PHL tourist sites featured in Berlin exhibit

The Department of Foreign Affairs said Philippine tourist sites were featured in an exhibit in Germany dubbed  "Philippinen: Vielseitiges Inselreich im Pazifik" (Philippines: Varied Islands in the Pacific).   In a news release, the DFA said a major retail operator of outdoor products in Germany — Globetrotters Ausrustung — mounted a photo exhibit together with the Philippine Embassy in Berlin and the Philippine Tourism Office in Frankfurt. Held at the flagship store of Globetrotters Ausrustung in Berlin, the exhibit that ran throughout March provided  a glimpse of the natural and cultural diversity of the Philippines, the DFA said.   The exhibit prominently displayed the "It's More Fun in the Philippines" logo, which had its European launching at the International Tourism Exchange (ITB) in Berlin last February, the DFA added.   "Visitors to the exhibition were treated (to) visual images of the country's majestic landscapes, historical sites, warm people, and other natural scenic wonders," the DFA said.   The highlight of the exhibit was a lecture and live-movie-photo show on March 17, with guest speaker David Hettich, a well-known German underwater photographer.   Hettich described his visits to the Philippines as "truly remarkable," saying he was overwhelmed by the varied landscapes of the country, its unique culture, and the warm hospitality of the Filipinos.   The DFA said his photographs have landed in numerous advertising campaigns, calendars, books and magazines, including National Geographic.   On the other hand, over 100 travel enthusiasts attended the live-movie-photo show, which featured stunning and illuminating photographs of the Philippines as taken by Hettich and photojournalist Tobias Hauser.   Carsten Bombis, branch manager of Globetrotters Ausrustung-Berlin, thanked the Embassy for its support in making the exhibit possible.   Bombis also welcomed the opportunity to hold future promotional events featuring the Philippines so that travelers can learn more about the Filipino people, the culture and the beauty of the Philippines. - VVP, GMA News