Commenting on the ITB held over three days during the first week of March, TPB said the sales performance marked “a big leap of over 50% when compared to last year’s negotiated sales revenue, which reached PHP271.5 Million.

The ITB delegation, led by the Department of Tourism and Tourism Promotions Board Philippines, comprised 60 delegates from destination management companies and tour operators.

“The Philippines’ success at ITB Berlin reflects the shared tourism governance between the government and the private sector, whose direction and dedication are focused on expanding tourism development and promotions for our award-winning and emerging destinations,” DOT Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco.

“By highlighting our country’s strengths and natural beauty, introducing the depth and breadth of our history, heritage, and culture, and introducing unique and meaningful Philippine Experiences across our Regions, the Philippines promises unforgettable journeys made even more memorable by the love and warmth of the Filipino people. We are grateful for the overwhelmingly positive global response to our country’s sustainable tourism efforts, and we are committed to ensuring that the world will continue to Love the Philippines.” 

Aside from the tabletop appointments of Philippine sellers, various activations such as the fitting of traditional Filipino costumes by fashion designer Avel Bacudio and the native instruments showcased by the Kalumon Performing Ensemble were conducted to attract visitors to the Philippine pavilion. Filipino food with a twist was also served by Chef Bulawan Callanta, the owner of AYAN – Filipino Streetfood Berlin, and drinks concocted by flair bartender champion Dennis Barrela Adiuba.

“I am incredibly proud of our Philippine sellers who exceeded all expectations. Being a part of such a dedicated and talented delegation is an absolute privilege. The enthusiasm and performances showcased during the event mirror the outstanding experience one can expect when visiting the Philippines – distinct, captivating, and unforgettable,” expressed TPB Chief Operating Officer Maria Margarita Montemayor Nograles.

The Philippines also scored big at the Green Destinations Story Awards, with Poblacion Beach of Sipalay City, Negros Occidental, winning second place in the “Thriving Communities” category alongside Kazakhstan’s Katon Kagarai taking third and Brazil’s Tibau Do Sul in first. The ceremony was held on the second day of ITB Berlin with Sipalay Mayor Maria Gina Lizares, Negros Occidental’s 6th District Representative Mercedes Alvarez-Lansang, and City Tourism Officer Jerick Lacson on hand to receive the award.  

“Sipalay City’s transformation into a thriving natural seaside habitat for sea turtles and mangroves is truly inspiring,” stated COO Nograles. “While we value the economic benefits of tourism, it is crucial to prioritise sustainable initiatives,” continued Nograles. “We must ensure that our actions today benefit not only our economy but also our environment.”

This year’s ITB Berlin saw an increase in visitors with almost 100,000 participants, including 5500 exhibitors from 170 countries. ITB Berlin 2025 will take place from 4 to 6 March 2025.

ABOUT TPB
An attached agency of the Department of Tourism, the Tourism Promotions Board (TPB) is dedicated to promoting the Philippines both domestically and internationally as a world-class tourism and MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, Exhibitions) destination. TPB collaborates closely with private and public stakeholders to provide an exceptional, high-value experience for visitors, contributing significantly to increased tourist arrivals, receipts, and investments in the country. For more information, visit www.tpb.gov.ph. 

(SOURCE: TPB)

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For the first time, the Philippines won the Global Tourism Resilience Award for demonstrating “global leadership, pioneering vision, and innovation to overcome critical challenges and adversity. 

As one of only five countries cited for this inaugural award, the Philippines and other “inaugural winners will serve as benchmarks for best practices in tourism resilience,” according to the World Travel Awards.

The Philippines also took home the World’s Leading Dive Destination, the World’s Leading Beach Destination and the World’s Leading City Destination for its capital, Manila.

Established in 1993, the 30^th annual World Travel Awards acknowledge excellence across all the travel, tourism, and hospitality sectors.

Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco commented on the country’s victories at the World Travel Awards: “ These accolades are a source of pride as they are a testament to the enormous contribution of tourism to the Philippine economy and global standing.”

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The secretary’s visit coincided with Bohol being declared the country’s first-ever UNESCO Global Geopark.

“On behalf of the Department of Tourism, I congratulate this beautiful island province of Bohol, JW Marriott, and Apple One on this milestone. The groundbreaking signals confidence in the Philippines and its continued resurgence in global tourism,” the tourism chief said in her address. 

She stressed that the government’s vision is not just for the country to recover after the devastating effects of the pandemic but to transform and elevate the quality of tourism offerings for the Philippines and to push for investments to come to the country.

