6 percent. The heavily-weighted food and non-alcoholic beverages also dragged the overall inflation down, with a lower inflation rate of 7.4 percent from 7.9 percent in April 2023. The third source of deceleration was restaurants and accommodation services, which registered slower inflation at 8.3 percent from 8.6 percent in the previous month. Meanwhile, the annual rate of alcoholic beverages and tobacco index also slowed down to 12.3 percent. Meat inflation moderated as the inflation rate for chicken decreased from 7.7 percent to 5.9 percent, and the inflation rate for beef decreased from 6.1 percent to 5.3 percent. Pork also continued to experience contraction to -1.0 percent from -0.3 percent due to increased import arrivals accompanied by the timely unloading of frozen pork stocks. Meanwhile, the inflation rate for furnishings, household equipment, and regular household maintenance went up from 6.1 percent in April 2023 to 6.2 percent in May 2023. The recreation, sport, and culture inflation rate also increased from 4.7 percent in April 2023 to 4.9 percent in May 2023. Mapa said the latest data indicates a declining inflation rate in the Philippines, with notable contributions from certain factors, such as transportation costs. “The expectations reveal a declining inflation rate based on the data. Some items that significantly contributed to the previous inflation rate are now decreasing, indicating a reversal in their trend, particularly in the transport sector,” Mapa said. “While the overall trend of the inflation rate is declining, seasonal adjustments, like the seasonally adjusted CPI, have also turned positive this month. However, there are still risks, especially concerning certain food items,” he added. No directive yet During the Malacañang press briefing, Trade Secretary Alfredo Pascual said the Inter-agency Committee on Inflation and Market Outlook convened an emergency meeting last Monday to reopen the discussions about the current state of inflation. When asked about any specific orders from President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. regarding the matter, Pascual responded that there were no explicit directives apart from continuing to monitor the situation. “We convened on 7 March when inflation was peaking, but since it has been declining, there were no specific orders apart from continuing to monitor the situation and thinking of ways to reduce inflation. That is our mandate,” Pascual said. When further asked about the measures that the Inter-Agency Task Force implemented to reduce inflation, Pascual said they had been closely examining supply chain constraints as a significant factor. “The solution lies in removing the bottlenecks. We need to ensure that the logistics are available to deliver the harvest to where the demand is,” Pascual said. Meanwhile, National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Secretary Arsenio Balisacan expressed his confidence that the government can achieve its inflation target this year as NEDA is working closely with concerned government agencies in monitoring the primary drivers of inflation. Finance Secretary Benjamin Diokno, for his part, told the reporters in a Viber message that the new inflation number and the declining trend “give confidence” that inflation would be within the target range of 2.0 to 4.0 percent by September this year. BSP to pause rate hikes House Ways and Means panel chairman Joey Salceda, meanwhile, expected the BSP to pause with raising interest rates in the face of the country’s persistent development in curbing inflation that hurt Filipinos’ pockets last year and earlier this year. “Inflation continues its downward momentum year-on-year and is in line with the BSP’s expectations. So, I expect Governor Medalla and his predecessor to pause the BSP’s interest rate hike regime barring any major changes in rates by the US Federal Reserve,” the economist-lawmaker said, noting that the May inflation data is in line with the central bank’s expectations. However, for ordinary households, he believes that the slowdown of price levels is “rather theoretical” as price levels have remained unchanged on the aggregate on a month-on-month basis. The veteran solon added that the government should keep an eye on the consumers’ continued curtailing spending while stressing the need to sustain efforts to improve food supply, lower logistics costs, and keep the prices of basic services under control. “Core inflation is also still at an elevated 7.7 percent, indicating that food-poor families remain vulnerable to high prices,” according to Salceda. Meanwhile, ING Bank Manila senior economist Nicholas Antonio Mapa expressed concern over second-round effects. However, Mapa expects the headline rate to give BSP more room for the rate hike pause. “Slowing inflation could give BSP space to extend their pause although fresh developments such as a potential Fed rate hike could impact the forward guidance for an extended pause,” he said in a Viber message. The post Prices trend down after BSP moves appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Inflation slows down to 6.1% in May
