foreign tourists – Page 4 – Author Carlo Carrasco

What to watch on YouTube right now – Part 95

August 15, 2025August 11, 2025carlocarrasco

Welcome back my readers, YouTube viewers and all others who followed this series of articles focused on YouTube videos worth watching. Have you been searching for something fun or interesting to watch on YouTube? Do you feel bored right now and you crave for something to see on the world’s most popular online video destination?

I recommend you check out the following videos I found.

#1 PatmanQC examines Popeye video games – Were you able to play the classic Popeye arcade game from Nintendo in the early 1980s? How about the other video games that featured Popeye the Sailor Man? Indeed, the American icon Elzie Crisler Segar had a presence in video games and I was fortunate enough to play a Popeye game on Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) a long time ago. To find out more about how Popeye went from cartoons and literature to video games, and what led to the production of the arcade game by Nintendo, watch the in-depth retrospective video below by the late PatmanQC.

#2 You, Me and the Movies react to Suburban Commando – In recent times, the famous Hulk Hogan passed away at age 71. Apart from being very famous as a wrestler, he also made his presence felt in movies with such films like Rocky III, No Holds Barred, Suburban Commando and more. Recently, You, Me and the Movies posted its reaction video about Suburban Commando and it is entertaining to watch.

#3 Foreigners love all-you-can-eat in Japan – If you will visit Japan as a tourist, how much food do you plan to eat? Recently there is a trend in which foreigners, specifically tourists from different countries, visiting the all-you-can-eat restaurants in Japan and it is not surprising that such images or details are spreading over social media. If you are interested in food and where to eat in Japan, watch the video below.

#4 Superman Dean Cain joins ICE – Immigration matters, particularly the presence of illegal immigrants, are still hot topics in American society. In recent times, the famous television Superman Dean Cain made the crucial to join the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and help in the effort to apprehend illegal immigrants (who are always supported by Democrats, the terrorists, the criminals, the woke and Satanic Leftists) and deport them. To learn the details about the latest move of the star of Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman, watch the Sky News Australia video below. I also added Minty Comedic Arts trivia video of Lois & Clark for those who want to learn more about the series and Dean Cain’s work.

#5 Twilight Zone: The Movie revisited – When I was a young boy, I saw a preview of Twilight Zone: The Movie on TV before it opened in local cinemas. I only got to watch it on cable TV in the 1990s and replayed it on DVD some years later. The 1983 movie, which had short stories crafted by different directors (including Steven Spielberg and George Miller), is indeed flawed yet a focused attempt by the filmmakers to get people involved with the decades-old Twilight Zone franchise as a whole. That being said, I encourage you to watch the selected Twilight Zone: The Movie videos below.

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Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at @HavenorFantasy as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram athttps://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

What to watch on YouTube right now – Part 94

August 11, 2025August 8, 2025carlocarrasco

I recommend you check out the following videos I found.

#1 Popcorn in Bed react to Man of Steel – It has been over twelve years since I first saw Man of Steel in the cinema. Directed by Zack Snyder, the 2013 Superman movie had a mixed reception but managed to gross $670 million worldwide and led Warner Bros. to releasing more DC Comics superhero movies in a shared universe (ended in 2023). Recently, Popcorn in Bed finally posted its reaction video of Man of Steel and I can say it is worth the wait. Watch it now.

#2 Where to buy onigiri in Tokyo – Have you tried eating onigiri lately? Onigiri is a rice ball (rice wrapped in nori) popular in Japan and it is eaten by hand. While there is a growing number of convenience stores selling onigiri, there is still nothing like buying freshly made onigiri in dedicated stores or restaurants in Tokyo. Watch and learn from the video below.

#3 Faked presentation of starvation in Gaza exposed! – You might have seen all the news and images about starvation in Gaza through mainstream news outlets such as CNN, MSNBC, The New York Times, Reuters, Associated Press, Agence France-Presse, The Washington Post and more. Countless reports and images were published showing Gaza residents (Palestinians) desperate for food made gullible people sympathetic for the hungry while also becoming angry towards Israel. The truth of the matter is that the portrayal of Palestinian starvation is fake, staged and deliberately crafted by the Islamic terrorists who have lots of mainstream news media partners-in-crime with them. There is no real famine in Gaza at all and it is undeniable that Palestinian terrorist group Hamas (loved by the Islamo-Leftist media) stole humanitarian aid to feed themselves leaving nothing for their fellow Gaza residents. Watch and learn from the videos below.

