Category: Asia

As a blend of Chinese, Spanish, and American influences, Manila boasts 14.88 square miles filled with unexpected adventures. In this article, we prepared 5 things that you can actually do to maximize your visit to the Pearl of the Orient.

1. Ride a bus, and talk to the “konduktor”

Why not?: Riding the popular Sarao jeepneys may be part of your to-do list but public utility buses in the country are quite different. The driver has an assistant called the “konduktor” that roams inside and collects the fares from the passengers. Their job may be tiring but they’re energetic enough to tell you the stories of Manila, based on the road’s view.

When?: Anytime except for office rush hour which is usually 7 to 8 am and after 5 pm.

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2. Attend a street feast, knock on a random house, and join the family for (free) lunch!

Why not?: A fiesta is a great setting to witness Filipino hospitality. If there’s a feast, every household, whether small or huge, prepares food that is beyond the capacity of their appetite. This is because everyone is expecting guests coming to their houses. After all, solidarity reigns if there’s a feast to celebrate.

When?: It’s better to consult the local barangay (administrative region) officials first because they usually organize the activities for the feast. They can even offer you assistance and tips.

Read more: 2019/2020 Weekend Ideas

3. Carinderia is the “restaurant” to go!

Why not?: A Carinderia is a localized version of the whole fast-food concept. They are usually located along a busy narrow street. You get to try Filipino dishes and desserts on the cheap. Popular Filipino and/or World-Class buffets may sound fancy but a closer interaction with the locals is far more authentic and memorable.

When?: Whenever your stomach begins to growl. A Carinderia a kind of place that usually keeps extra seats and tables. If the establishment near your hotel does not have one, sharing a table with locals is not a bad idea at all!

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4. Tour the universities!

Why not?: Manila is not only famous for job opportunities but also for a good education. There is even an unofficial district called the “University-Belt” or U-belt for short. You just need your ID and proper intention to get in. Visit their museums, talk to the students, and check out the special collections in the libraries. These are the activities you don’t usually get from city tour packages!

When?: It’s advisable to check the website of the universities you’re planning to visit. They tend to post events that are open to the public.

5. Visit the palengke and get Filipino recipes from the locals!

Why not?: The wet markets in the Philippines provide you lower prices of goods compared to supermarkets and an awesome unique experience. Whether you’re motivated to cook in your hotel room or just want to experience the hustle and bustle, checking out the raw ingredients for sale at your the nearest wet market will surely be a memorable experience. If you’re not sure what to buy, but want to buy something cool, you can actually ask the sellers for recipes of Filipino dishes.

When?: Hours before your scheduled time to eat. Remember, you still have to look for the best offers and ingredients in the palengke.

Have other fun and unique things to do in Manila?  Let us know in the comments below.

As in my previous article, I wrote about a beautiful destination ideal for camping, sightseeing, photography, and videography. This article was on Devil’s garden in Utah. The whole idea of this post came from a video filmed by a Bollywood movie.

A few days back I was having conversation cum debate with a so-called “Indian Nationalist” on Youtube. According to him India or Bollywood should not promote International destinations and should promote only the national destinations. Well, this friend of mine has kind of forgot that we are living in the world of globalization where one’s thinking process should be global, not local. The Internet has removed all the boundaries and barriers between countries. What if Hollywood starts producing movies within the boundary of LA or America? Then half of the world would miss the opportunity of watching great destinations. What if Bollywood’s greatest hit DDLJ was shot within the boundary of India? then, no one among the population of 1.2 billion would ever come to know about the beauty of Switzerland nor movie would have been such a hit. Its just B2B business.

Well, allow me to share some facts based on Bollywood’s Impact on Tourism Destinations (a report based on my primary and secondary research).

Countries around the globe offer various type of incentives to encourage film producers to use beautiful locations to shoot films. They generally provide benefits such as easy processing of visas, discounts in accommodation and travel, location tariffs to facilitate road or shooting permits, assistance in identifying locations, etc. In turn, such benefits generate revenue for the local communities in the form of employment opportunities and boost to tourism.

The Ministries of Information & Broadcasting and Tourism have now signed an MoU to provide incentives to the film industry. According to the MoU, the Ministry of Tourism will provide budgetary support for identified film festivals and offer single window clearance for permission for shooting film. Promoting India as a great films destination will garner it much positive attention from producers worldwide.

Globally, travel and tourism have emerged as one of the fastest-growing industry that demonstrates continued expansion and diversification. The industry is perceived as a key driver of socio-economic progress, providing large-scale employment, promoting infrastructure development and serving as a key source of foreign exchange earnings.

In 2011, India’s travel and tourism industry contributed US$1.7 trillion (or 2.8% of the global GDP), which is expected to rise to 4.2% (US$2.9 trillion) by 2021. Furthermore, investments in the global travel and tourism industry are expected to grow at a CAGR of 5.4% to reach US$1.5 trillion by 2021 from US$0.6 trillion in 2010.

Emerging economies have left a great Impact on Tourism Destinations, including China, India, and Brazil are expected to outpace the travel and tourism growth in developed markets, driven by rising disposable incomes and improving infrastructure.

