PATA members worldwide bound for 'more fun in Phl'

MANILA, Philippines - Members of the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) worldwide are bound to experience why it’s more fun in the Philippines than in many other tourism destinations elsewhere.

The Department of Tourism (DOT) and the Tourism Promotions Board (TPB) have created exclusive tour itineraries for delegates attending the PATA Travel Mart (PTM) in Manila on Sept. 25-28.

“The tours will give the foreign PTM participants a first-hand experience of the distinctly natural, historical and cultural features that make tourism more fun in the Philippines,” said DOT Secretary Ramon Jimenez Jr.

“For starters, the delegates can have a pre-event complimentary half-day city tour of the old and new Manila before finally making a choice on which tourism destination to visit among the archipelago’s 7,107 islands,” Jimenez added.

Constituting the Old Manila Tour are guided trips back in time to historic Fort Santiago, Rizal Park, Intramuros and the National Museum.

The New Manila Tour, on the other hand, consists of visits to Nayong Pilipino, the Makati central business district and the Ayala Museum.

“Nonetheless, both tours will give the PTM participants a deep insight on how this much-coveted tropical paradise has gracefully survived centuries of foreign colonization while acquiring a unique East-West culture that spans both architectural and racial attributes,” said Philippine Host Organizing Committee (PHOC) Commissioner General and DOT Undersecretary for Planning and Promotions Daniel Corpuz.

He said the city and succeeding provincial tours would enable the foreign delegates to competently “spread the word” about the fun in the Philippines upon their return to their home countries.

Making up the PATA’s worldwide membership are travel wholesalers, national tourism organizations and various industry sectors with large clientele to whom the Philippines can be directly and indirectly promoted.

Founded in 1951, the PATA is the recognized authority on Pacific Asia travel and tourism, providing leadership and advocacy to the collective efforts of nearly 100 government, state and city tourism bodies, more than 55 airlines and cruise lines, and hundreds of travel industry companies, all accounting for its over 2,000-strong membership worldwide.

Significantly, the first-ever PTM was held in Manila in 1978 when this city emerged as Asia’s capital for meetings, incentives, conventions and events (MICE).

Now the Philippines is poised to regain that glory with the increase in its tourism capacity and MICE facilities, which the PATA members will see and experience before, during and after the PTM.

“It is exciting for the PTM to return to its birthplace (Manila). The PTM is a great platform to showcase the national campaign ‘It’s more fun in the Philippines.’ After the mart (PTM), we want the (foreign) buyers, sellers and media to get out and about and experience the many wonderful things that the Philippines has to offer,” said PATA chief executive officer Martin Craigs in Bangkok recently.

Craigs led the PATA officials in affirming support for the country’s tourism campaign by popularizing the brand’s value proposition “It’s more fun in the Philippines” through the organization’s traditional and online media outlets.

Also supporting the PTM are local sponsors Philippine Airlines, Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp., Primer Group of Companies, SM Hotels and Conventions Corp., Hertz Philippines, Marco Polo Hotels, Tourism Infrastructure Enterprise Zone Authority, Duty Free Philippines, Victory Liner, and Ginebra San Miguel.

For more information on the PTM, contact the PHOC Secretariat at 02-525-6110, e-mail cit@dotpcvc.gov.ph or visit www.pata.org.