Category: News & Media

October 13-16, 2016 will be the tipping point in Philippine Tourism when 600 to 800 travel bloggers from US, Europe, and around the Asian region converge for Travel Blogger Exchange (TBEX) Asia Philippines 2016 !

Travel Massive Manila kicks off TBEX Asia 2016 preparations with a networking night with TBEX organizers, Philippine Travel Bloggers, and the Tourism Promotions Board. You can join future Travel Massive Manila travel community events by joining the chapter here: https://travelmassive.com/chapters/manila.

The Philippines’s Palawan Island was voted the no. 1 island in the world by our readers—and with pictures like these, you can easily see why. Vote for your favorite cities, islands, airlines and more in the 2016 Readers’ Choice Awards survey.

The Philippines are having a moment. This year, three of the top 10 islands in the world, as decided by Travel + Leisure readers, are in this Asian archipelago.

Every year for our World’s Best Awards survey, T+L asks readers to weigh in on travel experiences around the globe—to share their opinions on the topcities, islands, cruise lines, spas, airlines, and more. Readers ranked islands according to their activities and sights, natural attractions and beaches, food, friendliness, and overall value.

MANILA, Philippines (Philippines News Agency) — Two destinations each from the three main geographical divisions of the Philippines will be featured at the 65th Miss Universe pageant.

The development was learned after the Department of Tourism (DOT) confirmed that the country will host the pageant on Jan. 30, 2017 at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.

The Department of Tourism (DOT) wants to groom the local surf industry as a more sellable and more developed tourism product, a move that involves the implementation of two-far-reaching programs.

tement showed on Friday that the Tourism Department wants to require accreditation to resorts, facilities, and camps whose offerings include surfing as well as international certification for surfing instructors.

The Philippines has been a hot trending topic in social media sites Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, as some of the world’s sought-after travel and lifestyle influencers from Beautiful Destinations post destination images and videos of their island-hopping around the country.
The five-man team from the award-winning creative technology agency that built the largest travel and lifestyle portfolio on Instagram and Snapchat, traveled to Cebu, Bohol, El Nido in Palawan, Manila and Hundred Islands in Pangasinan on the invitation of the Department of Tourism (DoT).

WASHINGTON, DC – Filipino Americans aged 18 to 44 looking for excitement and adventure in the Philippines may now sign up for the “Now Philippines Tour” or simply, NOW Tour 2016, to be held on new dates August 26 to September 3, 2016 in Manila, Cebu and Dumaguete.

The NOW Tour 2016 is organized by The Travel Outlet, with the support and cooperation of the Philippine Embassy and Consulates General in the United States, the Department of Tourism, US-Philippines Society and Philippines-based Resort 4 U.

On their first-ever Canadian roadshow, the Philippines visited six western cities – Nanaimo, Victoria, Kelowna, Abbotsford, Edmonton and Calgary. Attracting almost 250 travel professionals in total, 45 local agents gathered at the Coast Plaza Hotel for the Calgary event.

“The Philippines hasn’t done a lot of promotions in the past,” said Ricky Poon, VP, Silk Holidays, who hosted this “debut” roadshow in partnership with Taiwan and EVA Air. According to Poon, the Philippines and Taiwan are completely different destinations. And with less than a three-hour flight connecting Taipei with either Manila or Cebu, combining the two created an ideal partnership and product.

Silk Holidays has announced the winners from draws held in conjunction with its recent Fun in the Philippines and Taiwan road shows.

The winners include Cyndi Paddock of Marlin Travel Victoria, who received a pair of tickets to the Philippines with EVA Air; and Susan Small of Roblin Travel Chilliwack, who was named the winner of the upcoming FAM tour to the Philippines and Taiwan

Philippines as the next luxury destination in Asia – The Philippine Department of Tourism (PDOT) New York forges partnership with Virtuoso, the largest and most influential luxury travel consortium in North America, to position the country as the next luxury destination in Asia. With this partnership, PDOT aims to attract Virtuoso’s 1.5 million affluent clients to spend their holidays in the Philippines, and educate about 9,000 travel advisors about the country’s rich culture and island destinations.

Photo: (L-R) Virtuoso’s Senior Vice President Albert Herrera and his Account Executive Xabier Egurin meet with the Philippine Consul General for New York Mario de Leon and the Philippine Department of Tourism New York representatives Zeny Pallugna and Joey Chanco to discuss this marketing initiative. Joining in the meeting is USA and Orient Tours President Joebert Opulencia, who is a bonafide member of Virtuoso.

Philippines gears up for luxury travelers

New York, New York — The Philippine Department of Tourism (PDOT), through its New York office, forged strategic alliances with key travel consortia in North America to position the country as the next luxury destination in Asia.

PDOT is now a proud member of these leading and most influential travel associations or consortia in the US, namely: Virtuoso with 8,900 travel advisors, 375 member travel companies, and 1.5 million affluent clients; Signature Travel Network with 6,000 preferred travel consultants and 200 member travel companies; and the United States Travel Operators Association (USTOA) with 125 active tour operator members and 700 travel professionals. These partnerships have set a limelight to the country among its mass and emerging affluent market.

PDOT’s joint ventures include travel blogs and webinars to educate the consortia’s preferred travel consultants or advisors, advertorials on online and print publications, and attendance to annual conferences and business meetings.

With this partnership, the Philippines is determined to capture a portion of the wealthiest 5 percent of the American market that take an average 14.3 trips a year compared to the 4.8 trips by an average US Traveler.

“We are hoping that we could entice more affluent travelers to visit the Philippines and experience our unique and authentic culture and island destinations,” according to PDOT New York’s Tourism Officer Zeny Pallugna.

She also said that PDOT and Tourism Promotions Board (TPB) are closely working together with high-end travel companies such as Abercrombie & Kent, Ker and Downey, Avanti, and Goway to push the Philippines to their exclusive clients thru joint activities.

While airlines and Online Travel Agents (OTAs) are the main sources of information about a destination, traditional distribution channels, such as travel advisors, remain important for customized itineraries and booking ground arrangements targeting luxury travelers.