The Andaman coast of Thailand offers one of the most attractive and globally leading dive destinations. For years, dive enthusiasts from around the world have been coming to explore bucket list places like Richelieu Rock, The Similan Islands and Phi Phi Islands.

From whale sharks to nudibranchs, Thailand’s Andaman coast is known for its array of astonishing underwater life alongside its breathtaking underwater scenery.

Phuket is at the core of Thailand’s diving experience being that it is so closely situated to the best underwater sites along the Andaman coast. Therefore, most dive trips are carried out offshore with dive trips being done by boat in order to reach these captivating places.

Dive sites around Phuket

• Shark Point, Anemone Reef and King Cruiser: These three dive sites are all in close proximity of each other but, individually, have something unique to offer. People shouldn’t be surprised to find a variety of schooling fish, moray eels and reef fish with frequent visits of leopard sharks at Shark Point. Home to numerous anemones and vibrant soft corals, the anemone reef is included in many day trips and offers stunning underwater scenery. A modern day 85-meter shipwreck called King Cruiser at the bottom of the ocean is undoubtedly one of the most popular and spectacular shipwrecks to visit with its multitude of cuttlefish, crabs and barracudas.

A bird’s eye view of divers enjoying a daytrip on Sea Bees Diving custom-built dive boat, Excalibur II.  |  © Sea Bees Diving

Scuba diver swims alongside a hawksbill sea turtle off the coast of Koh Phi Phi.  |  © Sea Bees Diving

Zebra shark resting on the sandy bottom of a nearby coral reef.  |  © Sea Bees Diving

Behind everything Wilderness Safaris does, there is a purpose. Whether it is conserving endangered wildlife, ensuring that the benefits of ecotourism reach the people that live in or near the areas in which the company operates, or inspiring positive change in the lives of staff, guests and other stakeholders.

The King of the Jungle in Qorokwe   |  © Wilderness Safaris

North of Manila, Clark International Airport is being readied for the future. The Clark International Airport Project (CIAP) is the fastest-paced infrastructure project being delivered by President Rodrigo Duterte’s administration under its “Build, Build, Build” initiative.

The project aims to drastically improve connectivity, drive new-urban economic growth, boost production, increase trade and create employment opportunities across the region.

The CIAP is expected to increase passenger capacity from 2 to 8 million people and will position Clark International Airport as the second major gateway to the Philippines. Once completed in 2020, the project is expected to contribute 0.2 percent to the Philippines’ economic growth.

By 2021 the Clark International Airport “city” will be Asia’s next “aero-tropolis” and a desirable destination for meetings, incentives, conferencing and exhibitions (MICE).

Currently the Philippines’ main airport in Manila is over-capacity and passengers are experiencing long waits. Increasing air passenger capacity is important for the country’s domestic and international tourism targets. By 2025 the CIAP is expected to contribute to increased domestic and international tourism demands by 3.7 percent and to tourism expenditure by 2 percent.

The tourism supply chain plays an important role in the Philippine economy. Through production links, supporting industries such as tourism, food and beverage, services, infrastructure, agriculture and manufacturing are expected to benefit from the CIAP.

The long-term vision is for Clarke International Airport to be more than simply a gateway. The CIAP is an entire regional improvement initiative and incorporates the development of rail infrastructure projects, including the Manila-Clark High-Speed Railway and the Subic-Clark Cargo Railway, to connect the airport to city centers. By 2025 the Philippines aims to significantly increase tourist arrivals and boost the country’s exports by 0.6 percent. The CIAP will contribute to economic growth and increase gross domestic product levels in the Philippines by up to 0.2 percent by 2020 and 0.5 percent by 2025.

As a major job creation catalyst, Clark International Airport is expected to create 150,000 new jobs in the Philippines (approximately 0.4 percent of the country’s total employed population). In the future, Clark International Airport will meet the demands of the country’s tourism sector while serving the region and the world.

crk.clarkairport.com

The Philippine Retirement Authority and the Department of Tourism are encouraging foreign retirees to come to the Philippines to make the most out of life.

