Philippine tourist arrivals rise 12% from a year earlier

Philippine tourist arrivals rise 12% from a year earlier

ABS-CBN News Report - The Philippines attracted 3.18 million visitors from January to October this year, with Koreans continuing to be the top tourists to the country.

According to data from the Department of Tourism (DoT), there were 3.18 million visitor arrivals to the Philippines during the 10-month period, a 12% increase from the 2.84 million arrivals a year ago.

Image Credit: bestphilippineattractions.com

"The month of July produced the biggest arrivals with 360,784 while the month of February posted the highest growth at 18.52%. Auguring well to the tourism industry is the consistent positive growths recorded on a month to month basis," the DoT said.

Nearly half or 47.4% of the total arrivals came from East Asian countries such as South Korea, Japan and China. 

Koreans were the number one tourists to the country so far this year.  There were 756,863 Koreans visiting the Philippines from January to October, a 27.85% increase from the previous year. A spike in Korean tourist arrivals came in July and August, traditionally summer vacation months in South Korea.

Visitors from the United States came in second, with 493,861 arrivals for the 10-month period, a 3.7% rise from last year.

Arrivals of Japanese tourists from January to October were steady at 300,537, a 3.6% jump from the previous year's figures.

There was a significant growth in Chinese and Taiwanese tourist arrivals. During the January to October period, there were 155,579 tourists arriving from China, a 26% increase from the previous year. There were 121,679 tourists from Taiwan arriving during the 10-month period this year, a 26.2% increase from last year.

However, tourists arrivals from Hong Kong remained down. Hong Kong continues to impose a black travel alert, which means a ban on their nationals from traveling to the Philippines as a result of the August 23, 2010 hostage crisis.

Which is your favorite tourist spot in the Philippines? Write your answer in the comment box below.

source: ABS-CBN News

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Indian Women Fetch Bronze in Four-nation Hockey Tourney

Indian Women Fetch Bronze in Four-nation Hockey Tourney

According to Zee News-India, the Indian women`s hockey team notched up a facile 4-1 win over Ireland to clinch the bronze medal in the four-nation Tournament held in Parana, Argentina.

Both the teams were locked 1-1 at half time but India came back strongly in the second session to fire three goals.

The goal scorers for India were Jaspreet Kaur (penalty corner 7th min), Anuradha Thokchom (58th min), Vandana Katariya (68th min) and Ritu Rani (penalty corner 70th min), while Aine Connery (7th min) sounded the board for Ireland.

Ireland took an early lead in the seventh minute with the lone goal scored by Connery after a defensive lapse by the Indians.

India restored parity when Jaspreet Kaur found the target from a penalty corner in the 26th minute after an Irish defender obstructed Vandana Katariya in the striking circle.

India dominated the proceedings in the second half and exhibited flair as they mounted attacks with regular monotony.

The Indian forwards -- Poonam Rani, Vandana Katariya, Rani and Anuradha Thokchom -- were well supported by midfielders Asunta Lakra, Kirandeep Kaur and Ritu Rani as they engineered forays in the rival half.

Goalkeeper Yogita Bali and deep defenders Pinky Thokchom, Jaspreet Kaur and Preety Sunila Kiro stood tall and thwarted all moves by the Irish attackers. Anuradha Thokchom put India ahead in the 58th minute when she beat Ireland custodian Emma Gray with a deflection from a right flank cross.

Vandana Katariya increase the lead to 3-1 in the 68th minuyogita balite when she found the mark after a Ritu Rani-Asunta Lakra combined midfield manoeuvre. India rounded off the tally at the stroke of full time with Preety Sunila Kiro scoring from a penalty corner variation.

India thus won both the bronze medals at four nation tournaments held at Buenos Aires and Parana on this tour. The team will return from Argentina on Wednesday. In the final world champion Argentina beat South Africa 2-0 to win the tournament. 

source: Zee News ,India

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Audi India plans to launch S6 sedan, Q3 SUV in 2012

Audi India plans to launch S6 sedan, Q3 SUV in 2012

 According to IBN Live, German luxury car-maker Audi plans to launch its sedan S6 and sports utility vehicle Q3 in India next year as it looks to achieve about 40 per cent growth in sales in 2012.

The company will showcase the two models at the upcoming Auto Expo next month in the national capital. "The study is going on to introduce S6 in the Indian market. We are thinking to launch it during the second quarter of next year," Audi India Head Michael Perschke told PTI.

Image Credit: audirs6sedan.blogspot.com

Besides, the company is also considering to introduce smaller sports utility vehicles (SUV) such as Q3 in the Indian market, he added.

"We may launch Q3 in India very soon. It will most probably come in during the second half of 2012," Perschke said. The company will also showcase the concept of the electric hybrid version of the A3 at the Expo, he added.

When asked about the sales, Perschke said: "We are expecting to end the current year with about 80 per cent sales jump. We have already crossed 5,100 units and hope to sell a total of about 5,400 units for the entire 2012".

The company had sold 3,003 units in last year. "In 2012, the Indian luxury market is predicted to grow by 30-40 per cent. We are expecting a jump of minimum 50 per cent next year that is about 8,000 units," he said. Out of this expected sales, about 1,500 units will come

from the imported models, he added.

On its dealership expansion plans, Perschke said: "At present, we are present in 15 locations. By the end of 2012, our plan is to have dealers at 23 locations."

Audi India had earlier announced its aim to become the market leader in Indian luxury car segment by 2015 by surpassing its compatriots BMW and Mercedes-Benz.

Earlier this year, Audi India had launched a new version of its SUV Q5 at a price lower than its previous range.

Which one do you like most S6 sedan or Q3 SUV. Leave your suggestions in the comment box below.

source: IBN Live

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