(MENAFN- Khaleej Times) Tourists from the region have given 'very good and very positive feedback' on their experiences in the Philippines.
The Philippine Department of Tourism's stand at ATM.
Fun in the Philippines is getting even more fun.
And as far as the Southeast Asian nation’s Department of Tourism is concerned this will help its goal of finally breaching the five-million tourist mark in 2015.
“I think in Asia we are the only legitimate country that can brag about being a fun destination because of Filipinos themselves” Verna Covar-Buensuceso director and officer-in-charge of the Department of Tourism’s Market Development Group at the Tourism Development Sector told Khaleej Times at Arabian Travel Market 2015.
The Philippines’ stand at the ATM is showcasing -- among many others -- its “Visit the Philippines Year” campaign in 2015 highlighting the country’s tourism offerings that are becoming even more vibrant and enticing than before.
A particular area of focus is the Middle East. Tourists from the region have given “very good and very positive feedback” on their experiences in the Philippines.
“A typical Middle Eastern tourist is a family group — they travel with their families and extended families” Covar-Buensuceso said. “They are very discerning and like luxury products.”
In an e-mailed response to questions Benito C Bengzon Jr Undersecretary of the Department of Tourism said that a total of 76163 visitors from the GCC visited the Philippines in 2014 which is a 10 per cent increase compared to 2013 figures.
Of the figure visitors from Saudi Arabia were the highest at 43483 which was an increase of 11.5 per cent compared to the year before. Visitors from the UAE were next followed by Kuwait.
Covar-Buensuceso pointed out that tourists from the Middle East on average visit two places in the Philippines -- the capital Manila and typically a getaway destination -- and usually stay six to seven days.
And to up the ante in its commitment to the Middle East the Department of Tourism on Wednesday launched its new Arabic website — www.itsmorefuninthephilippines.ae the newest addition to the department’s foreign-language pages joining those in Cantonese German Indonesian Korean Japanese Thai Mandarin and Vietnamese.
“We are hoping that through such promotional efforts as the Arabic website that demand for travel from the region will continue to grow in 2015” Bengzon said.
Covar-Buensuceso added that the department is boosting its efforts to promote the Philippines as an ideal destination for meetings incentives conferences and exhibitions or Mice; English as a second language location; and medical tourism — particularly on the Mice segment.
“In the 1970s the Philippines was really known as one of the pioneers of Mice; we want to regain that status” she said.
On the issue of security in the country Covar-Buensuceso assured gave a positive impression.
“Security -- like all other countries in the world -- we do have certain concerns but i think they’re not as much as it used to be” she said.
“When we are at travel fairs like the ATM the question of security doesn’t come up anymore.”
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