MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Tourism (DOT)
believes more international tourists, including those from the United
Kingdom, will be coming to visit the Philippines with Palawan having
been cited as one of the top holiday destinations around the world.
Tourism Secretary
Ramon Jimenez said Philippine tourism is expected to benefit from the
recognition of Ariara Island in Calamian, Palawan as the number one
holiday destination in the
Vogue-UK magazine to be released next month.
Aside from
Vogue, Ariara was also featured in various magazines in the United Kingdom like
Times Magazine, which hailed it as the “Best Private
Island Resort.”
It further described Ariara as “a Philippine island of such
prettiness that you almost expect Johnny Depp to pop out with a parrot
on his shoulder.”
Other magazines,
The Independent’s and the
Evening Standard, tagged Ariara as one of the best islands/places to visit this year.
Other UK magazines which featured the private
island destination were
Angels and Urchins, Harrods Magazine, Harper’s Bazaar, The Spectator, Wine and Dine, Urbanollogy, and
Tatler.
The luxurious and spacious private getaway has attracted and welcomed
a number of high-profile groups with its all-inclusive package of
exclusivity, relaxation, 24-hour service, excellent cuisine, and a host
of amenities both for the laidback and the adventurous.
Various magazines said Ariara is the ultimate “off the beaten track”
destination where the structures are contemporary in style and have been
designed with sensitivity to the environment.
The resort’s website says it has eight spacious villas and beach cottages situated along Ariara’s 600-meter
white sand beach with uninterrupted views of the sea and neighboring islands.
All bedrooms have private terraces and gardens, dotted with hanging
chairs and hammocks. Many have vaulted ceilings, four poster-style beds,
walk-in wardrobes, enormous bathrooms, and open-air showers.
Every item of furniture in Ariara has been designed, made, and
upholstered in-house by local carpenters and craftsmen in the island’s
own workshops or outsourced to Filipino artisans. Materials were sourced
locally and all furnishings were created using traditional methods:
marble bath hand-carved from single blocks of Romblon marble, wooden
bath made using traditional boat-building techniques, local wood and
rattan cushions made from tribal fabrics in Mindanao, and intricate
wooden chests by indigenous Palawan woodcarvers.
Ariara’s decorative flair is said to be accentuated by striking wall
hangings, heliographs and ceramics made by talented Filipino artist Ugu
Bigyan.
“What is remarkable is that the entire resort is a testament to the
unique artistry and skills of Filipino designers and artisans. The use
of local materials and traditional techniques serves as good advertising
for Filipino craftsmanship and world-class products. Tourism is not
just about counting
tourist arrivals.
More importantly, it is about building opportunities on the ground and
improving lives in communities in very real places,” Jimenez said.
According to Jimenez, the resort’s properly planned development and low density show the owners’ respect for the environment.
“We want to see more of this type of investment which supports the
principles of responsible, ethical, and sustainable tourism,” he said.
The website also related that one British guest to the island said
she had to pinch herself to be sure that the unique mixture of stunning
beauty, cosseting luxury, and peace from anyone’s agenda other than our
own wrapped in the friendliest of support teams were all real.
UK remains to be a key generator of tourist arrivals to the Philippines with the market posting 104,466 visitors last year.
