InterAksyon.com
The online news portal of TV5
MANILA, Philippines - The Ariara Island in Calamian, Palawan has been named as the number one pick in the 100 holiday destinations in an international fashion magazine.
The island will be featured in the Vogue-UK Magazine August 2012 issue.
Prior to Vogue’s recognition, the island was likewise featured in various magazines in the United Kingdom such as Angels and Urchins, Harrods Magazine, Harper’s Bazaar, The Spectator, Wine and Dine, Urbanollogy, and Tatler.
The annual travel issue of Times Magazine also hailed it as the "Best Private Island Resort” and described as "a Philippine island of such prettiness that you almost expect Johnny Depp to pop out with a parrot on his shoulder" and “beyond a forest of coconut palms, ridiculously blue water stretches out to a techno-colored reef, where pink, fluffy, Barbra Cartland-esque corals and rainbow-hued creatures waft in the tropical current.”
In Independent's “Life's a Tag: 2012's Most Surprising Holiday Destinations”, Ariara was listed as one of the best islands to visit this year.
Black Tomato, on the other hand, hailed the island resort as “the” place to visit in 2012 in the Evening Standard.
Tourism Secretary Ramon Jimenez Jr. said what is remarkable about the resort is the testament to the unique artistry and skills of Filipino designers and artisans.
“The use of local materials and traditional techniques serves as good advertising for Filipino craftsmanship and world-class products. Tourism is not just about counting tourist arrivals. More importantly, it is about building opportunities on the ground and improving lives, in communities in very real places,” he said.
“The resort’s properly planned development and low density shows the owners’ respect for the environment. We want to see more of this type of investment which supports the principles of responsible, ethical, and sustainable tourism," he added.
According to the resort’s website, there are eight spacious villas and beach cottages situated along Ariara’s 600-meter white sand beach with uninterrupted views of the sea and neighboring islands. All bedrooms have private terraces and gardens, scattered with hanging chairs and hammocks. Many have vaulted ceilings, four poster style beds, walk-in wardrobes, enormous bathrooms, and open-air showers.
The UK remains to be a key generator of tourist arrivals to the Philippines after the market grew stronger last year and registered 104,466 year-end tourist arrivals.
DoT statistics showed that from January to May 2012 the country yielded 50,327 tourist arrivals.
The Tourism department is optimistic that the country's market performance would be better with heightened awareness and current promotional efforts in UK via London taxicabs, double-decker buses, and posters in strategic places at the underground rail stations in time for the Queen’s Jubilee and the 2012 Olympics.
OTHER WORLD STORIES
Comelec should not get intel funds, says ex-chief Monsod, as Brillantes assails Lagman's motive
After blaming corrupted CF cards, Brillantes now faults telcos for delayed COC transmissions
