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Philippine Department of Tourism welcomes Swiss travel agents

Top Swiss travel operators, Wettstein, Ad Gentes, Tourasia, and Stohler Fantasia arrived in the Philippines recently to hold their ‘Discover Philippines Seminar’ at the Hotel Sofitel Manila.

Photo shows (7th from left) Undersecretary Eduardo Jarque, Jr., Tourism Planning and Promotions, with (2nd from right) Venus Tan, Tourism Attaché of DOT Frankfurt, and (3rd from left) Verna Buensuceso, Team Europe Head, with representatives of the top 4 Swiss travel operators.

The DOT welcomed the group with a colorful performance by the Bayanihan National Folk Dance Company.

The travel agents are slated to visit their market’s top six destinations, namely Manila, Bohol, Cebu, Boracay, Palawan and Northern Luzon.

Together with partners KLM Royal Dutch Airlines and Annset Holidays, 16 local tour operators will host these familiarization trips.

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Lakbay Norte 2010 goes to Cagayan Valley

Twenty (20) media travel practitioners from national dailies, local Chinese newspaper, in-flight magazines, pinoy travel bloggers and officials of the Norht Philippines Visitors Bureau (NPVB) were in the province recently for the Lakbay Norte from January 24-31, 2010.

Lakbay Norte will tour for eight days the following places by bus: Cagayan Valley, Ilocos Norte, La Union, Baguio City, Pangasinan, Subic Bay, Tarlac, Pampanga to include Clark Free Port Zone.

In the Province of Cagayan, Lakbay Norte visited the Callao Caves Tourist Zone (Callao Cave Adventure), Piat Basilica Minore (Pilgrimage) and Visita Iglesia at Iguig, Alcala, Lallo, Camalaniugan and Pamplona. A formal dinner and press briefing was also held at Paseo Real last Monday, January 25 with Governor Alvaro T. Antonio and other officials.

Director Blessilda Diwa of the Department of Tourism (DOT) has expressed strong support to the private sector initiative by sponsoring some of the activities as well as promoting the event.

“DOT Region 2 believes that the Lakbay Norte will greatly encourage inter-regional travel considering that North Philippines is very accessible through good road network and with diverse and exceptionally beautiful destinations, products and services”, Diwa added. Continue reading →

How to Choose the Best Outdoor Gear for your next Adventure

If you are traveling this summer season and you are planning to have some boredom-busting activities then you should consider hiking or some nature trip activity in the northern part of the Philippines where there’s a lot of destinations to explore.

Hiking or Nature tripping requires for you to have an outdoor gear but buying an outdoor sporting gear doesn’t have to break the bank and prevent you from enjoying the most awaited summer adventure.

Your defense gear during an outdoor activity needs to be reliable, durable and best of all – it should be affordable right? Locally you can buy outdoor accessories from outdoor gear shops like ROX in Bonifacio High Street but you can also buy it online eg. YourDefenceGear.com.

If you are looking for a trusty luggage, a good camera bag or a plain backpack, you should visit the yearly Travel Gears Bodega Sale in Binondo organized by Travel Gears Bodega Sale in Binondo organized by Primer Group in State Centre Building. Checkout brands on sale which includes Sanuk sandals, Samsonite, Columbia Sportswear, The North Face, Victorinox, American tourister, World Traveller, Tough Jeans etc.

You can also find camping gear and equipment, ranging from backpacks to electronic gadgets to camping tents. Camping gear categories, which we supply, include backpacks, books, clothing/apparel, clothing/footwear, cookware, electronics & instruments, flashlights & lighting, food and food processing, furniture, insect control, kayaks, canoes, rafts, camping knives & accessories, personal care, poles, staffs and canes, ramps, carriers & vehicle acc, recreational, camping sleeping bags, stoves and fuel, tent accessories, camping tents, videos, dvds, cds, water treatment & transport, you name it and we have it.

You can find some great camping equipment like tents, stoves, etc. in most specialty shops here in Manila but I would suggest for you to consult mountaineers or a friend who is a member of an outdoor club to get a referral as to where to go and buy this things.

Even in a tight budget, you can still enjoy this year’s summer break! Try to borrow outdoor gears and equipment if you cannot buy your own. Or you can watch out for online sales and promotions if take advantage of the largest selection of high quality gear and tools related to the great outdoors.

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Caticlan airport expansion and other Tourism News

The Department of Tourism (DOT) is extending its full support to the Caticlan airport expansion project which, upon completion, is expected to accommodate 1.2M passengers annually, from its present capacity of 700,000.

“One of the world’s best beaches deserves a first-class airport. We join Boracay’s stakeholders in upholding this milestone as it aims to haul in a sizeable traffic of tourists and create more jobs for the people,” said Ace Durano, Secretary of Tourism. The DOT and the Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC) were present at the project’s recent groundbreaking led by President Gloria-Macapagal Arroyo.

The P2.507B Build, Operate and Transfer project granted to private consortium Caticlan International Airport Development Company (CIADC) began its first of three construction phases, which cover a total 7-year period. Continue reading →

HEAL Philippines Officers Inducted

Department of Tourism Secretary Joseph Ace Durano late Wednesday afternoon inducted the officers of the pioneering Health and Wellness Alliance of the Philippines (HEAL Philippines) at the Tourism Bldg., Kalaw, Ermita, Manila.

Durano swore into office Dr. Joven R. Cuanang, president; Eva Trinidad, vice president, Catherine Brillantes-Turvill, secretary; Millet Escasinas, treasurer; Dr. Joel Gutierrez, auditor; and Lara Santos as press relations officer while Joyce Alumno was appointed as HEAL Philippines secretary general.

Durano said that the country’s fledgling medical tourism is expected to grow bigger through the years with the unification of health services and medical tourism providers.

With 41 hospitals, 45 accredited spas, clinics, faith healers, the newly formed organization seeks to promote the Philippines as a prime destination for global healthcare and retirement at very reasonable prices. Continue reading →

SEAIR extends Batanes Winter Promo

Southeast Asian Airlines (SEAIR), the Philippines’ premier leisure airline, extends the Batanes Winter promo for booking until February 28, 2010.

SEAIR offers exclusive 10% discounts via www.FlySeair.com for travel until February 28, 2010. Travelers can type ilovebataneswinter09 in the promo code field to avail of this special offer for limited seats.

The Batanes group of islands at the northernmost tip of the Philippines has a distinct landscape unlike any other in the country. During the winter months from December to February, temperatures can go as low as 7 degrees Celsius. The cool temperate weather, combined with green pastures, windmills on rolling hills and lighthouses guarding immaculate shorelines, give visitors a sense of a holiday in the countryside of Europe.

SEAIR also offers special morning rates of as low as PhP 1,999.20 per way all-in when they book as early as January 23, 2010 for travel from January 25, 2010 and onwards. The special rates are available for limited seats for all flights to and from Boracay before 7 a.m.

SEAIR has been serving key tourist destinations since 1995, most notably Boracay, and has the longest history of uninterrupted service to Boracay direct via Caticlan. It is the nation’s second-oldest airline and has flown almost 3 million passengers to local destinations including Marinduque, El Nido, Tablas (Romblon), Cebu, Clark, Zamboanga, Jolo, and Tawi-tawi. SEAIR also offers the most routes to and from Caticlan with flights from Caticlan to Manila, Clark and Cebu.

To avail of the promo book online at www.FlySeair.com. For inquiries call SEAIR reservations at 8490100. Join SEAIR Facebook Fan Page for updates on promos.

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