Tailor made holidays: Philippines is 'blessed' with diversity

For people planning tailor made holidays, what sets the Philippines apart from other destinations is its diversity, according to the Department of Tourism, at the Embassy of the Philippines.

Chit Afuang, officer-in-charge at the department, noted that the country is made up of 7,107 islands, making it the second largest archipelago in the world, behind nearby Indonesia.

"Each island has its own distinct set of attractions, sights, cuisine, culture, festivals and even dialect," she said.

She added that: "The country is also blessed with one of the richest ecosystems and biodiversities. It is home to 500-plus species of corals, 200-plus species of endemic birds and is a hotbed for discovering new species of flora and fauna."

International arrival figures from the Pacific Asia Travel Association found that for March, while some of Asia was suffering a fall in arrivals following the March 11th earthquake and tsunami, south-east Asia saw a ten per cent growth in arrivals.

The archipelago is home to multiple Unesco World Heritage Sites and is ideal for people looking for great views on their tailor made holidays.