Named one of the world’s best places to retire according to International Living’s Annual Global Retirement Index, the Philippines climbed the rankings from 23rd place in 2015 to 19th place in 2017. It also ranked eighth in 2014 as a leading expatriate destination in the Inter Nations Survey conducted by Expats Insider.

Cost of living is a leading factor for expatriates considering retirement abroad and the Philippine capital, Manila, offers a relatively low cost of living compared to other major cities across Southeast Asia. According to the 2017 Expatistan Index, living in Manila costs almost 40 percent less than Seoul and almost 60 percent less than Tokyo.

The Philippine’s Special Resident Retiree’s Visa (SRRV) offers retirees numerous benefits. Successful applicants can reside permanently in the Philippines, gain multiple-entry visas and take advantage of indefinite stay privileges. An exemption from customs duties and taxes for a one-time importation of household goods and personal effects worth up to $7,000 is also available.

Tax incentives relating to pensions and annuities have been put in place in addition to exemption rules on securing separate working visas, student visas or study permits.

The SRRV program also provides assistance, including the Greet and Assist Program at selected Philippine airports, and health care benefits under the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PHILHEALTH).

As more foreign retirees choose to live in the Philippines, nursing homes are becoming suited to foreigners’ needs. The Philippines offers over 50 golf courses for the active retiree with courses designed by Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer and Gary Player. Scuba diving, snorkeling, sailing, fishing, hiking and many other activities are available in the Philippines, making retirement something to look forward to.

Ninety million Filipinos speak English, placing The Philippines among the top-10 nations in the world with the most English speakers. This fact continues to attract many multinational companies to set up shop in the Philippines, which is now home to millions of expatriates from all over. This also ensures that the culture of hospitality in the Philippines will continue to flourish, making it a choice location for expatriate retirees.

The Philippines is where Asia wears a smile. And just like the warmth of the innate Filipino spirit, the tropical weather is nothing but a perfect touch of love that’s welcoming and kind making retirement really “More Fun in the Philippines.”

www.pra.gov.ph
www.tourism.gov.ph

Know more: 7-Day Philippines Travel Itinerary Overview

The Philippines is a tropical paradise with over 7,641 islands. The country offers wonders of the natural world, white sand beaches, pristine waters and friendly people always ready to offer a welcoming smile.

The country welcomed about 7.1 million international visitors in 2018, an increase of 7.7 percent on the previous year. Domestic tourism across the Philippines is booming and investments in tourism related businesses are contributing significantly to the country’s economy. Importantly, the Department of Tourism (DOT) is committed to ensuring the sustainability of the archipelago’s thriving tourism industry through comprehensive initiatives.

The DOT launched its #MoreFunForever campaign earlier this year to promote sustainable practices and promote the country as a sustainable travel destination. The threepronged campaign aims to promote responsible tourism, enforce environmental compliance, and improve the quality of service offered by stakeholders while supporting local communities.

Last year President Rodrigo Duterte closed one of the Philippines’ most popular islands for six months. The island of Boracay underwent extensive work to return the island to its former glory. The DOT, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) created the Boracay Interagency Task Force (BIATF).

The Task Force implemented a “No Accreditation, No Operation” rule for businesses operating near Boracay’s worldfamous white sand beaches. The successful initiative has resulted in Boracay becoming an island paradise once again, and more importantly, triggered a movement across the country. Today, environmental projects are being undertaken in Manila Bay, on the islands of Siargao, Palawan and Bohol, as well as in the mountain provinces of Baguio and Sagada.

DOT has also established partnerships with key government agencies, private companies and organizations. Ventures with the Mactan-Cebu International Airport Authority, Cebu Pacific Airlines and the Austria-based research and development organization, GrAT Center for Appropriate Technology, are expected to drive these sustainability programs.

Securing a strong tourism sector for the Philippines is vital to encourage international visitors and investors. DOT’s strong commitment to sustainability ensures that these economic benefits will directly reach local inhabitants who safeguard, care for and share their beautiful habitats with appreciative visitors.

