by Penny Angeles-Tan | Nov 5, 2019 | Events
World Travel Market London
Itogon Coffee, one of our country’s premium specialty coffee from Benguet province, debuts at the World Travel Market London (WTM London), the leading global event for the travel industry that will take place from November 4 to 6.
Tourism Promotions Board of the Philippines (TPB) and Henry & Sons will brew, serve and share the beautiful story behind this delicious coffee from Itogon, a mining town in Benguet that is continuously transforming into a sustainable coffee-growing community. This opens an opportunity for Henry & Sons to fulfill its commitment to bring back the Philippines in the global coffee spotlight through a sustainable coffee economy.
Through the Foundation for Sustainable Coffee Excellence, the advocacy arm of Henry and Sons, different programs are being conducted to help the farmers produce quality coffee beans. While the country takes pride in brewing the Itogon coffee at the WTM London, the beautiful journey of the coffee farmers from the mining profession to growing, harvesting and delivering delicious coffee for the world to taste will also be shared during the event.
Raoul de Peralta
The Institute for Coffee Excellence‘s Chief Educator Raoul de Peralta will brew and man the coffee bar at the Philippine Pavilion.
WTM London is a global event where industry professionals meet and conduct business deals. Through its industry networks, unrivaled global reach, WTM London creates personal and business opportunities, providing customers with quality contacts, content and communities.
itogon coffee
Get to taste Itogon coffee and contribute in helping them shift their main livelihood from mining into coffee farming and in empowering the farmers to process world-class specialty coffees in their own backyards.
Visit thevault.ph for orders and for more information.
by Penny Angeles-Tan | Oct 24, 2019 | Events
The Tourism Promotions Board (TPB) Philippines, which is the marketing and promotions arm of the Department of Tourism (DOT), is aiming to boost tourism in the country. To achieve this, it will host the
Philippine Travel Exchange (PHITEX) and the
MICE Buyers Invitational (MICECONnect) from October 20 to 27. These events are designed to promote the Philippines as a premier tourist destination for both leisure travel and MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conventions, and Exhibits/Events).
Now in its 18th year, PHITEX is recognized as the largest travel trade event in the country, featuring nearly 200 sellers and 200 buyers. The main highlight of the event is a one-and-a-half-day business-to-business (B2B) session that facilitates discussions between foreign buyers and local sellers. This session aims to promote tourism-related conversations among participants and create new business opportunities.
Participants also attended the PHITEX educational seminar, where industry leaders discussed new trends in tourism marketing and strategies for both mature and emerging markets. The discussions were centered around the theme “Philippine Tourism: Trailblazing Responsible Travel and Inclusive Growth.”
Insights were shared by Thomas Graham, Co-Founder of Make A Difference (MAD) Travel; Carlos Mori Rodriguez, Chief Innovation Officer of EON The Stakeholder Relations Group; and Nelly Nuezca Dillera, CESO III, Deputy Executive Director of the Philippine Trade Training Center – Global MSME Academy. They concluded the seminar on how the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) is developing capabilities for halal development and certification.
PHITEX is an annual event designed to support stakeholders in the travel trade industry. Rather than operating as individual sellers, we provide a platform for them to connect with hundreds of buyers from around the world in one venue, saving them valuable time and money.
The event also ensures that buyers are well-informed and prepared by offering a comprehensive overview of various destinations and packages that they can sell to consumers, whether as individual tours or bundled options.
COO, TPB
MICECONnect 2019 aims to promote the Philippine MICE industry by gathering suppliers to showcase the country as a premier destination for international events and conferences.
Happening alongside PHITEX, MICECONnect 2019 continues a two-year program designed as a comprehensive educational seminar for local MICE stakeholders. The aim is to help them learn about new and effective global trends, approaches, and methods. This year’s focus is on creating business networking opportunities to further develop the country’s MICE industry.
