Despite the plethora of bad news that seems to be happening all at once the world over, positive developments, like rays of light piercing through a darkened room, still manage to come through even in trickles.
In a recent online article by Jared Rahanan for Forbes magazine, as people slowly emerge for their self-imposed isolation and start to venture further afield literally, the travel writer named the Philippines as one of just seven countries poised to become a major tourist destination in a “post-COVID world.”
Yes, you heard that right. As the whole world enters into a so-called “new normal,” the Philippines, including such potential tourist hot spots as Iran, Ethiopia, and Tunisia, made it to Forbes’ coveted list. Apart from the Philippines, the only Asian country which made it to the list is Myanmar.
What made the country stand out from most of the rest of the competition?
“With roughly 7,500 islands to choose from, this massive archipelago has something to offer for even the most finicky of tourists,” writes Rahanan. “The northernmost island, Luzon, is home to Metro Manila, a truly massive metropolis consisting of 16 cities—the national capital of Manila and the country’s most populous settlement, Quezon City, are two popular destinations for a deep immersion into mainstream Filipino culture.”
But that’s not all, as Rahanan knows that no trip to the islands would be complete without tourists venturing off the beaten track by exploring the Philippines’ world-famous and iconic beaches, especially in the south.
He adds: “Those planning to lounge on the sandy shores should head to Visayas, the country’s central archipelago, where island destinations like Palawan and Boracay offer some of the nation’s finest white sand beaches, as well as countless opportunities to spot some of the endemic plant and animal species of the Philippines.”
Rounding out Forbes’ top seven list of magical places to go to once this horrible pandemic is over are Eastern European countries Georgia and Slovenia.
Like the Philippines, countries that make up the list have several things in common: although blessed with natural and man-made wonders, as well as fairly adequate tourism infrastructure to host foreigners, the respective number of tourists these countries drew before the global lockdown paled in comparison to those of their more celebrated neighbors.
Well, if Forbes’ listing is right on the money, be prepared for a major, major shakeup, as things, are likely to change to our advantage, as far as global tourism goes, post-coronavirus.
