Tourism in Manila
Tourism is an important industry in Manila, Philippines. In 2012, the city and region welcomed 974,379 overnight visitors.[1] As the main gateway to the Philippines' many destinations, the city is visited by the majority of international tourists to the country registering a total of 3,139,756 arrivals in 2012.[2] Global Blue ranked Manila eleventh in its "Best Shopping Destinations" in Asia.[3] The city is ranked tenth in MasterCard's global top 20 fastest growing cities for international visitors from 2009-2013.[4]
Attractions
Metro Manila contains several notable attractions including a UNESCO World Heritage Site and 45 other cultural heritage landmarks.[5] These cultural attractions are mostly concentrated in the City of Manila and offer a glimpse into the city's Malay, Spanish, and American origins. Popular sites include the Spanish colonial buildings in Intramuros, the World Heritage Site of San Agustin Church, Rizal Park, and a few Art Deco and Revival style buildings like Manila Metropolitan Theater and the National Museum of the Philippines. There are also modern attractions such as the Manila Ocean Park, the integrated resort complex of Resorts World Manila, and the newly opened Solaire Resort & Casino.
Within the City of Manila
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- Intramuros - a historic fortified complex that is home to the city's oldest structures, such as San Agustin Church, Fort Santiago, and the Manila Cathedral.
- Fort Santiago - a Spanish citadel located at the mouth of the Pasig River near Intramuros.
- Manila Cathedral - a 19th-century ecclesiastical building in Intramuros and seat of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Manila.
- San Agustin Church - a World Heritage Site in Intramuros and the Philippines' oldest church.
- Rizal Monument - Memorial to the Philippine national hero, José Rizal, located at the center of Rizal Park (Luneta).
- National Museum of the Philippines - home of the National Art Gallery.
- Museum of the Filipino People - Anthropology and Archaeology museum.
- Metropolitan Museum of Manila - a premier museum of modern and contemporary visual arts.
- Manila Zoo - the oldest zoo and botanical garden in the Philippines.
- Ermita - located outside the walls of Intramuros near Luneta, this district is home to major government buildings and many hotels.
- Malate - the tourism center of Manila famous for Baywalk and the Remedios nightlife district.
- Binondo - an old district of Manila that is home to Manila Chinatown established since 1521. Its main attractions are Binondo Church, Filipino-Chinese Friendship Arch, and Seng Guan Buddhist temple.
- Paco Park - a recreational garden that was once a Spanish cemetery located in Paco district.
- Malacañan Palace - the official residence of the President of the Philippines.
- San Sebastian Church - the only all-steel Gothic basilica in Asia.
- University of Santo Tomas - the oldest university in Asia.
- Plaza Miranda - the main public square of Quiapo district.
- Manila Ocean Park - an oceanarium with a marine-themed mall and hotel.
Around Metro Manila
- Makati - one of Southeast Asia's biggest financial hubs noted for its cosmopolitan culture.
- Bay City - an entertainment and leisure hub situated along the Manila Bay and is home to SM Mall of Asia and the Entertainment City complex.
- Cultural Center of the Philippines - an arts and culture district by the bay adjacent to Bay City.
- Ayala Museum - the largest private museum of Philippine art and culture.
- Bonifacio Global City - a 440 hectare development with upscale shopping malls, condominiums, and modern offices.
- Ortigas Center - the second biggest financial district in the metropolis that is home to the Asian Development Bank headquarters.
- Manila American Cemetery and Memorial - the largest U.S. cemetery in the Asia-Pacific region.
- St. Joseph Parish Church, Las Piñas - located south of the capital, the church is home to the Las Piñas Bamboo Organ.
- Solaire Resort & Casino - a world class integrated casino complex and the newest gaming destination in the Entertainment City.
- Resorts World Manila - the country's first integrated entertainment and casino resort located across from the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3.
- Star City - the city's foremost amusement park.
Close to Metro Manila
- Tagaytay - a mountain town south of Manila famous for its cool climate and views of Taal Lake.
- Taal Volcano - the smallest active volcano in the world.
- Subic Bay Freeport Zone - the country's first free port and a major beach and water sports destination north of Manila
- Clark Freeport Zone - the former U.S. Air Base in Angeles where Clark International Airport, Expo Filipino and many inland resorts are located.
- Mount Samat National Shrine - a historical shrine near the summit of Mount Samat built to honor Filipino and American soldiers who fought during World War II
- Lake Pinatubo - is the crater lake of Mount Pinatubo located near Angeles.
- Puerto Galera - a small town on Mindoro Island known for its numerous pocket beaches and many snorkeling and diving spots.
- Nasugbu - a popular seaside community near Tagaytay with massive resorts developments such as Punta Fuego, Hamilo Coast and Fortune Island.
- Los Baños - a university town south of Manila known for its abundant natural hot springs.
- San Antonio - a laidback beach and surfing community in Zambales near Subic Bay with attractions such as Capones Island Lighthouse, Pundaquit Beach and Anawangin Cove.
- Anilao - a popular spot for divers in southern Batangas.
- Corregidor Island - an important historic tourist site located at the mouth of Manila Bay.
- Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar - an open-air museum and heritage park located in Bataan.
- Pagsanjan Falls - a famous cascade that was declared a national park.
