General Info

[QUOTE=WestCoast1;3017509]That 5 million will be about the same as the total number of all tourists entering Philippines this year.
[/QUOTE]The figures quoted for "tourists" entering the Philippines includes all foreign passport holders. I have been living here for 28 years now, and I have re-entered the PH 6 times this year after working out of the country. All businesspeople entering the PH are also counted. Each AC weekend visitor from adjacent countries is counted too.

My guess is that genuine tourists (people who have no attachment here but who visit for the scenery and beaches), would be under 1 million (as I said, that's a guess).

[QUOTE=RedKilt;3017530]The figures quoted for "tourists" entering the Philippines includes all foreign passport holders. I have been living here for 28 years now, and I have re-entered the PH 6 times this year after working out of the country. All businesspeople entering the PH are also counted. Each AC weekend visitor from adjacent countries is counted too.

My guess is that genuine tourists (people who have no attachment here but who visit for the scenery and beaches), would be under 1 million (as I said, that's a guess).[/QUOTE]Good catch.

Not sure why, but I would have thought the Immigration department would have separated out from the 'tourist' category the non-tourists as permanent residents, such as 13-category and depositors (ie SRRV). I would guess it pads the tourist numbers (as do non-tourist foreigners here on student, work, business, or diplomatic visas).

Its also possible other countries do similar.

[QUOTE=RedKilt;3017530]The figures quoted for "tourists" entering the Philippines includes all foreign passport holders. I have been living here for 28 years now, and I have re-entered the PH 6 times this year after working out of the country. All businesspeople entering the PH are also counted. Each AC weekend visitor from adjacent countries is counted too.

My guess is that genuine tourists (people who have no attachment here but who visit for the scenery and beaches), would be under 1 million (as I said, that's a guess).[/QUOTE][URL]https://immigration.gov.ph/bi-says-153k-aliens-took-part-in-2024-annual-report/[/URL] They do try to keeop track of foreigners but might have a separate mnunmber of passports stamped, thus accounting for your 6 tourist visits this year.

[URL]https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1240164[/URL] Here isd the Ph government boasting about their numbers. Ohter links tell a different story abnd give South Korea as the main source of tourists. For my money, Tailand, Malaysia, Singapore etc are miles ahread on geting $$ from tourists.

I'm looking for the experts' input on the best place for a first timer to the Philippines.

My Vietnam visa expires mid September and I'd like to do a visa run and have a break in a nearby 'friendly' country. It could equally be Thailand but I've been there quite a bit and know the scene. As some of you might know, VN is pretty cheap (accom. , food, drinks, transport) etc if not great for mongering outside of the two major cities. So, for a week where would be recommended please for choice of P4 P, considering I'll probably be flying to Manila direct, and I could connect there or stay there. Cheers.

Thoughts on Jarango's news article. Its from December 2024. The article talks about tourism success in terms of days spent in-country going up per visitor, and in pesos spent. From the article:

[B]The Philippines targets to reach at least 7.7 million foreign tourists by yearend, a number now seemingly unlikely to be achieved with arrivals still at 5.64 million as of Dec. 15.[/B]

SNIP. I think 5. 5 million non-pinoy arrivals was what the BI reported for last year.

[B]Tourism had been a major economic driver, with a contribution of about PHP4.34 trillion or 17.9 percent to the GDP in 2023.[/B]

The article seems to equate 'tourism' with inbound foreigners. RK has before presented evidence that most tourist pesos are spent by domestic-traveling Filipinos, not by foreigners. If 17.9% of GDP is from tourism, I am guessing that traveling pinoy spend a larger chunk of that than 2-week warriors.

[QUOTE=MissMaryHinge;3017555]My Vietnam visa expires mid September and I'd like to do a visa run and have a break in a nearby 'friendly' country. It could equally be Thailand but I've been there quite a bit and know the scene. As some of you might know, VN is pretty cheap (accom. , food, drinks, transport) etc if not great for mongering outside of the two major cities. So, for a week where would be recommended please for choice of P4 P, considering I'll probably be flying to Manila direct, and I could connect there or stay there. Cheers.[/QUOTE]I will assume that thai, cambo, Laos you have frequented enough and are looking for a diff scene, so that leaves indo, malay, and pi (India and China on the outskirts). PI has one great appeal, and that is they speak english, if that is not a concern then me personally I would choose either China or indo.

[QUOTE=MissMaryHinge;3017555]I'm looking for the experts' input on the best place for a first timer to the Philippines.

