PHL To Share Best Tourism Practices In Post-ATF 2016 Tours –DOT

More than just ‘fun’, the post-tours for buyers which are part of the ASEAN Tourism Forum 2016 (ATF 2016) agenda are expected to share the best tourism practices of the Philippines to the entire region.

This was the guarantee made by ATF 2016 Philippine Host Committee Chairperson and DOT Undersecretary Benito Bengzon Jr. who previously revealed that bulk of the Php169-million budget for ATF will go to these hosted tours.

Bengzon, however, stressed that the budget is a “small amount” compared to the revenue the department is expected to generate overall.

“The (post-ATF) tours will also showcase the efforts of the local government units in preserving, developing and promoting their respective tourism assets the way every ASEAN-member country and its component communities should,” Bengzon said.

“In effect, we are sharing our best tourism practices in ASEAN with the rest of the world,” he added, stressing that government and industry cooperation was key to make ASEAN tourism integration a success.

The DOT official reiterated that the primary goal of the ATF 2016 is to increase inbound travel to ASEAN by promoting the entire region as one tourism destination.

“We are capitalizing on the unique diversity of the ASEAN’s culture, history and geography for top-of-the-mind brand recall, all for the socioeconomic benefit of its 622-million people,” Bengzon said.

The four-day tours running from Jan 23 to Jan 26, offer the ATF 2016 delegates any of the following choices—the UNESCO World Heritage Tour from Vigan, Ilocos Sur to Bangui, Ilocos Norte; the Southern Luzon’s Cultural, Wellness and Culinary Trail from Tagaytay to Tall Heritage Town in Batangas to Nasugbu, Batangas; the Cordillera Heritage Tour from Banaue to Sagada;

The Bicol Express from Albay to Sorsogon; the Northern Palawan’s Eco Adventure from Busuanga to Coron; the Last Frontier from Sabang and Honda Bay in Puerto Princesa to El Nido in Palawan; the Visayas Charms from Bohol to Cebu; the Negros y Cebu from Dumaguete to Siquijor to Cebu and the Island to Highlands from the cities of Davao in Davao del Sur to Tagum in Davao de Norte and althea way to Samal Island.

“Noticeably, each of these options, except for the Cordillera Heritage Tour from Banaue to Sagada features segments of the Philippine coast, with fine beaches and magnificent sceneries. Architecture also varies. So do the lifestyles, mostly depending on each community’s agricultural orientation as dictated by the environs,” Bengzon said.

With a diverse range of itineraries, DOT said that this possibly marks ATF’s most extensive number of post-show tours in recent years. (PNA) FPV/ANP