Boracay: Filipino Hospitality at Its Best
Posted 10 August 2007
The Filipino hospitality gives Boracay a unique flavor among the world's best vacation spots.
Boracay is no doubt one of the top tourist destinations in the Philippines. However, it is still relatively unknown in countries other than South Korea, China and Japan in Asia, the U.S. and Canada in North America, Germany, the U.K., Spain, France and Italy in Europe and Australia, down under.
Earlier this year, Koreans broke the record set by the Americans in 2006 as the Philippines top tourist arrivals. Koreans are going to the Philippines both as tourists and as investors. The Philippine Department of Tourism has released figures showing Koreans leading with 572,133 arrivals, followed closely by the Americans with 567,355, and the Japanese next with 421,808. Roughly, a third of the total tourist arrivals went to Boracay Island.
What exactly attracts these visitors to the Philippines, or to Boracay? Koreans are mostly attracted to the country's beaches, golf courses, cheaper education and other business opportunities. Undoubtedly, Boracay stands out as the ideal place for a relaxing and enjoyable vacation.
Boracay's beaches rival those found in the U.S. and Australia. In May, 2007, two noted American newspapers, the New York Newsday and the Chicago Tribune reported that users of Yahoo! Travel rated only three other countries outside of the U.S. in the Ten Top Beaches in the world: Cancun, Mexico (3rd place), Boracay Island, Philippines (7th) and Sydney, Australia (9th).
Perhaps the beaches in the U.S. are more accessible to travelers. However, Boracay Island stands out from the rest. Visitors like the treatment they receive in the Philippines because Filipinos are very hospitable.
When you go to Boracay, you do not just go there for the beaches. You go to Boracay because of the wonderful holiday atmosphere. You go there because Filipinos treat you as someone special and not just as a tourist out for a good time.
The Filipino hospitality is a unique trait among Filipinos. There is this unusual desire to please the guest, which may or not be a desirable trait. Visitors like this Filipino custom because everyone enjoys the special treatment. Filipinos know this, but foreigners who have never associated with Filipinos before are unaware of this Filipino characteristic.
To a Filipino, there is no such thing as an uninvited guest at a Filipino home, no matter how humble it is. If someone turns up unexpectedly at a Filipino home during meal times, whatever food is on the table is shared with the visitor, even if it means not having enough for the rest of the family.
In addition to the many exciting things to see and do in Boracay, the Filipino hospitality is the one exceptional advantage that Boracay has over the rest of world.
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