She cited the JW Marriott Resort and Residence under development in Bohol province as a signal “that the country is ready to take its place as Asia’s next tourism powerhouse.”

She also assured local stakeholders that the current administration will continue to strengthen the foundation for tourism by investing in infrastructure, connectivity, and digitalisation and introducing innovation to the country’s tourism portfolio. 

Colliers reported earlier in November that AppleOne Group, the developer of  Bohol’s newest hotel property, has signed a management with Marriott International for the JW Marriott Residences in Panglao Island, Bohol, which is located on a seven-hectare site with views of Maribojoc Bay.

Construction of the first five-star hotel development in Bohol should begin during the first quarter of 2023.

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The sales estimate at this year’s show was up 60% compared to the DEMA show in 2022, which was held in Florida, USA.

Earlier this year, the Philippines was named Best Dive Destination by the Dive, Resort and Travel Show in Taiwan and Malaysia and Asia’s Best Dive Destination by the World Travel Awards.

“Recently, we were honoured as Asia’s Leading Dive Destination at the World Travel Awards 2023, a title that the Philippines proudly maintained for five consecutive years since 2019. This is no small feat and a big source of national pride for us. Leveraging this achievement, we seize all opportunities to actively promote diving as a key tourism product of the Philippines, specifically focusing on the American market through the DEMA Show,” said TPB Chief Operating Officer Maria Margarita Montemayor Nograles.

Sixteen private sector companies joined the DEMA  sales and networking. They comprised Atlantis Dive Resorts & Liveaboards, Kokays Maldito Dive Resort, Magic Resorts Philippines, Lalaguna Villas Luxury Dive Resort & Spa, Amun Ini Beach Resort & Spa / Salaya Beach Houses, El Galleon Dive Resort/Asia Divers, Crystal Blue Resort, Atmosphere Resorts & Spa, Discovery Fleet, Seadoors Liveaboard, Aiyanar Beach and Dive Resort, Kasai Village Dive Inc., Scandi Divers, and MY Resolute (Liveaboard), and the country’s flag carrier Philippine Airlines. The Philippines pavilion at the show showcased the country’s top dive sites in Batangas, Puerto Galera, Cebu, Bohol, Negros Oriental and Palawan.

(Source: TPB)

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The Tourism Promotions Board Philippines (TPB), in line with the initiative of the Department of Tourism (DOT) Central and Frankfurt offices, will promote the Philippines as a tourism powerhouse to over 160,000 visitors expected to attend the world’s largest travel and tourism trade fair.

DOT Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco and TPB Chief Operating Officer Maria Margarita Montemayor Nograles will lead the Philippine delegation in spotlighting the country’s tourism developments and product offerings.

Home to world-renowned natural wonders like the Subterranean River National Park in Palawan, the rice terraces in Banaue, and award-winning islands and beaches in Bohol, Cebu, Boracay and Palawan, the Philippines is replete with attractions that make it the destination to visit this 2023.

With 7,641 islands that bear various other hidden gems, the Philippines garnered global recognition and accolades, including the World’s Leading Dive and Beach Destination, Asia’s Leading Tourist Attraction and the Destination of the Year Award, among others.

The Philippines booth at ITB Berlin 2023 will feature the country’s rich culture and sustainable tourism. Colourful Filipino weaving tradition through the artistic works of T’nalak weaver Myrna Pula of South Cotabato and Yakan Weaver and Entrepreneur Angelita Pichay Ilul of Zamboanga will also be highlighted.

Visitors to the ITB will taste Philippine coffee and chocolates through Kape de Filipina, a brand offering products meticulously grown by farmers and communities in the Philippines. In addition, guests of the Philippine-hosted cocktail reception on 8 March will be treated to traditional Filipino cuisine by Ayan, a Filipino street food restaurant based in Berlin.

A Philippine delegation of 26 tourism stakeholders from the private sector will be joining the annual premiere travel convention. The list includes:

Airtrav Philippines, Araw Hospitality Inc, Amorita Resort, Annset Holidays Inc, Baron Travel Corporation, Batanes Wakay Travel and Tours, Blue Horizons Travel & Tours Inc, Bohol Beach Club, Chroma Hospitality Inc (Crimson Hotels & Resorts), Club Agutaya Inc, CTPH lifestyle & Travel Services, Divaishnavi International Inc, El Nido Resorts, Evasion Tropicale Travel and Tours, GI Philippines Corp, Intas Destination Management Inc, Marsman Drysdale Travel Inc, MyTRIPS Travel and Tours,  Plantation Bay Resort and Spa, Rajah Tour Philippines, Sharp Travel Service, Sarah Lea Travel and Tours, The Funny Lion, Total Exhibit & Expo Solutions Inc, Travelexperts Inc, Travelite Travel and Tours Co, and the Philippine Retirement Authority.

