RP is world’s friendliest country to migrants--survey

First posted 03:48pm (Mla time) Dec 22, 2005
INQ7.net

THE PHILIPPINES is globally the friendliest country to migrants, while Thailand has the biggest number of xenophobic citizens.
The latest Gallup International Voice of the People survey also found that more than half of Asians -- 56 percent -- consider immigration “a good thing for their own country,” even as negative sentiments prevail in the world against people moving from their native land to settle in another country.

The study found 87 percent of Filipinos believing that immigration is good for the country whose own citizens -- five million or so -- have left to work and live in foreign lands.

Malaysia is next to the Philippines in multiethnic Asia as most welcoming to migrants at 80 percent, followed by Vietnam at 68 percent.

Topping Asia and the world in animosity toward migrants at 82 percent is Thailand, whose robust economy attracts cross-border movements of people from neighboring Mekong countries fleeing poverty or countryside war.

Industrializing Taiwan is second most xenophobic in the region at 55 percent, followed by Hong Kong at 47 percent, and Indonesia at 38 percent.

A similar polarity found in Asia can be seen in the Middle East.

Turkey, a country where immigration is “most negatively regarded” at 87 percent, is in sharp contrast with Israel, where 87 percent of people favor immigration.

On a regional basis, Africa is tops in embracing migrants at 63 percent, Asia Pacific at 56 percent, and North America at 54 percent.

In North America, 74 percent of Canadians are pro-immigration. Opinions are more divided in the United States, where immigration rules have become stringent following the September 11 terror attacks in 2001. Forty-four percent of Americans do not support immigration.

The Middle East meanwhile has recorded the highest percentage of negative opinion toward immigrants at 67 percent, Eastern and Central Europe at 61 percent, and Latin America at 53 percent.

One long-held theory on people’s intolerance toward migration concerns fear immigrants will rob locals of domestic jobs, the study said.

“However, results from the Voice of the People survey do not back this view,” the Voice of the People survey said.

“One of the main conclusions is that no difference can be found in the opinion of those working [44 percent believing immigration is good], those not working [45 percent] and the unemployed [45 percent],” it said.

Conducted by market information company TNS, the Gallup International study interviewed around 55,000 citizens in close to 70 countries around the world.

United States is an immigrant country....where 99% of the population r descendants of immigrants

im surprised Japan isn't up there with the most xenophobic countries

Open immigration (with some restrictions i.e. criminals) makes economic sense. To close borders and dry up the influx talent is counterproductive and has a net negative effect on competitiveness.

Locally Bosnian, Ukrainian, Lao, Vietnamese, Koreans, and Somalians (and Kenyans) are adding flavor and growth to our city. The talents they bring enrich all of our lives. They key here is there are no ethnic enclaves...everyone is sprinkled throughout thus I feel we have greater interaction.

Me too. I find it ironic that Gallup International would let Shintaro Ishihara go away that easily.

yes thats exactly what i was thinking someone assassinate him already

what about south korea? there's HK and taiwan, where's china?

so these means more foreigners to kidnap 4 ransome?

delete

delete

nice... might have to visit there sometime.

in philippine? dear, you will surely like here ......

^ oh i didn't mean to live there. i just meant to visit and explore... get some cultural interaction. that would be nice..

oh yeah i know..... what i'm saying you will surely like the places here and the people either.....

the phils is open.... the problem is no foreigner wants to live here... hehehe!

i remember tons of russian prostitutes moved to the outskirts of manila in the mid nineties. there's bunch of koreans there now.

The Philippines is truly a hospitable country. This message sends waves of good things about the Philippines and translates into a NATIONAL ASSET!!!



SPREAD THE GOOD NEWS ABOUT THE PHILIPPINES. MAKE YOUR PEOPLE AND COUNTRY SHINE IN THE WORLD ARENA!!!

why are they so friendly over there you shouldn't be so damn friendly

how did the russo prosties end up in Manila?

why not, this is a big advantage for philippines to attract more vistors and migrants for a succesful economy... anyway we can not omit this trait because it's our nature to be friendly.....

I totally agree with you. Hospitality equals good foreign relations and nice customer service. This, in turn, translates to jobs.

Aside from the Filipinos many inherent talents, work-skills and hard working character, this is one big asset that draws tourism and foreign investments in our shores. Keep it up!!!

I think foreigners don't stay because they're not allow to buy land and houses.

If they were Chinese.

from another survey site:

It was also posted in the WOW philippines website:
http://www.wowphilippines.com.ph/


RP Hotels Top Survey on Customer Satisfaction
Friday, December 09, 2005


Philippine hotels offer no less than the best services.


This is the result of the latest survey posted at ehotelier.com, the most
popular website for tourism and hotel executives.


Based on the Market Metrix Hospitality Index, which covered 35,000 in-depth consumer interviews, the Philippine hotels ranked number one with a score of 89.9% in the list of non-US hotels that deliver premier level of contentment to guests.


Other countries included in the top five list and were also given
acknowledgement for delivering memorable hotel experience are Brazil
(88.9%), Greece (88.3), Singapore (87.9%), and South Korea (87.5%).


Among the categories, in which Philippines topped, were “Friendliness of
reservation agent,” “Efficient check-in,” and “Employees’ ‘can-do’
attitude.”


The survey examined how countries, hotel brands, and guests differ across the global hotel industry. It likewise covered airline and car rental
companies.


Tourism Secretary Ace Durano stated, “The outcome shows us a fascinating glimpse of what Philippine tourism is all about. It only goes to prove how we put high premium and value to all our visitors. There is always the commitment to give leisure and business travelers superior overseas experience when they are in the islands.”


This interesting development is being associated to the consistent growth
rate of tourist arrivals that the Philippines has been receiving,
specifically from the North American region, which has posted an increase of 11.9% based on the latest statistics ­ from last year’s 396,185 travelers to 2005’s 443,184 for the period of January to September. The arrivals from the United States remain to be the country’s top source market.