HARBOR WELCOME FACILITIES UPGRADED
Manila, Nov. 5, 1997 - Tourists coming in aboard ocean vessels will now find their Manila's ports more efficient and enjoyable.
The Department of Tourism has activated a scheme called Meet and Assist Program for the convenience of those arriving through Manila's harbors. Secretary of Tourism Mina Gabor hatched the idea of improving harbor welcome facilities, with Undersecretary Macabangkit Lanto as implementor.
Luxury liners and foreign naval ships brought in 22,101 visitors in the first nine months of 1997, helping the country meet or even surpass the target of 2.3 million tourists this year.
The Meet and Assist Program began last December, when an Italian navy vessel docked with 6,700 cadets and tourists streaming through Manila's South Harbor. The group spent more than P3 million in the city's malls, restaurants and other tourist spots.
In the months that followed, more international ships and the worlds' most luxurious vessels docked at the South Harbor. Among them were the queen of them all, the Queen Elizabeth II or simply the QE2, the Royal Viking Sun, the Sky Princess, MV Albatross, MV Calypso, Marco Polo, Maxim Gorky, the floating library Doulos and the floating university MV Explorer. Several Chinese navy ships also paid courtesy calls.
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