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
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
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.
