Philippine delegation raises over P100-M sales leads in ASEAN Tourism Forum

The Philippine delegation raised over P100 million worth of sales leads during the ASEAN Tourism Forum (ATF) held in Yogyakarta, Indonesia earlier this month, the Tourism Promotions Board (TPB) said Monday.

According to the TPB, the Philippine delegation was represented by 16 local exhibitors from the airline industry, tour operators, and accommodations that engaged with 115 international buyers.

The delegation showcased local destinations such as Boracay, Cebu, and Palawan, along with samples of the Kaulayaw Coffee sourced locally.

The TPB said a number of local businesses and destinations were also recognized in the ASEAN Tourism Standards Awards, including Inandako’s Bed and Breakfast, Gina’s Homes, Sid Homestay, Hide Away House, and Maryhilz Homestay as ASEAN Homestay Awardees.

The Palaui Environmental Protectors Association (PEPA) also received the ASEAN community-based tourism citation, while the Clinic at the Hilton Clark and Quan Spa at the Clark Marriott Hilton won the ASEAN Spa Services.

“We aim to give you the best of the Filipino to remind you that while the Philippines continues to be a top-of-mind destination all over the world, there is also so much more to our beaches, our dive sites, our mountain ranges, and our underground rivers,” Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco said.

The Department of Tourism (DOTr) earlier this month said it targets to have 4.8 million tourist arrivals in the country this year, doubling the number of visitors recorded in 2022.  —Jon Viktor D. Cabuenas/KBK, GMA Integrated News