Aiming to position the Philippines as the next premier shopping destination in the Asia Pacific region, the Department of Tourism (DoT) formally launched yesterday a special shopping campaign to attract more foreign visitors during the lean travel months in the country.
Tourism Secretary Joseph H. Durano said the campaign billed as “Mabuhay Shopping Spree Promo” was launched with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the department and the major players in the shopping industry - Ayala malls, Greenhills Shopping Center, Tiendesitas, SM Department Store and the Market! Market!.
The signatories vowed to promote shopping as the country’s tourist attraction as they noted that Manila is fast becoming a shopping hub with the recent rise of world-class shopping malls offering a wide variety of products, from high-end designer items to bargains galore.
“If we look at the development in Metro Manila with regards to shopping malls, we have noticed that shopping experience here is really unique and competitive, but we never promoted shopping as a formal tool to attract foreign tourists,” Durano told journalists.
“So we want to take advantage of this development. The DoT together with the partner malls decided to go all-out in the shopping campaign,” he added.
As part of the project, the department is distributing “Mabuhay Shopping Spree” privilege cards to foreign tourists availing of the Manila package or tourists staying in Manila.
The card entitles a foreign buyer to avail of discounts freebies, souvenirs or other special amenities offered by the participating establishments upon presentation of the card to participating malls and establishments in the country. (Emily Bugarin)
http://www.tempo.com.ph/news.php?aid=26471
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