Southeast Asia has exploded into the cruise tourism scene as one of the most in demand destinations and Manila has ridden this new wave into prominence. The government of the Philippines is capitalizing on this new market space by rebuilding and restructuring its ports and facilities in a move that will simultaneously bring in tourist traffic and stimulate the local economy.

The Philippines is getting a share of cruise passenger traffic, largely due to the global interest in Southeast Asia as the newest cruise destination. The Department of Tourism (DOT) is bullish on cruise tourism, as visiting international cruise liners contribute significantly to foreign tourist arrivals. The latest to make its inaugural call at Philippine ports on October 26-27, 2012, was the Florida-based Royal Caribbean’s Legend of the Seas, with 2,500 tourists onboard the vessel. The cruise tourists toured Manila’s famous spots and explored the white powdery beaches of Boracay island.

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