Philippine Tourism expands presence at Ottawa travel show

The Philippine Embassy in Ottawa reported to the Department of Foreign Affairs Tourism Promotions Board (TPB) led a contingent of Philippine exhibitors at the20^thOttawa Travel and Vacation Show (OTVS) on 5-6 April 2014 in a bid to intensify its marketing campaign atop a consumer fair platform.

Joining TPB at the Philippine booth were Department of Tourism (DOT)-National Capital Region, DOT-Cagayan Valley Region, Cagayan Economic Zone Authority (CEZA), the Municipality of Nasugbu, Philippine Airlines, Rajah Tours Philippines, and Mart Evers Travel as well as the Philippine Embassy.

Hundreds of potential Canadian travellers to the Philippines visited the large Philippine booth for an introduction to Philippine destinations and tour packages including the soon-to-be launched Winter Escapade 2 to Cebu, Bohol, Siquijor and Manila on 30 January – 6 February 2015.

The exhibitors were gratified by the massive turnout at the OTVS which put together this year over 200 travel and vacation exhibits representing over 50 countries for some 16,000 Canadian visitors planning vacations overseas.

Mayor CharitoApacible of Nasugbu and CEZA Administrator Jose Mari Ponce seized the occasion to confer with Ambassador Gatan and Minister Eric Tamayo on economic opportunities in their respective regions.

“Tourism promotion is a major pillar of the Embassy’s economic diplomacy program.  The OTVS validates Canada’s huge outbound tourism market as participating Philippine tour operators have realized. I am pleased by TPB’s initiative to assemble Philippine sellers for this show,” Ambassador Gatan stated.

TPB’s participation in the OTVS comes on the heels of a tourism roadshow and business mission in Vancouver, Toronto, and Winnipeg from 1 to 4 April 2014.