The share of emerging markets in foreign tourist arrivals has increased from 31% in 1990 to 47% in 2010. India has not been an exception in this strong growth story, with foreign tourist arrivals growing at a CAGR of 7.7% between 2000 and 2010 to reach 5.5 million in 2010. In 2010, the domestic travel and tourism industry contributed US$42 billion (3.1%) to the country’s GDP and was positioned as one of the largest employers in India, employing 18.6 million people in 2010. The sector has evolved over the years and has witnessed the convergence of traditional stakeholders such as hotels and travel agencies and new stakeholders including online tour operators.

Read more: Tourist Places Near Bangalore Within 50 Kilometres

Traditionally, India’s travel and tourism industry have been largely unorganized and fragmented. However, in the last few years, it has witnessed a rise in M&A activity, which has resulted in some consolidation. Not only has this attracted more visitors to India, but has also increased the output of its own globe trotters. This is also evident from the fact that MakeMyTrip had one of the most successful IPOs on NASDAQ in recent history and global majors such as Expedia have set up a shop in India. M&A activities have picked up pace in the country in the last few years, although the ease of doing business continues to be a challenge. The complexity of indirect taxation is one of the factors adversely affecting industry growth. Currently, there are multiple indirect taxes levied on the travel and tourism industry in India. This has resulted in cumbersome compliance procedures and increased the cost of operations in the industry as a whole.

In the last decade, new technologies have improved the way in people from around the world communicate. The travel and tourism industry has also benefitted from this and there have been some major changes in the way it currently functions.

Read more: Famous Temples in Bangalore to Visit

Over a period of time, there has been a sharp increase in the number of avid travelers. Most middle-class families, including the young and the old, are increasingly opting for unexplored and diverse travel destinations. With the heightened impact of urbanization and a rise in disposable incomes, traveling families have become more decisive, well-informed and open to experimenting with innovative holiday packages, which has led to a rise in leisure travel in the country. The number of outbound visits by Indian nationals increased by 13% to 12.5 million in 2010 and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 12% by 2015. Tour operators have begun offering special packages for different age groups since this growth in outbound visits is witnessed across all ages.

If you’re reading this you have probably heard about the amazing and affordable beach life that Thailand has to offer. Pale sand is so fine that it almost feels like golden dust. Gorgeous sunsets, cheap food, and drinks. The good life.

However, you may have also heard about how the beaches are trashed. Some of that is true. Many of the beaches are a great way for the locals to cash in on the tourist craze. Just notice the lack of locals swimming around you. And this is part of the problem. The infrastructure to handle large amounts of trash is not there. In Tonsai, much of the trash just gets dumped into the surrounding jungle and inevitably ends up on the beaches.

Read more: Best Thai Destinations to Visit Alone

Copious Use of Plastic. Everywhere.

Another part of the problem is the amount of plastic that gets used. Every time you order an item you get at least 2 plastic bags. One bag that contains your food. One bag that contains your bag of food. Bags are given for disposable drink cups. Bags are given for Styrofoam food containers. So the lack of infrastructure mixed with all this plastic creates the perfect storm.

Read more: Lithuania’s Finest Beach – Palanga Beach

Careless Tourists Add to the Problem

The problem is made worse by careless tourists. Many people come to Thailand to relax and unwind from their busy and hectic lives. And they should, it’s an awesome place! So they live in the moment. Not caring about dates, schedules, timetables, plans. This “living in the moment” also breeds carelessness. Too many tourists will leave their empty plastic bags/trash where they last sat on the beach. Assuming someone will pick it up. They won’t. Others will just carelessly toss trash on a trail or the street. Then fellow tourists will follow suit thinking it’s a trash pile; which it is but no one picks it up.

Is It Worth Visiting Thai Beaches Given the Trash?

YES! Absolutely. Definitely. Thailand’s beaches are popular for a reason. Gorgeous. Warm. Inexpensive. There is plenty of beauty to see. Cool people to meet. And epic beaches to chill out on. You will have the time of your life.

Read more: July Destinations that Won’t Break the Bank

4 Simple Steps YOU Can Take to Help the Problem

There’s plenty you can do to help…

1. Minimize the trash you create.  If you have the means, bring a plastic container (a nice one with clasps) with you.  Use it to for all your take out food.  This way you will avoid Styrofoam and plastic. If you don’t have a reusable container, ask if you can borrow one for a deposit, and bring it back.
2. Dine in the restaurant and avoid takeaway. Do this as much as possible. Almost all places that give you the option of taking away have a place to sit. It’s perfect because you’re on vacation. So sit down and relax. You will not create any trash because the restaurant will give you plates and glasses.
3. Get water from the dispenser (self-serve refill stations that charge 1 THB/liter)  or buy a 20L cistern.
4. Become part of the solution. Pick up trash that you see and place it in a trash bin. Make comments to your hotel/hostel and the locals. Ko Phi Phi requires a 20 THB “environmental fee”; about $0.75; this is a good step.  If beaches get trashed no one will want to come. Educate other travelers. Be polite and tell them that they should be responsible for not creating and picking up trash. Picking up their trash within eyesight sends a strong message!

So, yes there are problems with Thai beaches. But you should go, it’s amazing. And having a conscious person such as you stay at home will only make the problem worse. Tourists created this problem and travelers can also fix it.