With the long-term goal of securing increased arrivals, receipts, and investments for the country, TPB annually participates in the ITB Berlin, which allows the Philippine travel trade to network with relevant decision-makers from new and existing tourism markets across Europe, America, and Asia.

The Philippine participation in the event also aims to strengthen the country’s global tourism branding campaign through partnership opportunities with various tourism stakeholders, including tour operators, online travel agencies, new online distribution platforms, travel websites and communities, journalists, and influencers, among others.

About TPB

The Tourism Promotions Board (TPB) Philippines is the marketing and promotions arm of the Department of Tourism, whose mandate is to promote the Philippines, domestically and internationally, as a leisure, MICE, and investment destination. The agency fulfils its mandate through organising, participating, or supporting tourism consumer or trade events; expanding media partnerships and advertising; continuing content development and distribution programs; creating thematic and strategic consumer activations domestically and abroad; facilitating familiarisation tours for buyers, location scouts, and diplomatic corps members; and engaging its TPB membership programme.

For more information on TPB visit, https://www.tpb.gov.ph/

(Your Stories: TPB)

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The promotion zooms in on the spectacular natural scenery to focus on high-altitude mountains, unspoiled islands, pristine beaches, caves, rivers, agricultural plains and valleys. But Davao is also positioned as a  melting pot of cultures and traditions.

Tour operators and travel consumers who work out their own holiday itineraries are pointed to the key attractions that are top of the must-visit list for Davao.

Check out what you can explore more in the Davao region through these listicles:

Davao in a Day: 24 hours in Davao City – https://www.7641islands.ph/explore/davao-in-a-day-24-hours-in-davao-city/

Davao: An intersection of culture and adventure – https://www.7641islands.ph/explore/davao-an-intersection-of-culture-and-adventure/

Davao City, on the southern Philippine island of Mindanao, is a coastal gateway city near 2,954m-high Mount Apo, the country’s highest peak. People’s Park is home to colourful indigenous sculptures and lighted fountains in the city centre. It’s also home to Durian Dome, named after the pungent, spiky fruit that grows in abundance in Mindanao.

The international airport in Davao City, Francisco Bangoy International Airport, is the largest in Mindanao and the third busiest in the country after Ninoy Aquino International Airport and Mactan–Cebu International Airport.

There are domestic flights to Davao from Manila, Cebu, Bacolod, Iloilo and Zamboanga. Pre-Covid-19 international airlines served Davao from Doha, Hong Kong, Manado, Quanzhou, and Singapore. However, some routes have not resumed since the Covid-19 rules eased earlier this year.

(Background source: Wikipedia).

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Just weeks after a successful turnout at the Philippine Travel Exchange (PHITEX) 2022, TPB  registered record-breaking sales estimated at PHP83 million during the 10th Regional Travel Fair (RTF) held from 27 to 30 October 2022 in Nuvali, Sta. Rosa, Laguna.

The annual regional travel fairs are organised by the TPB, the marketing and promotions arm of the Department of Tourism (DOT). This year’s 8th and 9th Regional Travel Fairs generated an increase of PHP45,452,000 (120%) and PHP27,360,000 (49%), respectively. Strong sale trends continued with the 10th RTF last week.

“For the 10th Regional Travel Fair, we focused on Calabarzon, a region that has shown meaningful resilience throughout the crucial times in our country’s development,” said DOT Undersecretary Atty. Mae Elaine Bathan. She presented the keynote speech at the event on behalf of Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco.

The Regional Travel Fairs began in 2018 to sell domestic tour packages by showcasing the rich culture, heritage and products the host regions offered with the support and backing of DOT’s regional offices, local government units and private stakeholders.

TPB chief operating officer Maria Margarita Montemayor Nograles noted: “All of these initiatives aim to revitalise the tourism industry in the country and introduce innovations and ideas that not only transform but also enhance the entire travel experience.”

The four-day hybrid edition of the RTF featuring “#DiscoverCALABARZON” commenced with a half-day onsite and online tourism forum on best practices in tourism operations. It was followed by a full day of face-to-face business-to-business sessions with 48 sellers from within region IV-A and 47 buyers and 27 Sellers/Exhibitors from elsewhere in the Philippines.

The 10th Regional Travel Fair was organised in partnership with the Department of Tourism Region IV-A and Ayala Malls in cooperation with the Provinces of Calabarazon, Technopark Hotel and Cebu Pacific Air.

