RP moves to become favorite destination for Europeans

MANILA, Philippines – The Philippines is hoping to become the favorite destination of European tourists.

When the Philippines hosts the Meier’s Weltreisen Far East Live Seminar (FELS) next year, 220 top performing travel agents are expected to come here for a round of exposure trips and workshops.

Tourism Secretary Joseph Ace Durano said his department is now preparing for the May 2009 event.

“The department looks forward to hosting the event, especially since the organizers will be celebrating FELS’ 20th anniversary,” he said.

“We’ve decided to hold it in a tropical island environment, as opposed to the city setting where previous workshops were done. We see this as an opportunity to show what we can provide beyond the usual incentive trips and conventions.”

Durano said Meier’s Weltreisen is the largest Asian travel specialist in Germany, and that the company’s annual Far East Live Seminar brings together hundreds of top performing travel agents.

One of the company’s goals is to develop the skills of its frontline sellers by immersing them in the places frequented by their clientele, he added.

Durano said supporting the FELS “strategically helps boost our tourism industry.” 

“The influx of delegates for the week-long event will positively benefit our establishments,” he said.

Sponsors of previous seminars reported a high return on investment, he added.

Durano said in the long term, Philippines can be assured that there are travel agents in Germany and Austria who are well-equipped and enthusiastic about promoting the country to clients.

Durano expects FELS 2009 to encourage more European tour operators to develop a wider variety of packages that feature the tropical beaches, nature adventures and cultural attractions of the islands.

A total of 92,863 tourists came from different points in Europe between January and March this year.

The United Kingdom and Germany are the region’s two highest providers of foreign arrivals and in the top 12 source countries for the Philippines.

The program is touted to be one of the major incentive events in the German and Austrian tourism trade.

The Philippines was formally recognized as the 2009 sponsor country during the concluding activities of this year’s FELS held in Shanghai. 

A city tour of Manila before the delegates transfer to the Shangri-La Boracay Resort and Spa for the main workshop is being considered as possible itinerary in 2009.

FELS participants are first organized into 12 groups and designated to conduct inspection tours (also called “pre-tours”) in a country included in Meier’s Weltreisen Asian package listing.

After the pre-tours, the agents congregate at the plenary session and present their experiences in their assigned destinations.  

Countries identified for the pre-tour section of FELS 2009 include the Philippines, Taiwan, Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, Hong Kong, Australia, Myanmar, Nepal and China.