|
RP an
important source of tourism -- Xiamen
MANILA, June 30 (PNA ) -- The Philippines is
an important source country and destination
for overseas tourism of Xiamen.
This was disclosed by Yan Qi, deputy director
of Xiamen tourism board, who was here in
Manila recently for the promotion of Xiamen as
a tourist destination.
"Since the opening of the airline from Xiamen
to Manila in 2000, great achievement has been
made in air passenger transport and tourism
cooperation between the Philippines and Xiamen,"
Yan said.
Data show that for the first five months of
the year, Philippine tourists to Xiamen
reached 10,659 while in 2004, it totaled
19,369.
"The number of residents in or around Xiamen
to the Philippines also increased," she said.
Meanwhile, Edu Jargue, on behalf of Tourism
Secretary Joseph Ace Durano, welcomed the
delegation, saying "The Philippines welcomes
you and may your stay be frutiful."
"We have just attended a meeting in Beijing
and it was a robust welcome for us. We are
very grateful that DOT's affiliation with some
stakeholders for promotions in China has been
an effective marketing strategy," Jargue said.
Xiamen, now a bustling city of 2.2 million
Chinese is one of the five Special Economic
Zone in China.
Foreign exchange receipt of tourism has topped
the first 10 for 13 years continuously. Last
year, the number of tourists to Xiamen was
16,165 million in which 765,800 were from
abroad, generating revenues of 21,067 billion
yuan.
Today, visitors would marvel at the high-rise
buildings and modern infrastructure. The river
has been made into a clean lagoon, surrounded
with concrete promenade, dotted with trees and
parks.
Some of the tourist spots are Gulang Island
which features an all-year round pleasant
climate and exotic plants and flowers; Turtle
Garden; Nanputuo Temple, one of the sacred
places of Buddhism in Southern Fujian; Huli
Hill Fortress where one cannon can be found
and regarded as the "King of the Ancient
Cannons in the World," and the Botanical
Garden.
Establishments like restaurants and business
centers thrive in the city. There are 2,000
stalls of international standard in Xiamen.
Xiamen food combine the flavors of foods in
Taiwan, Chaozhou and Shantou due to historical
and geographical reasons.
It consists mainly of sea food, vegetarian
dishes, medicated dishes, and local snacks.
Communications is very convenient as Smart
Communications, Inc and Globe Teelcom have
tied up with China Telecom.
It has 83 travel agencies, including 12
international travel agencies and seven
agencies for exit travel; and 85 airlines,
including 18 international airlines.
There are a total of 95 hotels with 10,700
rooms of which two are five-stars, nine are
four-stars and 24 are three-stars. (PNA) |