For more information, visit https://www.tpb.gov.ph/.

(Your Stories: TPB)

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World Association of Chefs Society continental director for Asia Chef Willment Leong made the official announcement during the Philippine Culinary Cup awarding ceremony at SMX Convention Centre held last month.

“Over the years, the national government, in partnership with private entities, invested heavily in improving Meetings, Incentive Travel, Conventions and Exhibitions (MICE)-related infrastructure across the country. And with this, we are more than ready to host the Worldchefs Asian Presidents Forum next year. This will also be a great opportunity to position the Philippines as the culinary centre of excellence in Asia,” said TPB COO Maria Anthonette Velasco-Allones.

The Worldchefs Asian Presidents Forum is a three-day event that aims to foster camaraderie among chefs in the Asia Pacific region with programmes such as presentation of the latest gastronomical trends, knowledge-sharing on sustainability practices and culinary education sessions.

The forum will bring together 30 delegates from different Asia Pacific chefs associations and another 3000 attendees, including professional chefs participating in the programmes, competitions and exhibits.

The Philippine MICE sector is reviving business activities and hopes to quickly rebuild event bookings to match pre-pandemic 2019, a peak year for hosting conferences and exhibitions. As countries regain confidence in business travel, the country has bolstered its MICE readiness efforts and government programmes to ensure authentic travel experiences for event organisers and business travellers.

The TPB’s participation in the bid is part of the agency’s ongoing  ‘Partnerships as Pathways’ strategy that aims to strengthen partnerships with key industry players and to open up more avenues for the Philippines to host bigger international meetings and exhibitions in the future.

For more information on TPB, visit https://www.tpb.gov.ph/.

(Source: TPB)

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Manila was shortlisted with Krakow, Poland, as the final bid contenders to host the prestigious event that gathers people from all cultures to take action and make positive changes for communities worldwide.

The Philippines’ Tourism Promotions Board and its representatives, Arnold Gonzales and  Raquel Ruth Tria-Joya, (Acting Head and Sales and Accounts Management Division and acting head of the agency’s MICE Department), joined the Philippine delegation of around 300 Rotarians to showcase what the Philippines has to offer during the five-day event in Houston.

A traditional Philippine Breakfast, attended by more than 400 Rotarians from the Philippines and Asia, was organised, paving the way for the Philippines to announce its bid formally. The event also highlighted the support given by the TPB and the Department of Tourism (DOT) to bring the convention to the Philippines.

“The traditional Philippine breakfast provided friendly and fun interaction among the Rotarians. Foreign guests actively participated in Philippine traditional dances. Some even sang Philippine songs,” Gonzales recounted. But for the MICE head, innate Filipino hospitality also played a vital role. “The unique selling point of Philippine Rotarians is the legendary Filipino hospitality. Guests are looking forward to a fun convention experience as what our country brand promises to its visitors.”

The RIC 2028 Bidding Committee, composed of various Rotary clubs in the Philippines, is now preparing for the ocular inspection of the Rotary International Board in Manila on 13-15 September 2022. The winning bidder is scheduled to be announced upon completion of the ocular inspection in Manila and Krakow at either end of 2022 or early 2023.

Hosting a major MICE event is not new to the TPB team, but for Gonzales, it still boils down to the overall packaging of a country as a result of collective efforts that allow bids to be successful. “The unique attributes of a destination are the basis for competitive advantage,” he said. “Country brand strength, among other aspects, appears as an important foundation for a successful MICE destination, particularly in terms of political and economic stability as well as general attractiveness and capability as a tourism destination.”

For more information visit: https://www.tpb.gov.ph/

(Your Stories: TPB)

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The grand design of Sustainable Development is to allow economies to grow without compromising the robustness of the environment. Consequently, this expanded the ambit of this generation’s “Woke Era” from promoting social and political justice to championing the “Green Movement” to combat the furtherance of irreversible damage to ecological resources due to its misuse and abuse.

The menu for curating the right sustainable approach in the tourism industry is extensive and widely practised, from energy and waste management and water conservation to heritage and culture preservation.

Sustainable efforts in tourism inadvertently became the buy-in for travellers over time, choosing destinations that campaign for the “Greener Good” through their operations, products, and services.

During the 21^st World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) Global Summit in Manila, the WTTC launched the Hotel Sustainability Basics (HSB) to help jumpstart the global hotel industry’s sustainability journey in an aligned and strategic manner. The HSB criteria, which are open-source and accessible to the hotel industry members, consist of 12 indicators divided into three major categories: Efficiency, Planet, and People.