MICECONnect 2019 will also feature B2B sessions for both Philippine and international MICE buyers, as well as inspections of hotels and MICE venues. Additionally, delegates attending MICECONnect will have the opportunity to participate in post-event tours, showcasing some of the country’s premier MICE destinations, including Iloilo City, Bacolod, Davao, Boracay, Cebu, Bohol, Palawan, Tagaytay, Manila, and Batangas.
Both PHITEX and MICECONnect 2019 play a crucial role in enabling the Tourism Promotions Board (TPB) to support and raise awareness of sustainable community-based tourism. In addition to showcasing the Philippines’ unique offerings, TPB is dedicated to protecting natural resources and ensuring that tourism benefits both directly and indirectly impacted communities. This commitment aligns with the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals, reinforcing TPB’s dedication to sustainable tourism and its contribution to the Department of Tourism’s objectives.
To know more about PHITEX and MICECONnect 2019, visit the following websites:
by Penny Angeles-Tan | Jul 6, 2019 | Travel
Corregidor Island holds historical narratives of war that represent the fight for the country’s freedom. Known as the “Isle of Valor” or “The Rock,” the 358-kilometer island holds more treasures beyond the history carefully preserved on the island.
The Corregidor Foundation (CFI), along with the Department of Tourism (DOT) and its marketing arm, the Tourism Promotions Board (TPB), and the Tourism Infrastructure and Economic Zone Authority (TIEZA), has unveiled the new brand for Corregidor: Corregidor Now.
Corregidor Now aims to attract tourists by offering them a chance to truly live and experience Corregidor Island in various ways! Visitors are invited to discover the island’s unique history and explore its many captivating spots, making it a distinctive and exciting tourism destination.
The campaign aims to actively promote the island’s diverse attractions, which include:
- Middle-side Barracks
- Battery Grubs
- Pacific War Memorial Complex
- Cine Corregidor
- Spanish Lighthouse
- Japanese Garden of Peace
- Filipino Heroes Memorial
- Malinta Tunnel
- Lorcha Dock
In addition to its historical relics, the island offers numerous opportunities for every type of traveler. Activities like biking, bird watching, camping, fishing, hiking, island runabouts, and kayaking are just a few of the fun options available on the island.
President Rodrigo Duterte has appointed Cynthia Carrion, Chairperson and CEO of Corregidor Foundation Inc., to lead the new strategic campaign called “Corregidor Now.” This initiative aims to create a stronger and unified voice for the island of Corregidor, elevating it as a prominent tourist attraction.
“For years, Corregidor Island has been primarily viewed as a historical site, with its beautiful features unknown to many,” Carrion said. “Through our campaign, we aim to usher in a new era for this eco-historical location, transforming it into a sanctuary where visitors can enjoy a relaxing experience while appreciating the past.”
This initiative, led by TPB Chief Operating Officer Marie Venus Tan, aims to attract more domestic and international tourists to Corregidor Island.
In support of this initiative, TIEZA Chief Operating Officer Pocholo Paragas emphasized their recognition of the island’s historical significance and strong tourism potential, which could establish it as a flagship Tourism Enterprise Zone (TEZ).
TIEZA is creating a detailed master plan for the redevelopment of Corregidor and the proposed rehabilitation of the Corregidor South Dock Pier. As part of their marketing campaign, they will implement more proactive promotional efforts across various media platforms to inform the public and attract target markets to visit the island.
Corregidor Island stands out among the many tourist destinations in the Philippines as a paradise for adventure seekers. It offers a unique opportunity to explore history while experiencing the beauty of tropical Philippines. The island’s landscapes, beaches, and skies provide not just relaxation but also thrilling adventures. Carrion invites Filipinos to come together to enjoy and explore this historical paradise, which serves as the ultimate sanctuary for fun and excitement.