#4 Full Metal Jacket reaction videos – Released in 1987, Stanley Kubrick’s Full Metal Jacket succeeded in intriguing or even shocking moviegoers whose perception of the Vietnam War got shaken. To be clear, the movie (which starred Matthew Modine, R. Lee Ermey, Vincent D’Onofrio, Adam Baldwin, and Arliss Howard) was more than just about war. It also showed the dehumanizing effects of war preparation, the dark humor that happens during war time and how people react when their emotional limits and sanity were really pushed hard. That being said, you should see how the movie draws reactions from the following YouTubers through their respective reaction videos.

#5 Slope’s Game Room examines Castlevania game franchise – Since the 1980s, Konami and its talented developers produced a whole lot of Castlevania video games ranging from 2D side-scrolling adventures into 3D polygonal escapades. Considering how significant Castlevania is as a game franchise, now is a good time to examine the history of Castlevania through the in-depth videos of Slope’s Game Room below.

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Philippines attracts 3.47 million international visitors as of July 30, 2025

August 10, 2025July 31, 2025carlocarrasco

As the Department of Tourism (DOT) gave the press updates about the state and direction of tourism, it was revealed that the international visitors who arrived in the Philippines this year reached less than 3.5 million as of July 30, according to a Philippine News Agency (PNA) news article.

For the newcomers reading this, the DOT confirmed early this year that the nation attracted less than 6 million foreign tourists in 2024 (note: the declared target was 7.7 million) and quickly pointed to all-time high revenue for success and the tourism industry as a whole contributed 8.9% to the 2024 Philippines gross domestic product (GDP).

By attracting 3.47 million international visitors as of July 30, 2025, it looks like the Philippines will barely reach the 6 million mark by the end of the year, and there is no denying the fact that not enough foreign tourists are visiting the country. Keep in mind that in the Philippine perspective, international visitors include both foreign tourists and overseas Filipinos.

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the PNA news article. Some parts in boldface…

The Philippine tourism sector has so far generated USD4.2 billion (PHP242 billion) in visitor receipts from Jan. 1 to June 18, the Department of Tourism (DOT) said Thursday. Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco said the figure is up 0.48 percent, year on year.

As of July 30, the agency recorded 3,473,726 international visitors – 3.15 million foreigners and 317,536 overseas Filipinos.

In a media briefing in Makati City, Frasco said the DOT is planning to recalibrate its targets for 2025 to take into consideration the challenges the sector is currently facing.

Despite this, aggressive promotions will continue in the Philippines’ top markets, including South Korea, Japan, and the United States.

The DOT, Frasco said, would also increase Philippine exposure in Canada to capture more Canadian visitors with the recent launch of direct flights from Air Canada.

With recalibration underway, Manila is likewise looking at emerging markets to boost arrivals, among them Australia, the United Arab Emirates, and India, Frasco said.

“We’re taking a very close look at these exciting markets, especially India, which now has visa-free access and forthcoming direct flights to Manila,” she said.

Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Do you think the DOT right now cannot come up with effective solutions to make the Philippines a more attractive tourist destination? Do you think Congress should increase the annual budget of the DOT so that it can execute its tourism plans? Does the DOT need a new leader right now?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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What to watch on YouTube right now – Part 93

August 4, 2025August 10, 2025carlocarrasco

I recommend you check out the following videos I found.

#1 Ashleigh Burton reacts to Octopussy – As a young boy, I first saw the 1983 James Bond movie Octopussy on home video. Starring Roger Moore, the movie has Agent 007 on another wild adventure facing off with a Soviet Union general and the exiled Afghan prince. With a notable part of the film shot on location in India, Octopussy’s action and stunt scenes looked exotic and sometimes comical. That being said, I enjoyed watch Ashleigh Burton’s reaction video and it is easily the most entertaining Octopussy reaction video on YouTube to date. Watch her video now.