- Villa Escudero Plantations - a working coconut plantation converted into a resort.
- Enchanted Kingdom - Located in Santa Rosa, Laguna, it is the biggest theme park in the Philippines.
Shopping
Manila is the main shopping hub of the Philippines and is one of the well-known shopping destinations in the Asia-Pacific region.[6] Numerous shopping centers are located around the metropolis and are usually clustered in major shopping districts such as the Bonifacio Global City and Ortigas Center while upscale-luxury shopping centers are concentrated in the business and financial district of Ayala Center. Traditional markets still remain a presence in Manila such as bazaars and markets.
- SM City North EDSA - the largest shopping mall in the country and in Southeast Asia.
- SM Mall of Asia - one of the world's biggest shopping malls located in Bay City.
- Greenbelt (Ayala Center) - one of Metro Manila's upscale-luxury shopping centers located in Makati.
- Robinsons Place Manila - the largest shopping mall in the Ermita district.
- Alabang Town Center
- Glorietta
- Resorts World Manila
- Shangri-La Plaza Mall
- Power Plant Mall
- Greenhills Shopping Center
- Tiendesitas
- SM Megamall
- TriNoma
- SM Aura Premier
- Market! Market!
Hotels and casinos
A number of hotels and casinos can be found around Metro Manila. Makati, the financial hub of the metropolis is home to numerous international hotel chains. Manila is also home to various casinos and is becoming a major gaming destination in the region. A gaming and entertainment complex called Entertainment City will be home to four integrated casino resorts, this major development is expected to attract more tourists and rival other major gaming destinations in Asia such as Macau and Singapore.[7][8]
- Resorts World Manila
- Solaire Resort & Casino
- Fairmont Hotel Manila
- Dusit Thani Manila
- The Peninsula Manila
- InterContinental Manila
- Makati Shangri-La, Manila
- EDSA Shangri-La Manila
- Crowne Plaza Manila Galleria Philippines
- Hyatt Hotel and Casino Manila
- The Heritage Hotel Manila
- Mandarin Oriental Manila
- Manila Hotel
- Sofitel Philippine Plaza Hotel
Parks and plazas
Manila offers a wide selection of parks and plazas. The county's premier park, Rizal Park is located in the heart of the bustling city. The park was the site of the execution of the country's national hero, Jose Rizal. Apart from Rizal Park, there also other parks located around Metro Manila such as Quezon Memorial Circle in Quezon City and the Ayala Triangle Gardens in Makati. Plazas are usually found in the districts of Manila, notable ones are Plaza Miranda, Plaza de Roma, Plaza Rajah Sulayman and Plaza España.
- Rizal Park
- Paco Park
- Mehan Garden
- La Mesa Ecopark
- Ninoy Aquino Parks & Wildlife Center
- Ayala Triangle Gardens
- Quezon Memorial Circle
- Plaza Miranda
- Pinaglabanan Shrine
- Liwasang Bonifacio
Golf
- Manila Golf and Country Club
- Wack Wack Golf and Country Club
- Club Intramuros Golf Course
- Fort Bonifacio Golf Club
- Alabang Country Club
- Villamor Golf Club
- Camp Aguinaldo Golf Club
- Capitol Hills Golf & Country Club
- Veterans Golf Course
Events
- Feast of the Black Nazarene - held every January in Quiapo district, it is the biggest religious festival in the city.
- Chinese New Year - celebrated in Binondo district, the world's oldest Chinatown.
- Aliwan Fiesta - held annually in the Cultural Center of the Philippines complex, it is a celebration of Filipino culture through dance parades, floats, and pageants.
- Cinemanila International Film Festival - the biggest global film event in Manila.
- Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival - is a film festival held annually in July at the Cultural Center of the Philippines.
- Metro Manila Film Festival - held every December during Christmas, it is an all-Filipino-language film event.
- Manila International Auto Show - the Philippines' biggest motor show at the World Trade Center Metro Manila.
- World Pyro Olympics - an annual competition among the world's fireworks companies held in SM Mall of Asia by the Manila Bay.
See also
- List of Cultural Properties of the Philippines in Metro Manila
- List of museums in Metro Manila
- List of religious buildings in Metro Manila
- List of beaches in the Greater Manila Area
- Tourism in the Philippines
- City of Man
References
- ↑ "Metro Manila is top overnight tourist destination–DOT". BusinessMirror. Retrieved 2013-09-13.
- ↑ "Visitor Arrival and Profile - 2012". Department of Tourism. Retrieved 2013-09-13.
- ↑ "The Globe Shopper Index". Global Blue. Retrieved 2013-09-13.
- ↑ "MasterCard Global Destination Cities 2013". MasterCard. Retrieved 2013-09-13.
- ↑ "Philippine Registry of Cultural Property (PRECUP) - Built Heritage". Ivan Henares. Retrieved 2012-08-16.
- ↑ "Manila 11th most attractive shopping destination in Asia Pacific –study". Yahoo! Philippines. Retrieved March 26, 2013.
- ↑ "PAGCOR: Entertainment City is all about entertainment and tourism". ABS-CBNnews.com. Retrieved March 26, 2013.
- ↑ "Pagcor's Entertainment City seen to draw extra 1-M tourists". Philstar.com Business. Retrieved March 26, 2013.
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