To book a tour or know more about Corregidor, please email in**@******************om.ph or visit www.corregidorisland.com.ph or call +6328233281.
by Penny Angeles-Tan | Jun 24, 2019 | Travel
To enhance efforts in attracting Korean tourists to the Philippines, the Tourism Promotions Board (TPB) Philippines, which is the marketing arm of the Department of Tourism, will participate in two major travel fairs in South Korea. These events are the Korea World Travel Fair (KOTFA), taking place from June 6 to June 10, 2019, and the HanaTour International Travel Show, scheduled for June 7 to June 9, 2019.
KOTFA is the largest international travel fair in Korea, featuring participation from both international and domestic tourism-related organizations. This year, KOTFA is expected to attract around 500 companies from 70 countries. The Philippines has reserved six booth spaces, which will be shared among airlines, hotels, and top Korean travel agents in Seoul.
HanaTour is Korea’s largest tour wholesaler, operating 1,200 exclusive sales offices and offering 14,000 tourism products through its network of 7,000 partners worldwide. This year, the Philippines has been selected as the featured country, and from June to July 2019, HanaTour will engage in co-marketing and promotion activities that include both online and offline events.
Additionally, the Philippines will have eight booth spaces at the event, allowing retail agencies to actively sell and promote Philippine tour products and provide general information about the country to the public.
South Koreans represent a significant segment of tourists visiting the Philippines each year, accounting for approximately 22.3% of the total 1,587,959 visitors in 2018. The Tourism Promotions Board (TPB) aims to increase the number of Korean visitors by 25.80% upon the completion of its tourism development plans by 2022, which will showcase the natural wonders of the Philippines.
As the country enhances its “It’s More Fun in the Philippines” campaign, Korean tourists will have a variety of options to choose from. They can enjoy the beautiful, pristine beaches, explore expansive shopping centers, engage in numerous adventure-filled activities, and experience the renowned warmth and hospitality of the Filipino people.
by Penny Angeles-Tan | Jun 14, 2019 | Events
To help position the Philippines not only as a top tourist destination but also as a premier venue for meetings, incentives, conventions, events, and exhibits (MICE), the Tourism Promotions Board (TPB), marketing arm of the Department of Tourism (DOT), is set to tap into the Chinese MICE market through the annual Incentive Travel and Conventions, Meetings (IT&CM). To be held in Shanghai on 19 to 21 March 2019, IT&CM is the only MICE trade fair in Shanghai and Eastern China, making it China’s largest gathering of MICE professionals.
Delegates from the Philippines will include TPB representatives and ten Philippine co-exhibitors from different MICE industries: hotel and restaurant, travel agencies, tour operators, convention venues, and incentive houses. IT&CM is a great opportunity to expand the delegates’ business and networking capabilities through a series of MICE-related functions and tours.
The trade fair also serves as a platform to further promote Philippine MICE capabilities in China. In fact, as the positive bilateral relationship between the Philippines and China continues to grow, Chinese organizers’ interest in the Philippines as a preferred MICE destination is also piqued.
In last year’s IT&CM, the Philippine delegation met a significant number of Chinese investors through MICE Sales Presentation organized by the DOT-Shanghai office and the pre-scheduled business-to-business appointments at the IT&CM China Show. Out of the 320 appointments made by TPB representatives and private sector partners who participated in the event, good business leads were secured, which heaped millions of revenues for the country.
The materialization of these business leads also contributed to the increase of Chinese tourists. In 2018, China came second in the list of top tourism markets, with 1.2M Chinese tourist arrivals in the country. The number of tourist arrivals is expected to grow as the country continues to boost its MICE venues.
From international and regional meetings, conferences, conventions, and congresses, the Philippines has hosted a series of MICE events for years since the establishment of Southeast Asia’s first full-fledged convention center, the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC). Hotels, convention centers, and special events venues are continuously being constructed across the archipelago, spurred by the strong demand for new rooms and facilities.
TPB’s participation in the IT&CM aims to create more awareness to these state-of-the-art facilities available in the country and foster individual partnership between Chinese MICE agents and tour operators, and Philippine private sector participants. By joining IT&CM, Philippine MICE industry can attract more Chinese tourists to experience why it’s more fun in the Philippines.
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