#2 Trump crushes the European Union and wins big for America – After executing the greatest comeback ever, US President Donald Trump’s winning streak of achievements continued as he scored big for the Americans by crushing the corrupted European Union (EU). Not only did American win over the EU on trade, Trump slammed Europe’s approach on migration as well as their renewable energy policies in front of the president of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen. Watch the two videos below and pay close attention to the details.

#3 Slope’s Game Room examines Theme Park – While I played a lot of video games and computer games through the decades, I never had the chance to play the 1994 game Theme Park. Developed by Bullfrog Productions, Theme Park is a simulation game in which players get to construct an amusement park and manage it with the goal of attracting visitors, making profit and expanding globally. The game was a major hit among critics and gamers. To find out more about who made Theme Park and what inspired the developers to make it, watch Slope Game Room’s in-depth video below.

#4 Popcorn in Bed reacts to Jaws 2 – Recently the Canadian YouTuber Popcorn in Bed posted her reaction video of Jaws 2. A sequel to Steven Spielberg’s classic Jaws, the 1978 movie had Roy Scheider as the star again but he and director Jeannot Szwarc had conflicts behind the scenes and the production was troublesome. Having seen all Jaws movies, I can say that Jaws 2 had a lot of creative elements common with slasher horror movies. That being said, the way this movie drew reactions from Popcorn in Bed is a must-see.

#5 Japan’s authorities react to troublesome foreigners and tourists from overseas – There is no denying that Japan is a great place to visit and explore. As a young man, I toured Japan twice (in 1996 and 1997) and I can say that the travel experience is tremendous. In today’s age of social media and people having their own smartphones, Japan continues to attract even more visitors from around the world and the sad thing is that there are troublesome or disrespectful foreigners who arrived as well. Now the authorities are making adjustments in reaction. Watch and learn from the video of Asian Route below. Also, remember to respect the rules and the locals in every country you visit.

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Government pushing direct international access to Philippine tourist hubs

July 22, 2025July 14, 2025carlocarrasco

In what is clearly an attempt to help the Philippines attract more foreign tourists, the government is pushing to open regional tourism and business hubs to international flights which should enable foreigners to have better access to other parts of the country, according to a Manila Bulletin news report.

For context, it has been reported already that the Philippines is failing on attracting foreign tourists when compared to the other Southeast Asian nations. In 2024, the Philippines attracted less than 6 million foreign tourists and the Department of Tourism’s (DOT) declared target for the year was 7.7 million foreign tourists.

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the Manila Bulletin news report. Some parts in boldface…

President Marcos has underscored the government’s push to open regional tourism and business hubs to international flights, saying these would allow foreign travelers to skip Metro Manila and head straight to their chosen destinations.

Marcos said this as he led the groundbreaking of the Caticlan Passenger Terminal Building in Aklan on Monday, July 18.

In his speech, the President said regional airports such as Caticlan are key to welcoming foreign travelers directly to Philippine destinations, bypassing Metro Manila and stimulating regional economies.

“We are slowly putting together the building blocks of our policy of opening up our tourist areas… to international travelers without having to go through the Manila Airport,” he said.

Marcos added that the new passenger terminal, which will serve as the main airport gateway to Boracay and other destinations in Western Visayas, would help ease travel to the region and boost economic activity.

“It is not just Aklan who is involved in this; it is the entire region that will be assisted by the construction of this terminal building,” he said.

Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Do you think the national authorities will be able to establish new ways for foreign tourists to skip Metro Manila and move on to their chosen destinations located in other parts of the country? On a scale of 1 to 10, how would you rate the current state of tourism in the Philippines?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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For more South Metro Manila community news and developments, come back here soon. Also say NO to fake news, NO to irresponsible journalism, NO to misinformation, NO to plagiarists, NO to reckless publishers and NO to sinister propaganda when it comes to news and developments. For South Metro Manila community developments, member engagement, commerce and other relevant updates, join the growing South Metro Manila Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/342183059992673

Domestic travel leading recovery of Philippine tourism industry

July 15, 2025July 11, 2025carlocarrasco

While it is a fact that the Philippines is failing on attracting visitors from overseas, the real estate advisory firm Leechiu Property Consultants (LPC) pointed to domestic travel as the key to the industry’s recovery, according to a news article by the Philippine News Agency (PNA).

