Tourism department urged to target long-haul tourists

By: Abigail L. Ho
Philippine Daily Inquirer

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While the government should target as wide a base of tourists as possible, the Department of Tourism should exert more effort to encourage long-haul tourists, including those from Europe, to visit the country as they tend to stay longer and spend more.

According to Aileen Clemente, president of the Philippine Travel Agencies Association, visitors from Korea, Japan and the United States still accounted for the bulk of foreign tourists visiting the country in terms of volume.

“But those statistics can’t be taken by themselves. For example, fewer European tourists come here, but they stay longer. Tourists from long-haul destinations such as Europe give us more tourism receipts,” Ms. Clemente said in an interview.

Citing government data, she said foreign tourists spent about $90 a day. The longer they stayed in the country, the more they spent. Domestic tourists, on the other hand, spend around P2,000 a day.

Apart from tourists from long-haul destinations, Clemente said the local tourism industry should also target visitors from emerging markets such as China and India—both are huge, untapped markets.

“We have to have a portfolio. We can’t just focus on a few segments. We have to cater to the strong arrivals and the emerging markets as well,” she said.

To be successful in expanding the country’s tourism portfolio, Clemente said some policy changes would have to be implemented.

“We really have to adopt a more flexible visa system,” she said.

In a letter to the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Bureau of Immigration, the PTAA—together with the Philippine Travel Operators Association and Board of Airline Representatives—sought a more liberal visa policy.

The request was to make all nationalities entering the country, even those in transit, automatically eligible upon arrival. Only those coming from countries that had been pre-determined as security threats should go through the usual visa procedures.

Also, foreigners and group visa applicants from their respective home countries should no longer be required to make personal appearances at Philippine consulates and embassies. On the part of travel agents and tour operators, they should be required to submit a list of their tourists upon completion of their visa requirements.

PHILTOA sets 22nd Travel Mart

El Nido Resort, Miniloc Island (Photos by DENNIS DAYAO)

MANILA, Philippines -- Looking for a great vacation spot?

If you’re a travel enthusiast or you’re just in the mood to have a weekend getaway with your loved ones, you should definitely visit the 22nd Philippine Travel Mart (PTM) this September. Not only will it be held in a bigger venue at the SMX Convention Center in SM Mall of Asia on September 2-4, it will also feature even more tour and travel packages to the most beautiful places in the country.

The annual event is organized by the Philippine Tour Operators Association (PHILTOA) and is supported by the Department of Tourism. Hundreds of exhibitors will be present at the PTM to offer tour packages that cater to the different travel preferences of companies and individuals.

“We’re always looking to make the experience at the Philippine Travel Mart better and more engaging,” says Cesar Cruz, PHILTOA president. “Aside from wanting a bigger venue so that we could accommodate more participants, we also wanted to offer something different. In line with our aim to also make the Philippines a premier destination for luxury travel, we recently awarded the Top 10 Luxe Destinations in the Philippines. We will also be offering tour packages for these destinations at the 22nd Philippine Travel Mart.”

In addition, the 22nd Philippine Travel Mart will have seminars and cultural performances such as the Cultural Dance Competition the Eco-Chorale, and a memorable performance centered on the revival of the kundiman, which is a genre of traditional Filipino love songs.

Not only will there be tour packages exclusively available at the PTM, there will also be educational seminars for those who are interested in learning about the current trends in the travel industry. For the younger generation, there will be a Tourism Quiz Bee, which encourages friendly competition among its contestants as they find an engaging way to know more about the Philippines.

With its numerous activities, fun games, and great travel deals in store for everyone, the 22nd Philippine Travel Mart is a must-visit for people who are looking for a perfect vacation spot where they could unwind and have fun with their friends and relatives.

“I’d like to invite everyone to drop by the 22nd Philippine Travel Mart on September 2-4 at the SMX Convention Center in SM Mall of Asia,” Cruz says. “Aside from a variety of tour and travel packages, you also get to know more about the local culture.”

The Philippine Tour Operators Association (PHILTOA), Inc. is an organization of tour operators and allied members actively involved in the advocacy of responsible tourism. Founded on 12 June 1986, non-stock and non-profit organization. The membership includes travel agencies, hotel, resorts, transportation companies, handicraft stores, and other tourism-oriented establishments and association. For more information on the 22nd Philippine Travel Mart, please visit www.philtoa.org.

 

Introducing Filipinos to the Philippines

By Tina Arceo-Dumlao

Philippine Daily Inquirer

IT’S A shame, really, that many well-traveled Filipinos know more about other countries than they do their own, making them the proverbial strangers in their own homeland.

One reason is cost, because traveling to some parts of the Philippines may indeed be more expensive than going to Hong Kong, Macau or Singapore. Another could be plain ignorance of where to go and how to get there.

Some might just need a little bit of convincing that they should know more about what makes the Philippines unique and why they should be proud to be called Filipino.

To address these concerns, the Philippine Tour Operators Association (Philtoa), the country’s biggest association of travel and tour operators, formulated “fun, innovative and educational” tour packages to suit every budget, from as low as P100 a person for the Hop On/Hop Off Pasig Ferry Cruise to P8,999 a person for a three-day, two-night tour of the orchid farms, fruit stands and historical sites of Davao.

Enticing

Philtoa president Cesar Cruz says the tour packages are specifically designed to entice Filipinos to their own culture, and the accent is on “experiencing” the places to be visited, not just look at them and take pictures.

This type of tour particularly appeals to young Filipinos who are eager to go out, spend and experience the world.

With the Kulinarya packages, for example, travelers will get to enjoy the desserts, pastries, homegrown delicacies, savory meals and the unique take on seafood of provinces known for their culinary heritage, such as Batangas, Laguna, Cavite, Bulacan and Pampanga. These tours will just take a day – eight hours – and cost only between P1,850 and P2,500 a person for a minimum tour group of six.

For those who want to throw in a long drive, Philtoa has come up with Pack and Go Island Getaways featuring Banaue (P2,999 a person), Vigan (P3,390 a person), Puerto Galera (P3,500 each) and Bicol (P7,950 a person). The three-day, two-night package includes the use of air conditioned coaches/ferry as well as accommodation, breakfast and select activities.

New sights

For those looking to discover new sights within flying distance, Philtoa has its fly and go island getaways to Bacolod, Bohol, Boracay, Cebu, Davao, Iloilo, Laoag and Palawan. Prices ranging from P6,800 to P8,999 include the roundtrip airfare, accommodation, breakfast, on-site transfers and tours.

Even those who are pressed for time have something to look forward to because Philtoa has prepared City Break packages.

These include the Manila Jeepney Experience for a guided tour of Manila (P500 each), the Binondo Culinary Walking Tour (P950 a person) and the Pasig Ferry Cruise (P100 each).

Cruz is optimistic that Filipinos will snap up these special tour packages to be featured during the 21st Philippine Travel Mart from September 3-5 at SM Megatrade Hall, SM Megamall because there is a palpable and growing desire among Filipinos to see and experience more of what the Philippines has to offer.

Last year, Philtoa members booked P45 million in sales, and Cruz is optimistic that the sales this year will easily top that level.

Providing a big boost, he says, is that lingering feeling of optimism with the start of the Aquino administration.

“The country has so much to offer in terms of tourism, and we are hoping that a lot of people will see the splendor of our culture by exploring local attractions. We are working together with the government to make it accessible to more Filipinos,” he says.