With the #MoreFunForever campaign, sustainable tourism in the country continues to ensure future generations enjoy and appreciate the beauty of one of the most fun countries on the planet.

www.tourism.gov.ph

Located on the western coast of the island of Palawan, San Vicente is an integrated tourism destination project showcasing a 14-kilometer white sand beach, pristine islets and lush mountains. The 165,000-hectare area is populated by local and indigenous people and this project, embracing responsible and sustainable development standards, is open to public and private initiatives for the construction of resorts, hotels and nature-focused amenities. The recently completed San Vicente International Airport is bringing investment directly into the area. Investments in the construction and repair of access roads, modular docking facilities, water supply, power generation, distribution facilities and administrative buildings, including TIEZA and TEZ offices, are creating significant interest in the area.

The recently completed Bohol International Airport on Panglao Island is a short 15-minute drive from Panglao Bay Premiere and investments in this area are on the rise. The 111-hectare property is being designed as an integrated leisure-resort complex. The South Palms Resort is already open for business and consists of a high-end, 90-room beach resort facility. Other investment opportunities include a meetings, incentives, conferencing and exhibitions (MICE) center and the development of more hotels and resorts.

Located in Pilar, Bataan, Mount Samat is intended to be an integrated heritage-tourism destination showcasing the Mount Samat National Shrine of Valor, a World War II museum. Complementing the heritage site will be a cable car, a green transportation network, accommodation, retail complexes and recreational and adventure facilities. The development of supporting infrastructure and a proposed tourism center is expected to be similar to the San Vicente TEZ.

Located in the capital, Manila, Rizal Park is to be “the nation’s premier historic green park.” Landscaping improvements and new leisure facilities will take advantage of the famed Manila Bay sunset. The area will include an esplanade, wharf promenade and encompass a redeveloped children’s play area.

This area is part of the Dinagat-Siargao Islands in northern Mindanao. The zone consists of 167 hectares and is home to the Sohoton Cove National Park and the Kapihan Nature and Adventure Park. The Bucas Grande Island zone will provide world-class venues and services and offers investment opportunities in construction facilities in the main, mountain and forest resort areas.

Blessed with over 7,000 beautiful islands, the country has been popular with everyone from casual beachgoers to high-energy thrill seekers for decades. In that time, many areas have become popular for a specific niche and type of travel and activity.

The big island of Palawan, located on the Western side of the country, has long been renowned as a ‘Last Frontier’ destination being one of the least densely populated and developed of all the island archipelagos. Its crown jewel is El Nido where you find limestone rock formations magically emerging from the crystal blue waters, lagoons and white sand beaches. It’s undoubtedly among the most beautiful areas in the Philippines and has the luxury hotels and resorts to match. Condé Nast Traveler even praises El Nido as No.4 on their exclusive list of the “20 Most Beautiful Beaches in the World.”

In recent years, all the attention heaped onto El Nido has caught up with it, and with its narrow streets overflowing and its harbor resembling a parking lot full of boats, tourists are again looking for greener, more truly unknown pastures.

The Polish National Opera at Teatr Wielki, Warsaw, has been producing works by renowned Polish composers, including Fryderyk Chopin, for over 200 years now.

“Just as Japanese culture has inspired the European arts, many Japanese tourists come to our performances to discover and experience the European and wider international repertoire,” explained Dąbrowski.

The company invested a significant amount of capital in creating a whole new Japanese bathhouse. The new architecture is a modern, asymmetric version of a Japanese emperor’s courtyard, with a large pool at its architectural heart. Here you can bask in the warmth of the indoor and outdoor Japanese hot spring baths, pamper yourself with soothing spa treatments and enjoy relaxing activities.

Photos provided by: Yasuragi

Named after the island’s only indigenous people, Eskaya Beach Resort & Spa is located on Panglao Island, at the southernmost tip of Bohol. Eskaya is a member of the ‘Small Luxury Hotels of the World’ and offers sixteen hectares encompassing a powdery and secluded white-sand beach, ravines, caves, lush greenery and cliffs overlooking the sea.