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the PNA news article. Some parts in boldface…

Domestic travel continues to lead the recovery of the Philippine tourism industry, with its receipts able to make up for the “shortfall” in international arrivals, real estate advisory firm Leechiu Property Consultants (LPC) said Thursday.

“Domestic travel is so big. It’s so big and strong that it can make up for, now in the short term, the shortfall of international arrivals,” Alfred Lay, LPC director for Hotels, Tourism, and Leisure, said during the presentation of the LPC Q2 2025 Philippine Property Market Report in Makati City.

“It can do that for a long time, and the long-term goal for domestic tourism would probably to double (its) size within the next five to 10 years.”

Lay noted that domestic tourism expenditure in 2024 reached PHP3.16 trillion, surpassing the pre-pandemic level of PHP3.14 trillion in 2019. Tourism contributed 8.9 percent of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) last year.

International tourism expenditures, on the other hand, stood at PHP699 billion, up from PHP600 billion pre-pandemic levels, despite missing the 2024 targets.

In an interview, Lay said he expects inbound arrivals this year to reach at least six million.

He noted that the arrival of South Korean visitors, the Philippines’ top market, has seen a decline in the past five months, likely due to the “negative media coverage” in South Korea over security issues in the country, but long-haul tourists are increasing and have offset the decline.

According to the LPC report, Korean arrivals in the first five months of 2025 dipped 19 percent to 552,000 from 682,000 in the same period last year, while inbound arrivals from the United States, Japan, Australia, and Canada surged between 9 percent and 19.4 percent.

Additional routes and flight frequencies, he said, are likewise expected to sustain this upward momentum.

Meanwhile, Lay addressed news coverage about the affordability of travel to the Philippines, stating that the country only ranks in the “middle of the pack” in terms of hotel average daily rates (ADR) compared to Southeast Asian neighbors and competitors.

The LPC report showed that the Philippines ranks fourth in hotel ADR at PHP6,048, with Thailand (PHP8,171), Cambodia (PHP6,591), and Vietnam (PHP6,359) in the top three places.

Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Do you think the tourism industry of the Philippines will do better this year with domestic travel as the main factor? Do you think it is still possible for the Philippines to attract at least six million foreign tourists by the end of this year? Do you think both the national government and private sector should work together to improve local infrastructure so that the cost of travel will go down?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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Philippines tourism industry failing to attract many foreign visitors this year

July 10, 2025July 14, 2025carlocarrasco

Based on the latest international tourism statistics and analysis for 2025, the Philippines is clearly failing to attract foreign tourists when compared to its Southeast Asian neighbors, according to a news article by VnExpress.

For the newcomers reading this, the Philippines attracted 5.95 million foreign tourists in 2024 and generated more than P760 billion in tourism revenue. The entire Philippine tourism industry registered an 8.9% share of the Philippine gross domestic product (GDP) for 2024. The nation’s tourism industry had a strong start of over P65 billion in revenue for January 2025.

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the VnExpress news article. Some parts in boldface…

An online debate has erupted on social media as users wonder why the Philippines, with its rich nature, culture, and cuisine, is being overlooked by foreign tourists in favor of destinations like Vietnam and Thailand.

Thea Tan, a Filipino, posted on her X account in May expressing frustration over the Philippines’ underwhelming tourism numbers despite offering what other countries dream of: breathtaking beaches, vibrant culture, incredible food, and the warmest locals.

“So, why are tourists still choosing Thailand, Vietnam, and Bali over us?” she asked.

The post quickly went viral, accumulating over 9,000 likes and hundreds of comments.

In the first quarter of the year, Malaysia topped the list of most-visited Southeast Asian countries, with 10.1 million arrivals, followed by Thailand (9.55 million), Vietnam (6 million), and Singapore (4.3 million). By April, the Philippines had only welcomed 2.1 million visitors.

In 2024, the country saw 5.9 million foreign tourists, falling short of the government’s target of 7.7 million and far behind its regional neighbors including Cambodia, which had 6.7 million visitors.

Many online users, like Tan, argue that the Philippines is not considered a top priority destination in ASEAN.

“We are tiring out tourists with poor infrastructure and complicated transportation,” Tan noted.

Even locals find domestic travel expensive and difficult, let alone for foreign visitors, according to comments on the post.