The country's inflation rate continued to slow down for the fourth straight month in May as the Philippine economy showed signs of resilience in the face of aggressive interest rate hikes by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas. Inflation in May registered a year-on-year decline to 6.1 percent, slower than the 6.6 percent rate observed in April due to easing transport and food costs, Philippine Statistics Authority reported on Tuesday. This is the lowest year-on-year inflation rate since July 2022. This brings the year-to-date average inflation to 7.5 percent, which is still above the government's 2 to 4 percent target band. In a press briefing, PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis Mapa attributed the steady slowdown in inflation to slower food and transportation inflation. Meat inflation moderated as the inflation rate for chicken decreased from 7.7 percent to 5.9 percent and the inflation rate for beef decreased from 6.1 percent to 5.3 percent. Meanwhile, pork continued to experience deflation due to an increase in import arrivals accompanied by the timely unloading of frozen pork stocks. The post Inflation slows down to 6.1% in May appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
DOT secretary: 1.7M int’l arrivals sign of recovering tourism industry
LAPU-LAPU CITY, Philippines — The tourism industry is expected to recover this year after the Department of Tourism (DOT) recorded 1.7 million international arrivals in the country from January to April this year. This was revealed by DOT Secretary Maria Christina Frasco during her speech at the Kadaugan sa Mactan on Thursday, April 27, 2023. […] The post DOT secretary: 1.7M int’l arrivals sign of recovering tourism industry appeared first on Cebu Daily News......»»
Fresh faces, new pairings and real-life stories in Love Bites Season 2
Fresh, exciting and fun. That’s how the stars and the entire RCD Narratives team describe the second season of Love Bites, which starts streaming on April 28 via ABS-CBN Entertainment YouTube Channel......»»
Sri Lankan Embassy eyes waiving visa for Pinoy tourists
In order to attract more tourists, the Sri Lankan Embassy said it will make arrangements to waive visa fees for tourists wanting to visit Sri Lanka but the Embassy is urging the Philippine government to do the same. This, after a group of travel agents visited Sri Lanka last 29 March to 7 April. The trip, dubbed as Fam Tour, was organized by the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotions Board. It was intended to personally know what the Board can offer to Filipinos who would like to visit the Southern Asian island nation. The group, consisting of representatives from various travel agencies accredited by the Department of Tourism and Philippine Travel Agencies Association, said the cost of going to Sri Lanka is quite costly, with the $50 visa application added to the cost of tour packages they are offering clients. The tour package going to Sri Lanka via Kuala Lumpur reaches P60,000 for four one-week tours to Sri Lanka and Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, which is more pricey compared to going to other nations in Southeast Asia such as Singapore, and Thailand, among others. No direct flights from Manila “Cost is not a problem when you have already reached Sri Lanka because everything there is cheap, from food to accommodation. But going there is expensive, as Sri Lanka has no direct flights from Manila. You have to fly from Manila to Kuala Lumpur to Colombo, which is only once a week. That is why we are asking the Embassy to make arrangements in waiving the visa cost which is around P3,500,” according to Abigail Sofia Sze of Goldlink Travel and Tours. Sri Lankan Second Secretary/Head of Chancery P.G.P. Kaushalya said they will make arrangements to lessen or totally waive the visa fee, especially for group visas they are offering for a minimum of 30 pax per group. “But we hope that the Philippine government could also waive the visa fees for our citizens coming here to the Philippines. We would want to showcase Sri Lanka’s tourism which is why we would want to make arrangements to make going to Sri Lanka easy and cost-effective,” Kaushalya said during her meeting with the team on Friday, 21 April at the Sri Lankan Embassy in Makati. Furthermore, Kaushalya said they are also keen to have talks with airline companies here to have direct flights from Manila to Colombo and vice versa. She said they intend to work double-time to promote their country to tourists as demand for Filipinos is currently low. Foreign arrivals Embassy records say foreign arrivals in Sri Lanka stood at 335,679 from January to March 2023. Efforts to redeem revenues lost, Kaushalya said the Sri Lankan government is making full efforts to redeem revenues lost during the pre-Covid 19 pandemic. “The health situation there is now normal and masks are no longer mandatory. What we can offer is our food, boundless nature including our more than 200 waterfalls, and the superb hospitality of our people, just like what the Philippines is offering,” she said. According to the International Trade Administration of the United States, tourism has traditionally been the third largest foreign exchange earner and an important income generator for Sri Lanka. The post Sri Lankan Embassy eyes waiving visa for Pinoy tourists appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
