DOT and Embassy Organize Philippine Business Mission 2015 in Tokyo, Aim for One Million Japanese Tourists to Manila
24 June 2015, Tokyo – The Department of Tourism (DoT) and the Philippine Embassy successfully conducted the Philippine Business Mission (PBM) 2015 that brought together ranking DoT officials and Philippine and Japanese travel and tourism executives for a three day tourism promotion and marketing campaign.
With the theme “Visit the Philippines 2015”, the PBM 2015 was organized by the Tourism Promotions Board (TPB) that brought to Japan 43 Philippine sellers composed of hotels, resorts, travel wholesalers, airline companies and tourism officials. (Photo left)
PBM 2015 was led by Mr. Domingo Ramon C. Enerio III, Chief Operating Officer of the TPB, and composed DoT Assistant Secretary Art Boncato, the Directors of DoT Regions 1, 2, 6 and 7; Mr. Val Cabansag, General Manager of the Philippine Retirement Authority, Ms. Gwendolyn Batoon, Tourism Attaché Tokyo, and private sector representatives including the general managers of Bohol Beach Club, Marco Polo Plaza Cebu, Marco Polo Ortigas, Movenpick Hotel Mactan, Fairways and Bluewater Boracay and the COO of Discovery Shores Boracay.
In the course of the 3-day tourism marketing forum, the members of the PBM met with members of the Japan Association of Travel Agencies (JATA) during the tourism seminar and travel mart on 24 June 2015 at the Imperial Hotel (photo above), at the Wholesalers Day – Meet and Greet, held on 25 June 2015, (photo below) and the Consumer Event at the Yurakucho Plaza on 26 June 2015.
In remarks at the reception for the PBM and JATA members at the Fuji Hall of the Imperial Hotel on 24 June 2015, Deputy Chief of Mission Gilberto Asuque (photo left) encouraged the Filipino and Japanese travel and tourism executives to reach the one million arrivals of Japanese tourists to the Philippines as the DoT intensifies its marketing campaign of “Its More Fun in the Philippines”.
DCM Asuque also cited the tourism convergence program of the DoT and Department of Public Highways that integrates communities to the tourism value chain and builds local institutions through improved road connectivity and internet access. As result of this program, tourists have discovered the so called “non-institutional destinations” that are now commonly featured alongside top choices for the best exotic getaways.
The Philippines is a competitive tourist destination. In terms of two-way tourism, there are some 1.5 Million airline seats plying five (5) Japanese gateways and two (2) Philippine gateways. There are 6 airlines servicing Japan from the Philippines offering about 11 return flights a day. Japan continues to be the Philippine’s third most important source of tourism traffic registering a 6.9% growth rate and for the first quarter of 2015 this has jumped to 8.7% growth rate on year-on-year basis.
The reception was attended by some 400 guests and capped by a toast led by Mr. Tatsuo Hayashida with Board Director of JATA, Mr. Enerio III, Assistant Secretary Boncato, DCM Asuque and Tourism Attaché Batoon. (left photo above). The guests were entertained by celebrated Filipino violinist John Lesaca and Filipino-Japanese singer Ms. Maria Teresa Gow. (right photo above).