“The Philippines has beautiful beaches, delicious food, and friendly people, but it lacks roads, reliable airports, and public transportation. Most importantly, the prices here are too high,” one local shared.

Another netizen pointed out, “In all the countries you’ve mentioned, their capitals are also tourist destinations. Manila, on the other hand, is boring for tourists. We don’t have decent museums or historical tours, and moving around in Manila is not easy either.”

A netizen added, “The government isn’t investing in quality tourist facilities and infrastructure like our neighboring countries. That’s where we’re lagging behind.“

Recently, the Philippines was ranked as the most dangerous destination by U.K. financial comparison site HelloSafe in a survey dismissed by the Philippines’ tourism experts as biased and misleading.

Victor Lim, president of the Federation of Filipino-Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry, emphasized that the Philippines must improve its infrastructure and enhance safety measures to establish itself as a leading tourist destination in Southeast Asia, Philstar reported.

Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Do you think the Department of Tourism and its strategic partners should get together and come up with hard adjustments to make the Philippines more attractive to foreigners? What do you think are the five biggest problems of the tourism industry of the country? Do you consider tourism-related awards crucial to the Philippines’ ability to attract visitors from around the world?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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Tourism registers 8.9% share of 2024 Philippine gross domestic product

June 23, 2025June 20, 2025carlocarrasco

The tourism of the industry of the Philippines accounted for a share of 8.9% of the nation’s gross domestic product (GDP) for the year 2024, according to a BusinessWorld news report.

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the news report of BusinessWorld. Some parts in boldface…

THE SHARE of the tourism industry in the Philippine economy rose to a five-year high of 8.9% in 2024, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) said on Thursday.

Tourism direct gross value added (TDGVA) — an indicator of the economic contribution from tourism-related activities — jumped by 11.2% year on year to P2.35 trillion last year, preliminary data from the PSA showed.

However, TDGVA growth was slower than the 49.9% surge logged in 2023 and the slowest annual growth since the 10.3% expansion in 2020.

Despite the slower growth, the share of TDGVA to the economy rose to 8.9% in 2024, the highest share since the 12.9% recorded in 2019.

By industry, country-specific tourism characteristics goods – shopping accounted for 21.8% of the total with P512.68 billion. It was followed by miscellaneous services (20.2% share or P476.23 billion) and accommodation services for visitors (18.4% share or P432.9 billion).

Domestic tourism expenditure, which includes resident visitors’ spending within the country on a domestic trip or as part of an international trip, grew by 16.4% to P3.16 trillion last year.

Outbound tourism spending reached P345.68 billion in 2024, rising by 37.5% from P251.35 billion in 2023.

Inbound tourism expenditure, meanwhile, inched up by 0.4% annually to P699.99 billion. Total employment in the tourism sector grew by 6.1% to 6.75 million in 2024. Tourism accounted for 13.8% of the total jobs in the country in 2024.

The majority of the tourism-related jobs were centered on miscellaneous activities. The health and wellness sector employed 1.83 million, accounting for a 27.1% share.

The accommodation and food and beverage sector had 1.69 million workers (25% share), while passenger transport had 1.67 million workers (24.7%).

Reinielle Matt M. Erece, an economist at Oikonomiya Advisory and Research, Inc. said easing inflation helped boost tourism spending last year.

“Lower inflation relative to 2023 and better economic conditions in the country may have encouraged tourists due to better prices,” he said in an e-mail. Inflation averaged 3.2% in 2024, cooling from the 15-year high of 6% in 2023.

Last year, the Department of Tourism recorded 5.95 million visitor arrivals, falling short of its 7.7 million target.

“While Philippine tourism has made substantial progress — particularly in revenue generation — it hasn’t achieved full recovery in terms of visitor numbers, and the pace of recovery appears to be slowing in early 2025,” Leonardo A. Lanzona, Jr., an economics professor in Ateneo de Manila University, said in an e-mail.

Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Do you think Philippine tourism will end up being weaker as an economic sector this year? Do you think the weakening Philippine Peso will convince foreigners to visit the Philippines very soon?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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What to watch on YouTube right now – Part 71

April 21, 2025April 17, 2025carlocarrasco

I recommend you check out the following videos I found.

