Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority Takes Back Grande Island

Due to lease violations on the part of GFTG Holdings Corp., the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) repossessed Grand Island in Subic Bay, according to a news report by the Philippine Daily Inquirer.

Grande Island is a historic island located several kilometers away from the shores of the Subic Bay Freeport Zone. The island used to be Fort Wint (American military defense point) and through the decades, it became a US naval resort and even as a processing site for foreign refugees. Grande Island today is a tourism location accessible by boat. For the Philippines, Grande Island is considered strategically important as it provides a clear view of sea lanes in the West Philippine Sea.

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

Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Are you glad that the SBMA took back Grand Island given its high value as a tourism spot as well as being a highly strategic site related to developments in the West Philippine Sea? Were you surprised that Chinese nationals were caught in Grande Island for spying on Philippine and American naval assets?

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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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

Estonian Vlogger Arrested In Dumaguete City

Over in Dumaguete City, an Estonian Vlogger who runs the YouTube channel Pro Life Traveler was apprehended by operatives of the Bureau of Immigration (BI) for allegedly harassing Filipinos and causing other forms of disturbance (example: asking inappropriate questions to underage women), the authorities announced online. The arrest was done in coordination with the local Philippine National Police (PNP) officers and barangay officials.

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

Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Have you seen the videos of the YouTube channel of the apprehended Estonian vlogger? Do you think the comparisons with the deported Russian live streamer Vitaly Zdorovetskiy were fair? Do you think more foreign vloggers and live streamers will still come here in the Philippines and cause disturbances for the sake of online mileage?

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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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

Philippines Grants 14-Day Visa-Free Entry To Chinese Visitors

In what is clearly a bid to enhance tourism, investments and trade, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) announced that Chinese nationals are being granted visa-free entry into the Philippines and they are allowed to stay up to fourteen days, according to a GMA Network news report.

The Philippines continues to fail to attract enough foreign tourists and the growth of the national economy clearly slowed down in recent times.

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

For added context about the potential risks that come with attracting Chinese tourists, watch the video below.

Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Do you think this new policy by the national government is the right move even though there is tension between Communist China and the Philippines? Does this new policy make the Philippines look very desperate to attract money from Chinese visitors? Are you concerned that criminal activities here in the Philippines will get worse as more Chinese tourists enter the country?

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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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

Russian Live Streamer Deported

Vitaly Zdorovetskiy, the Russian vlogger and live streamer who caused disturbances here in the Philippines, was deported to Russia by the local authorities, according to a news article by the Philippine News Agency (PNA).

For my previous blog posts about Vitaly Zdorovetskiy, click here, here, here and here.

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

Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Were you able to personally witness Vitaly Zdorovetskiy’s pranks and disturbing acts here in the Philippines? Do you think the deportation will send a strong message to IRL streamers and other liver streamers overseas that the Philippines will not tolerate their acts of disrespect and public nuisance?

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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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

Business Group Proposes New Blueprint To Solve Bottlenecks of Tourism In The Philippines

Things are clearly not looking good for the Philippines economically and also on international tourism. The Philippines was left behind by many of its Southeast Asian neighbors even as the region attracted more foreign tourists in 2025. Vietnam attracted more than 21 million foreign tourists last year and they are clearly benefiting from the ongoing tourism boom. That said, it is not surprising to see a local business group or federation make noise and urge the government to implement comprehensive reforms to solve the many problems of the tourism industry of the Philippines which the Manila Bulletin recently reported.

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

Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Do you think the FFCCCII is correct about the current state of Philippine tourism? Do you find the FFCCCII’s proposal sensible and believable? Do you think the Department of Tourism (DOT) should take the FFCCCII’s proposal very seriously? Do you thinking it is inevitable that other business chambers from around the Philippines will push for tourism industry reforms?

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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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

Department of Tourism Claims Domestic Tourism Surged During 2025 Christmas Break

With the slowing economic growth and clear weakness on international tourism compared with many Southeast Asian neighbors, the Philippines still has domestic tourists to rely on and many Filipinos traveled around the country during the 2025 Christmas season, according to the Department of Tourism (DOT) announcement published via the Philippine Information Agency (PIA).

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the DOT announcement via the PIA. Some parts in boldface…

Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Do you think DOT is honest and transparent with its claims of surging domestic tourists during the 2025 Christmas season? Do you think the DOT should focus more on domestic tourism so that the nation’s tourism industry will grow better and become less dependent on tourists from abroad? Do you think the “Love the Philippines” should be replaced 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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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

Vietnam Attracts All-Time High 21.2 Million Foreign Tourist Arrivals In 2025

Vietnam, a nation ravaged by war decades ago, has emerged as a major tourism magnet in both Southeast Asia and Asia as a whole after successfully attracting more than twenty-one million foreign tourists in 2025, according to a VnExpress International news report. The figure is a new all-time high. What Vietnam achieved was more than 20% higher than its 2024 foreign tourist numbers. For 2026, Vietnam is aiming high with a target of 25 million foreign visitors.

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

Foreign tourists welcomed in Vietnam. (photo credit: Ho Chi Minh City Department of Tourism)

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this development? Considering the strong international tourism momentum it has right now, do you think Vietnam will succeed in attracting 25 million foreign tourists this year? Do you think a lot more visitors from Europe will come to Vietnam 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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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

Philippines Department of Tourism Condemns Fatal Shooting of Two Japanese Nationals

As the Philippines continues to experience difficulty attracting foreign tourists, a tragedy struck two Japanese nationals in the City of Manila which led to the Department of Tourism’s (DOT) condemnation of the fatal shooting committed by motorcycle-riding assailants, according to a news article by the Philippine News Agency (PNA).

For the newcomers reading this, Japan accounted for 444,528 visitors in the Philippines for the year 2024 which was a huge growth over the 2023 numbers.

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

Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Do you think the fatal shooting of the two Japanese nationals in Manila is already heavily damaging the Philippines’ standing as a tourist destination? Do you think that people in Japan are already turned off by the tragedy of August 15?

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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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

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

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

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…

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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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

Government pushing direct international access to Philippine tourist hubs

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…

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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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

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