[ Published by : manilatimes.net ]
Wednesday, February 06, 2008
The Department of Tourism is expanding its reach to the Taiwan market, initiating exchanges with the travel trade players from the cities of Taipei, Kaohsiung and Taichung.
“Taiwan has traditionally been one of the Philippines’ major trading and investment partners,” noted Tourism Secretary Joseph “Ace” Durano. “Our strategy involves not only reinforcing our presence, but also offering something new and reaching out to travelers based outside Taipei.”
Last year, the Philippines recorded 112,206 tourist arrivals from Taiwan, making that country sixth in the list of the top 10 tourist markets in 2007.
The Philippines is actually Taiwan’s closest tropical beach destination, and “sun and surf” was the main offering at the Philippine pavilion during the recent Taipei International Travel Fair.
Taiwan’s largest tourism event attracted over 100,000 business decision makers and potential travelers this year. A total of 861 organizations from 62 countries and regions set up shop in the 23,500-square meter exhibit hall at the Taipei World Trade Center.
Undersecretary for Tourism Planning and Promotions Eduardo Jarque Jr. led the Philippine delegation on their weeklong mission around Taiwan. He was accompanied by Tourism Marketing Head for Team Asia-Pacific Rica Bueno and Tourism Attaché to Taiwan, Rene Reyes.
“The private sector participants were very pleased with how the fair turned out. Not only were they able to align with their Taiwanese counterparts, they also generated business with the tourists who booked their Philippine holiday on-site. One agent was able to make Boracay bookings for as much as 60 people,” Jarque said.
Tourism department representatives also met with Taiwan’s top travel media outfits such as Travel Trend News, World Travel Weekly, Pacific Daily and Travel Rich to augment the promotional activities.
Kaohsiung is Taiwan’s second largest city located in the southern part of the country. Taichung lies on the west-central area and is the third most populous city in Taiwan.
The Philippine contingent also held travel exchanges at the two cities, where 15 travel wholesalers and other tourism establishments met with Taiwanese counterparts.
“Many of the Taiwanese operators were interested in including Boracay and Palawan in their packages, as these are relatively new destinations for their clients,” Bueno said.
-- Katrice R. Jalbuena
[ Published by : manilatimes.net ] February 6, 2008
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