#1 President Marcos talks about troublesome Russian vlogger Vitaly Zdorovetskiy – It has been weeks since Russian vlogger and live streamer Vitaly Zdorovetskiy caused trouble and harassed people here in the Philippines which resulted in his arrest. While he is in prison as the local authorities prepare to press charges against him, no less than President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr., noticed Vitaly during an official vlog via the Bongbong Marcos YouTube channel. Marcos begins to talk about Vitaly during the 2^nd half of his video. The mere fact that the President of the Philippines notices and shares his views about Vitaly should send a strong signal to troublesome live streamers/vloggers overseas that they will be punished here in the Philippines if they cause trouble for the sake of entertaining a live audience.

#2 In-depth analysis of the interrogation scene in 1984’s The Terminator – The Terminator from 1984 is the subject of multiple video reviews, reaction videos, retrospective and film analysis on YouTube. After digging through several analysis videos, I found one that is very focused on the interrogation scene of Kyle Reese and the YouTuber shared some really compelling views about it. Watch the video below.

#3 Why Tron still looks great explained – I saw Tron many times in my life from the first time seeing it on home video in 1983, on cable TV and on DVD. Even until now, the 1982 film – which used computer-generated graphics mixed with other forms of cinematic visualizing – still looks great and has aged like fine wine. The video below explains exactly why and it is a must-see.

#4 VKunia and Ashleigh Burton react to Captain America: Civil War – Back in 2016, there was a local cinema that actually organized an unusual gimmick to accommodate moviegoers…by playing Captain America: Civil War on a 24-hour basis. I saw the movie at a 5:30 AM showing back then. While it definitely was the third Captain America movie (note: I will not count the fake Captain America movie subtitled Brave New World), it was actually more of a mini-Avengers movie which clearly took some of the spotlight away from the titular character. It was fun to watch and I encourage you to see how it impacted VKunia and Ashleigh Burton in their respective reaction videos below.

#5 PatmanQC examines the history of Batman Returns video games – Batman Returns was a big hit in cinemas around the world, although it never came close to matching the global ticket sales of its 1989 predecessor. Regardless, there was a lot of merchandising related with the movie as well as several video game adaptations. I played the Konami-developed Batman Returns game on the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES) but never got to play the movie-based games on the Sega Genesis and Sega CD. To know more about the games based on the 1992 movie, watch PatmanQC’s in-depth video below.

#6 Minty Comedic Arts’ trivia video about What About Bob? – Back in 1991, the comedy film What About Bob? was released in cinemas and it attracted mostly positive reviews from the critics. Many people were impressed by the performances delivered by Bill Murray and Richard Dreyfuss. Recently, Minty Comedic Arts posted a trivia video about the film which you can watch below.

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DOT points to VAT refund for foreign tourists as factor for growth this year

April 13, 2025April 8, 2025carlocarrasco

By pointing to the VAT refund for foreign tourists (click here and here), the Department of Tourism (DOT) is looking forward to growth in tourism revenue this year, according to a BusinessWorld news report.

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the report of the BusinessWorld news report. Some parts in boldface…

THE Department of Tourism (DoT) said tourism revenue is expected to rise this year, aided by the new tax refund for tourists.

“2024 was a banner year for Philippine tourism, with international spending reaching around P760 billion, a 126% recovery rate (from pre-pandemic levels). Our goal was always to exceed that, which we achieved the previous year,” Tourism Secretary Ma. Esperanza Christina G. Frasco said on Monday.

She said that the value-added tax (VAT) refund for foreign tourists and DoT’s collaboration with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) will encourage more visitor spending.

She added such measures will allow the country “to exceed its international visitor receipts as well as domestic tourism receipts from the year before.”

On Monday, the DTI and DoT signed a memorandum of agreement (MoA) to strengthen coordination in promoting tourism-related industries, participate in joint trade and tourism missions, develop sustainable tourism-related enterprises, and encourage the growth of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs).

“Through this MoA, we will give our tourism MSMEs the platform to avail of the programs of the DTI, especially in supporting the expansion of their livelihood and businesses,” Ms. Frasco said.

Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Do you think the VAT refund for tourists will actually result in an increase of tourism revenue in the Philippines this year?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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