The Philippines is targeting more than 1 lakh tourist arrivals from the country of India in 2017.
This is due to the fact that the former has undertaken a series of brand new initiatives to promote itself rigorously as a popular tourist destination for tourists. Philippines had welcomed as many as 90,816 tourists from India last year, thereby becoming the twelfth largest international source market for the Southeast Asian country.
Raymund Glen A Agustin, the Market Development Division Chief Tourism Operations Officer, Philippines Department of Tourism said that Philippines expect the number of visitor arrivals from India to increase beyond 100,000 in 2017.
This would elevate India to the prestigious level of a ‘strategic market’ from the currently existing status of an opportunity market.
A strategic market refers to the one that is able to generate between 1 lakh and 2 lakh arrivals annually to Philippines. Agustin had specified that the largest tourism segment that has been witnessed an increased number of tourists from India represents the MICE industry segment. The other group comprises group travellers.
The Department of Tourism, Philippines is also keen on promoting Philippines as a wedding destination.
He added that the other spheres include business and leisure.
Glen Agustin also mentioned that the government of Philippines have started to adopt several measures to promote the country, and they are doing this by focusing on corporate as well as incentive travel organizers. They are conducting various training sessions for travel trade partners. And, they have been participating in trade fairs and B2B sessions.
These training programs are one of the most effectual ways that would support the interaction with trade partners and spread awareness on destination knowledge.
Agustin said that they conduct familiarization tours and also do advertisements.
