TOURIST ARRIVALS in the Philippines are expected to double as the country plays host to the Miss Universe 2016 pageant on January 30, 2027, the Department of Tourism said.
From just over five million tourist arrivals by the end of 2015, the Department of Tourism expects 10 million visitors by next year, Tourism Secretary Wanda Teo said in a press conference in Makati on June 28, shortly after announcing that the 65th edition of the pageant will be held here.
The Philippines last hosted Miss Universe 22 years ago, in 1994, when Indian beauty Sushmita Sen was crowned. The news is a welcome development for Filipino fans whose bucket list includes watching the pageant live.
Despite an earlier statement from newly elected President Rodrigo Duterte that the government wouldn’t spend money on the pageant, Secretary Teo confirmed the event, saying the government won’t spend a dime and that the private sector will shoulder the roughly P500 million in expenses for staging it.
Confirmed sponsors include Japanese casino mogul Kazuo Okada and the richest man in the Philippines to date, Henry Sy, owner of SM Investments and SM Supermalls, among others.
This will be the third time the world-renowned pageant, joined by over a hundred countries, is held in the country. The first was in 1974, a year after Filipina beauty Margie Moran was crowned Miss Universe in 1973. Next year, reigning Filipina Miss Universe Pia Alonzo-Wurtzbach will crown her successor. Wurtzbach flew in all the way from New York last week to discuss the pageant’s proposal to be held here with the president and the tourism department.
Filipina beauties who made a name for themselves at the Miss Universe pageant over the past six years.
Over the last six years, the Philippines has consistently placed near the top of the competition, showing the world how exceptionally beautiful and intelligent Filipinas are. It started with Venus Raj’s 4th runner-up finish in 2010, followed by Shamcey Supsup and Ariella Arida’s stronger 3rd-place finishes in 2011 and 2013, respectively. Janine Tugonon nearly took the title with her 1st runner-up finish in 2012. In 2014, Mary Jean Lastimosa placed in the Top 10, and in 2015, Wurtzbach successfully claimed the crown.
These recent pageant victories haven’t just showcased Pinay beauty and wit; stakeholders believe they’ve also helped boost the country’s tourism. As one of the top beauty pageants followed by millions around the world, Miss Universe has paved the way for the Philippines to gain global recognition. Visitors to our tourist spots have been spreading good word about them for a long time, but pageants like this have given us even greater international exposure.
With the Philippines hosting Miss Universe, and with Wurtzbach’s never-ending promotion of her motherland, both on her widely followed social media pages and in all her media appearances, there’s nowhere for tourism to go but up.
The reigning Miss Universe (2015), Pia Alonzo-Wurtzbach from the Philippines, during her winning moment in Las Vegas.
Tourism Secretary Teo said in earlier statements that they plan to hold other segments of the pageant outside Metro Manila, particularly mentioning Boracay, Cebu, and Palawan. These three Philippine island destinations were voted the best islands in the world by Travel + Leisure magazine in 2015: Palawan topped the list, with Boracay a close second, while Cebu ranked number 6.
Colorful boats dot the white sand and emerald green sea of Boracay.
Sumilon sandbar in Cebu.
The world-famous El Nido in Palawan.
While pageant fans in the Philippines are thrilled at the prospect of watching their favorite pageant live, people around the world can expect to see beautiful contestants posting photos with picturesque Philippine destinations as their backdrop.
Photos from iweb.ph, missosology, wizardofwonders.photoshelter.com, thephilippines.com, travelguidephilippines.net, and powerhouseph.net.