Good news and bad news on tourism

DEMAND AND SUPPLY
By Boo Chanco
(The Philippine Star)
Updated April 18, 2011 12:00 AM

Mabuhay

One of the incentives to take at least one regional flight on Philippine Airlines monthly is the chance to read and maybe take home a copy of Mabuhay, its excellent in-flight magazine. Edited by Jun Ventura, it had been perhaps the best promoter of Philippine tourism through the years. Its excellent photography and articles always make a Pinoy reader proud of his country. And for foreigners, it gives many compelling reasons to visit.

The April issue I had the chance to read on my flight last Wednesday is particularly interesting. Jun’s special feature on Davao provides a lot of information the typical Metro Manilan probably didn’t know about the wonders of this major metropolis in the south. Also laudable are the stories on Antique and CamSur. One wonders why the tourism sections of the major broadsheets don’t have features as colorful and compelling as Mr. Ventura’s Mabuhay.

Maybe the Department of Tourism and PAL can work together to give more exposure to this magazine as part of a good tourism promotions program. PAL should consider making the magazine available in the bookstores and hotel lobby shops. That could help increase traffic to our tourist sites and I guess, PAL ticket sales. Mabuhay could also be a very effective selling tool for our tourism attaches abroad.

My congratulations to Jun V for this great work.