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In a first in Philippine dental history, an Australian group came
here on a “Meditour’s Health Holidays Educational Trip” from
May 19 to 27.
The group was composed of Australia’s 12
biggest travel agents. They visited the country’s foremost dental
clinics, aesthetic centers, spas, and resorts with the sole purpose
of selling the Philippines for health and wellness holidays, with
especial focus on getting dental services and treatment during their
vacation.
The Department of Tourism’s (DOT) Team
Asia-Pacific, supported by the Makati Tourism Foundation—in
collaboration with Australian Robert Graham, who owns All About
Asia, a specialist wholesale travel supplier based in Birsbane—facilitated
the trip for the group from Down Under.
With the current global financial crisis, many
people from developed countries now find traveling a prohibitive
luxury.
Health problems, however, must be attended to at
once. And once potential patients learn about the world-class health
and dental care available in the Philippines at a small fraction of
the cost in their countries, they get sold on this country as their
tourism destination.
The Meditour’s Health Holidays Educational
trip here included a trip to Boracay—where else. But they also
meet—in Metro Manila—a group from Palawan.
They stayed at the Dusit Thani, in Manila, they
saw Intramuros (Fort Santiago and Casa Manila), Binondo and the
Ayala Museum. They saw the facilities of the Makati Sports Club.
They went to The Farm at San Benito, inspected
its facilities and some enjoyed the spa.
Being travel agents the group also had business
meetings with Filipino counterparts and of course their DOT hosts.
They went on inspection visits to clinics and
more spas at the Gutierrez Dental Clinic, the GAOC Dental Clinic,
Beverly Hills 6750, Beverly Hills Medical Group, Makati Medical
Center (MMC) and had lunch hosted by the MMC doctors.
They also inspected (and some enjoyed) the Zen
Institute Medispa, the NuU Asia Dental Clinic, the Smiles Dental
Clinic, the Devanara Spa and the Royal Bellagio Hotel.
In Boracay, the Aussie group did island hopping
at Crystal Cove and some did some snorkeling. They inspected the
Boracay Tropics, after which they went to the Mandala Spa and
Villas.
They experienced actually venturing into
Boracay’s local restaurants—some went to Aria, others to Cyma.
They did ATV Quad biking at Mount Luho and
inspected the Two Seasons and Discovery Shores.
Some industry experts say the Philippines is not
yet on the radar of Australians as a tourism destinations—much
less as a medical tourism and wellness destination.
These Australians left very impressed with
Philippine dental, medical, spa and other wellness facilities—not
to mention the regular things tourists want to enjoy, like swimming
and shopping.
Joyce Alumno, who is among DOT’s communication
consultants, says: “If we are able to show the world how good we
are in dental service, executive checkups, aesthetics, spas, etc.,
the US and other markets will most likely come naturally as we
prepare for more hospitals to get international accreditation. This
is going to be a good progression of our medical and wellness
tourism—more geographic and treatment-focused that creates the
niche for the Philippines.”
Nick Bowditch of Nick Bowditch Travel, known as
“Australia’s Family Travel Expert” wrote in his blog about the
Philippines.
He asked Robert Graham (of All About Asia),
“Why would you choose a holiday to the Philippines instead of
somewhere else in Asia?”
Nick made a full disclosure: “As some of you
know, I am a massive fan of the Philippines having lived and worked
there in scuba diving. It is really an amazing and impossibly
beautiful place in some parts and I think more Australians should
consider it as a holiday destination.
“Crystal clear water, some of the whitest,
most beautiful beaches in the world, and locals who are very
friendly and who are renowned for quality service.
“But don’t just take my word for it.
“I recently interviewed Robert Graham, from
All About Asia in Brisbane, and asked him why Aussies should think
about seeing the Philippines.”
___
Nick: What is All About Asia?
Robert: All About Asia is a specialist wholesale
travel supplier, arranging special airfare and accommodation
packages for travel agents, primarily to the Philippines. We work
closely with the Philippine Department of Tourism and have been
doing so since 1991. Our directors regularly travel there to make
sure all of our services and accommodation is up to our high
standards.
Nick: What makes the Philippines good value for
Australian travelers?
Robert: Firstly, it is close—about eight hours
from Sydney. Because of the American colonization for 50 years,
English is widely spoken. All About Asia also send a lot of people
there for dental procedures. Safe, hygienic, friendly, highly
qualified dentists and unbelievably huge savings.
Nick: What is the best way to get to the
Philippines and then around the country once you are there?
Robert: There are direct flights out of Sydney
on QANTAS and Philippine Airlines at least five days a week. There
are several flights out of other Australian cities as well. Domestic
flights are very cheap and there are many inter-island ferries.
Nick: What is the currency there and what is the
cost of everyday living once you are in the Philippines?
Robert: Philippine Peso is the currency and at
the moment it is about P30 to A$1. Daily expenses are probably the
lowest in South East Asia and the restaurants are widely diversified
and not at all expensive. Shopping is probably the best in Asia.
With genuine designer branded clothes at low prices to match the
economy.
Nick: Is the Philippines safe for families and
other travelers?
Robert: All About Asia sends many families on
holidays there. Manila is a big city so there are a lot of shopping
malls and they all have security on entry. Boracay Island has many
activities for children as 50 percent of the tourism there is
Filipino families so security is high.
Nick: What are the top five attractions for
Australians to see in the Philippines?
Robert: (1) Boracay Island. The beach, in
particular, is rated in the top 10 in the world.
(2) The thousands of years old Rice Terraces in
Banaue.
(3) The Chocolate Hills in Bohol.
(4) Palawan, the longest underground, navigable
river in the world.
(5) In Manila: Intramuros, the walled city and
Fort Santiago, the original settlement of the Spanish, Corregidor
Island where General Macarthur had his last stand against the
Japanese in World War II.
Nick: Why should Australians choose the
Philippines over other Asian holidays?
Robert: Because there are no language problems,
the interesting history (only country in Asia colonized by the
Spanish and Americans), great shopping bargains and the lowest daily
expenses.
Nick: What is the best thing about a holiday to
the Philippines?
Robert: For me, it’s the people. Filipinos are
very friendly and have a great Western sense of humor (notice how
many are working on cruise ships all over the world).
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