South Koreans reclaim spot as Phl’s top tourists
The Department of Tourism (DOT) announced on Thursday, 13 April, that South Koreans are now the country's number one tourists, overtaking the Americans. "Last year, they were at number two because it is the United States that (provided) our number one top source market. But this year, the Koreans have reclaimed the number one spot," Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia-Frasco said during a welcome reception at the Mactan-Cebu International Airport for 1,400 South Korean delegates from Unicity Korea. For the first two months of 2023, a total of 254,563 South Koreans had arrived in the country as compared to only 179,195 American visitors, based on the latest DOT data. The Korean figure represents a 27.37 percent share of the country's tourist arrivals recorded in the same period. To further entice Korean tourists, the DOT's office in Seoul has carried out marketing initiatives to promote the Philippines, particularly Bohol and Cebu, as an ideal destination for meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions (MICE). The DOT is confident that MICE travelers will be able to fully appreciate the beauty of the country's top destinations. This year, the DOT is aiming to attract at least 4.8 million foreign tourists, in a bid to double the 2.6 million visitors posted last year. The post South Koreans reclaim spot as Phl’s top tourists appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Foreign arrivals plunge to 9-month low in April
Inbound arrivals in April fell to a nine-month low of 6,036 as Metro Manila’s revert to a strict lockdown drastically reduced the number of visitors entering the country......»»
PAL canceling flights Mar. 18 to April 19
Philippine Airlines on Tuesday announced it is set to cancel some flights in line with the government's new guidelines limiting inbound arrivals at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport......»»
Philippines limits passenger arrivals from abroad to NAIA
The cap set at 1,500 passengers a day will be in effect from March 18 to April 18......»»
Global tourism losses hit $195 billion in 4 months
The international tourism industry has lost around $195 billion in receipts from January to April this year as tourist arrivals plunged due to the coronavirus disease 2019 or COVID-19 pandemic, the United Nations World Tourism Organization reported......»»
DMW sets April 15 deadline for kin of deceased Saudi OFW wage claimants
DMW sets April 15 deadline for kin of deceased Saudi OFW wage claimants.....»»
Unlock business success at Franchise Asia Philippines Expo
The Franchise Asia Philippines Expo 2024 is set to hold a series of dynamic seminars designed to empower entrepreneurs, investors and business enthusiasts with the knowledge and tools needed to thrive in the ever-evolving world of franchising. Slated from April 12 to 14 at the SMX Convention Center Manila, these seminars offer invaluable insights into key aspects of franchising and business growth......»»
Aboitiz Equity Ventures Inc. to hold Annual Stockholders Meeting
Notice is hereby given that the Annual Meeting of Stockholders of ABOITIZ EQUITY VENTURES INC. (the "Company") will be held on April 22, 2024, Monday at 11:00 a.m. (the "2024 ASM”)......»»
Aboitiz Power Corporation to hold Annual Stockholders Meeting
Notice is hereby given that the Annual Meeting of the Stockholders of ABOITIZ POWER CORPORATION (the "Company") will be held on April 22, 2024, Monday at 9:30 a.m. (the "2024 ASM")......»»
‘Our Dream’: K-pop boy band BtoB to hold fan-con in April
The K-pop boy band BtoB, also known as Born to Beat, is poised to come back to Manila on April 7 at the SM Mall of Asia for a fan-con labeled as “2024 BTOB Fan-Con Our Dream.”.....»»
Malixi all geared up for Augusta Amateur debut
Rianne Malixi is channeling her excitement into thorough preparation ahead of her highly anticipated debut in the prestigious Augusta National Women’s Amateur unfolding April 3 in Augusta, Georgia......»»
Aboitiz Power Corporation: Notice of Annual Meeting of Stockholders
Notice is hereby given that the Annual Meeting of the Stockholders of ABOITIZ POWER CORPORATION (the "Company") will be held on April 22, 2024, Monday at 9:30 a.m. (the "2024 ASM")......»»