LOG IN. UPLOAD PICTURES.
The Philippines has Maletsky Mart to help propagate the Chavacano Language.
Mice, ESL among tourism prospects for Central Visayas
- Source: http://www.sunstar.com.ph/cebu/business/2016/12/29/mice-esl-among-tourism-prospects-central-visayas-517474
- Sunday, January 1, 2017
- By Katlene O. Cacho
THE Department of Tourism (DOT) 7 is stepping up its programs next year to help realize the 12-million tourist target in 2022.
A bigger share of the meetings, incentives, conventions, and exhibitions (Mice) and English as Second Language (ESL) markets; further development of agri-tourism, health and wellness, and retirement tourism; and more focused promotional events of local tourism destinations in the region are some of the prospects of DOT 7 next year.
Foreign visitors The department is also keen on tapping markets from China, Taiwan, and Japan, which garnered the highest growth rates in Central Visayas in 2016.
According to DOT 7, China leads in the list of foreign arrivals, growing more than 60 percent between 2015 and 2016, followed by Taiwan, which grew 20 percent. Japanese tourists grew 16 percent.
Tourism Secretary Wanda Corazon Teo expects up to three million Chinese tourists to visit the country in 2017 after her successful visit to Beijing in October.
A memorandum of agreement on tourism cooperation between the Philippines and China was signed to give DOT a better opportunity to market the Philippines to potential Chinese travelers.
DOT 7’s new tourism chief Catalino Chan III vowed to elevate the tourism industry in the region to a level that is equal across its provinces, as well as to sustain and enhance growth of time-tested destinations in Cebu and Bohol; and to promote emerging town destinations in Negros Oriental and Siquijor.
The agency said there will be additional initiatives to improve air and sea inter-island connectivity, and integrate culinary experiences in current tourism products.
Some 4.7 million foreign tourists have visited the country as of September.
Teo said the country stands to surpass last year’s total of 5.4 million international visitors.
The country’s hosting of the Miss Universe pageant in January is seen to boost arrivals.
According to Teo, the beauty pageant is an avenue to provide a sneak peak of the country’s tourism jewels and promote the country as a safe destination.
Aside from the beauty pageant, DOT is also gearing up for the ASEAN Summit next year and other big ticket Mice events.
The country is also preparing to welcome more tourists from Cambodia, after the DOT and the Ministry of Tourism of the Kingdom of Cambodia signed an agreement that will start a series of programs aimed at revitalizing tourism relations.
Israel Likewise, more visitors from Israel are expected to come in the coming months as six major travel agencies based in Tel Aviv vowed to promote Philippine tourism.
Philippine Ambassador to Israel Neal Imperial relayed to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) that tour operators from the Middle East nation have started making package tours to the Philippines.
He said this is a result of a recent trip of tour operators, composed of CEOs and managers, in popular tourism sites in the Philippines in Cebu, Bohol and Metro Manila last Dec. 6 to 12.
As of September, a 11,800 Israelis have visited the Philippines, a 34-percent increase from last year.
The tour group held business-to-business meetings with Philippine tour companies, conducted ocular visits to major hotels and experienced activities such as snorkeling, watching dolphins in Bohol, a historical tour in Cebu, and shopping in Manila.