Hotel and property owners and operators are encouraged to adapt the HSB criteria and benchmark with each other through Greenview’s Green Lodging Trends Report. They will have their hotels and properties validated and certified through the verification process to be launched by WTTC during the fourth quarter of 2022.

The Department of Tourism’s landmark projects like the ANAHAW Certification for Sustainable Tourism (in collaboration with GRaT Center for Appropriate Technology through the Zero Carbon Resorts) developed foolproof measures that ensure hotels and resorts comply with the highest sustainability standards in their day-to-day operations. Likewise, DOT’s “Keep the Fun Going” campaign allows tourists to participate in the department’s advocacy by raising awareness about responsible travel and reinforcing sustainable practices through gamified challenges.

The holistic approach to promoting sustainable tourism is front and centre not only for DOT but for its attached agencies as well. For example, the Tourism Promotions Board (DOT’s marketing and promotional arm) supporting local community-based tourism sites and attractions has been a priority since 2018 through the sustainable community-based tourism (SCBT) project. The SCBT project includes the identification, assessment, and inclusion of a local community-based tourism site or attraction in the tourism circuits promoted by the agency to domestic and international markets.

One of the emerging sustainable tourism sites in the country is the internationally recognised and multi-awarded Masungi Georeserve in Baras, Rizal, a geotourism site built on the principle of environmental and social conservation of the area.

Masungi Georeserve Foundation managing trustee Ann Adeline Dumaliang shared what sustainable tourism means to her as an advocate.

“Sustainable tourism, for me, is about understanding and taking transformative action in our roles as stewards in the destinations and communities where we belong. It’s about positively contributing to an area’s sense of pride of place and helping it become a better place for the planet and people. Regenerative tourism and geotourism are what, more clearly, encapsulate our brand of sustainable tourism.”

Further, when asked if the Masungi Georeserve is poised to be a sustainable tourist destination, Dumaliang explained that “Masungi Georeserve is transformative and regenerative in its approach. Our experiences are about the importance of the karst landscape we are moving in with a focus on quality instead of quantity as a success metric.

“We have an environmental carrying capacity which we respect, and we have decisively opted for low-impact engineering approaches instead of traditional development and take our role seriously as stewards of the area for the long haul. Most importantly, we have already restored the area we have been moving in for two decades now and further use our returns to lead the restoration and protection of some 2000 more hectares of land, some of which constitute the Upper Marikina Watershed – an area critical to the safety of 20 million Filipinos all the way downstream in Metro Manila, and one that has suffered a continuous decline in its forest cover (from 19% in 2011 to 11% in 2018) despite being declared a protected area. Our voice, visitors, and allies have become instrumental in overcoming anomalies and tactics in organised crime, speaking truth to power, and overcoming inertia for watershed rehabilitation.”

With the efforts of WTTC in its HSB initiative, DOT’s ANAHAW Certification for Sustainable Tourism, and TPB’s SCBT, Dumaliang shared her hope for sustainable tourism in the country.

“I hope for sustainable tourism to be mainstreamed and elevated in the Philippines in the coming years – the norm instead of the exemption, building on what has been started in this administration. This is only sensible being a country that relies on its natural heritage for tourism, and tourism is an industry that contributes significantly to our GDP and is threatened by the climate crisis. By taking deliberate action in this direction, we can make an even stronger mark in the global tourism space and increase its contributions to the country. If we can power sustainable tourism businesses that serve as destination stewards, we can care better for more areas of the country. Let’s suppose we can adopt the standards of the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC). In that case, we will be able to nurture a quality community of changemakers in the tourism space that can power each other forward.

“The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation, through its Sustainable Development of Tourism Destinations study in 2013, clarified that sustainable tourism is not a type of tourism but rather a condition; a condition that the DOT and TPB vow to uphold to remind us that we can continue to harness the significant economic contribution of the tourism industry if we foster sustainable practices, inevitably introducing a new mindset among Filipino people that: “The greener pasture isn’t on the other side, but it is under our feet if we choose to nurture it.”

The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation, through its Sustainable Development of Tourism Destinations study in 2013, clarified that sustainable tourism is not a type of tourism but rather a condition; a condition that the DOT and TPB vow to uphold to remind us that we can continue to harness the significant economic contribution of the tourism industry if we foster sustainable practices, inevitably introducing a new mindset among Filipino people that, “The greener pasture isn’t on the other side, but it is under our feet if we choose to nurture it.”

For more information visit: https://www.tpb.gov.ph/

(Your Stories: Tourism Promotion Board)

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