My Vietnam visa expires mid September and I'd like to do a visa run and have a break in a nearby 'friendly' country. It could equally be Thailand but I've been there quite a bit and know the scene. As some of you might know, VN is pretty cheap (accom. , food, drinks, transport) etc if not great for mongering outside of the two major cities. So, for a week where would be recommended please for choice of P4 P, considering I'll probably be flying to Manila direct, and I could connect there or stay there. Cheers.[/QUOTE]You don't say what you're preferences are.

If you just want endless cheap fucks then go to Jakarta, get a hotel near Classic and drown in $25 fucks. Note that, as a city, Jakarta sucks though.

If you want fucks with big city entertainment and things to do, then go to Manila, stay in Makati and hit the clubs and online.

If you want fucks with beaches and islands, go to Cebu City. Stay near Ayala Mall, hit the clubs and online and take your favourite (s) for day tours to Bohol, Moalboal, Malapascua etc.

Enjoy. G.

[QUOTE=MissMaryHinge;3017555]I'm looking for the experts' input on the best place for a first timer to the Philippines.

My Vietnam visa expires mid September and I'd like to do a visa run and have a break in a nearby 'friendly' country. It could equally be Thailand but I've been there quite a bit and know the scene. As some of you might know, VN is pretty cheap (accom. , food, drinks, transport) etc if not great for mongering outside of the two major cities. So, for a week where would be recommended please for choice of P4 P, considering I'll probably be flying to Manila direct, and I could connect there or stay there. Cheers.[/QUOTE]Check out Barrio Barreto in Subic Bay or Puerto Galera. Both are low key and relatively close to Manila. Subic Bay seems to be one of the few places where everything is still made for Americans and no Korean influence.

[URL]http://www.internationalsexguide.nl/forum/showthread.php?1010-Subic-City-[/URL](Subic-Bay).

[QUOTE=Transporter;3017630]I will assume that thai, cambo, Laos you have frequented enough and are looking for a diff scene, so that leaves indo, malay, and pi (India and China on the outskirts). PI has one great appeal, and that is they speak english, if that is not a concern then me personally I would choose either China or indo.[/QUOTE]The language barrier isn't a deal breaker but if English is an easy option I'd prefer. Not been to Laos or Cambodia actually. Would you rate either or both of these over PH, Indo?

[QUOTE=Goferring;3017659]You don't say what you're preferences are.

If you just want endless cheap fucks then go to Jakarta, get a hotel near Classic and drown in $25 fucks. Note that, as a city, Jakarta sucks though.

If you want fucks with big city entertainment and things to do, then go to Manila, stay in Makati and hit the clubs and online.

If you want fucks with beaches and islands, go to Cebu City. Stay near Ayala Mall, hit the clubs and online and take your favourite (s) for day tours to Bohol, Moalboal, Malapascua etc.

Enjoy. G.[/QUOTE]Thanks, the second and third options sound doable. Though ferries don't agree with me. I generally lean toward cheaper fucks, SWs, online etc. No love for Malaysia?

Will weigh up these possibles.

If language is a no biggie, then Indo.

[QUOTE=Goferring;3017659]You don't say what you're preferences are.

If you just want endless cheap fucks then go to Jakarta, get a hotel near Classic and drown in $25 fucks. Note that, as a city, Jakarta sucks though.

If you want fucks with big city entertainment and things to do, then go to Manila, stay in Makati and hit the clubs and online.

If you want fucks with beaches and islands, go to Cebu City. Stay near Ayala Mall, hit the clubs and online and take your favourite (s) for day tours to Bohol, Moalboal, Malapascua etc.

Enjoy. G.[/QUOTE]I'm glad you and others think that Jakarta as a city sucks. It keeps the hordes away as it is not a tourist city. But for those who know, it has some amazing food and plenty to do if you look. Its not a Bangkok but to me its a lot better than Manila.

[QUOTE=Goferring;3017659]You don't say what you're preferences are.

If you just want endless cheap fucks then go to Jakarta, get a hotel near Classic and drown in $25 fucks. Note that, as a city, Jakarta sucks though. Enjoy. G.[/QUOTE]

[QUOTE=ExpatAmerican;3017780]I'm glad you and others think that Jakarta as a city sucks. It keeps the hordes away as it is not a tourist city. But for those who know, it has some amazing food and plenty to do if you look. Its not a Bangkok but to me its a lot better than Manila.[/QUOTE]Although I'm absolutely happy with The Phils and it's basically now a second home to me, I'm always open to other options.

Yes I agree Expat, Manila's not great, but it's just a bedroom action destination for me upon arrival and departure whilst I travel elsewhere in-between. And over time it has delivered some great finds.

As for Indonesia, I've never considered it, as it's the usual 'general holiday' destination for Australian tourists in Bali, and their actions there have been fairly disgraceful. And why would I want to hang around with a bunch of wasted fellow Aussies.

I have never considered Jakarta, but I need a nice spot to go to outside of the major cities when I travel. The Islands in The Phils provide that.

I've also never had a problem with authority in The Phils. A Bakla started screaming at me on one trip in Makati because I refused its advances. In Taglog she / he grabbed the attention of a police officer and I thought, "Oh Fuck, it's going to say I tried to rape it, or something. ".

The officer was really great, and when I told him I didn't want to fuck a bloke, and loved the Pina's, he sorted things out.

I don't think the same thing would happen in Indonesia for an Australian. Unfortunately, too many Australians have set a bad example there in the past. I'm happy where I am in The Phils.

Thoughts?

Just my experience_Phil.

[QUOTE=PhilJoy;3017821]Although I'm absolutely happy with The Phils and it's basically now a second home to me, I'm always open to other options.

Yes I agree Expat, Manila's not great, but it's just a bedroom action destination for me upon arrival and departure whilst I travel elsewhere in-between. And over time it has delivered some great finds.

As for Indonesia, I've never considered it, as it's the usual 'general holiday' destination for Australian tourists in Bali, and their actions there have been fairly disgraceful. And why would I want to hang around with a bunch of wasted fellow Aussies.

I have never considered Jakarta, but I need a nice spot to go to outside of the major cities when I travel. The Islands in The Phils provide that.

I've also never had a problem with authority in The Phils. A Bakla started screaming at me on one trip in Makati because I refused its advances. In Taglog she / he grabbed the attention of a police officer and I thought, "Oh Fuck, it's going to say I tried to rape it, or something..[/QUOTE]Jakarta and Bali may as well be completely different countries. I don't see many white people in Jakarta in general, Aussie or not. Bali is like Thailand as in its a well known busy tourist destination with all that goes along with it. Jakarta is not. Jakarta is not well connected by air (compared to say Bangkok or HCM City etc) and usually takes a connection or two to get there. I'm lucky to live in Singapore so its a quick hour flight for me.

I used to go the Phils as my default destination for almost 15 years but its gone way downhill and the girls attitudes have dropped significantly. Indo girls are how Filipinas used to be, by and large sweet and submissive. Language of course is the difference but there are educated Indo girls who speak great English but they don't work in the $25 fuck factories.

I've never had any encounter with the authorities and don't plan to so can't comment on that.

Although many may think of Bali when Indo is mentioned, and its a great place, 30 years ago it was when I was still surfing, it was a high priority destination. But for our hobby I wouldn't even put it on the map. Don't misunderstand, our hobby does exist there and if it was the only place I could go, I would make do and be satisfied. But yes as pointed out you want to start mapping out your adventures in Jakarta. If this was precovid, I would have to admit I prefer batam over Jakarta simply because of the damn traffic. Choices are better and more abundant in Jakarta, but the traffic there is also worse than manila or bkk. Keep in mind this is only my personal opinion I still regularly prefer to travel to manila because it is simple for me. In manila I have a condo that I stay at, I have decades of networks to draw upon, and from experience I know how to use my time and plan wisely. With all that being said, if you put in the time and get over the initial curve, you will be way more productive in Jakarta.

[QUOTE=PhilJoy;3017821]As for Indonesia, I've never considered it, as it's the usual 'general holiday' destination for Australian tourists in Bali, and their actions there have been fairly disgraceful. And why would I want to hang around with a bunch of wasted fellow Aussies.

I have never considered Jakarta, but I need a nice spot to go to outside of the major cities when I travel. The Islands in The Phils provide that.

Just my experience_Phil.[/QUOTE]A pro tip is to combine the two and take a girl from Jakarta to Bali. For the price of a bikini and a few gifts for friends back home, many girls will jump at the chance.

The same is definitely possible in the Philippines. Cebu to the beaches or Bohol. Manila to Palawan or Boracay. Lots of options.

The best thing is that there is no need to rely on hardened working girls. Many good girls would enjoy a long weekend away and will be sure to say thanks when away from family and gossiping friends.

Just don't commit to too long. I find a few days is Goldilocks just right, maybe a week for a known girl. More than that and things always seem to spiral out of control.

Enjoy. G.