Manila hosts Korea extreme sports event

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The Philippines will be hosting the 2nd International Inline (roller blade) Marathon in Manila on Dec. 2, which is expected to bring in at least 300 Korean enthusiasts to the country on a three to four-day tour package, according to Tourism Secretary Joseph Ace H. Durano, who has also been promoting the Philippines as a sports tourism hub.

“Certainly, this event will further boost Korean arrivals that have been posting unprecedented records,” Durano said. Rollerblading is a very popular extreme sport in Korea.

The Korean Extreme Sports Association (KESA) accepted the invitation of the Department of Tourism (DoT) to consider the Philippines as an annual race destination since it could attract more tourists from various parts of Korea because of the popularity of the sport.

“It (marathon) presents a very good consumer marketing opportunity,” said DoT Team Korea Head Maricon BascoEbron.

“There will be marathon competitions covering three, five, and 21 kilometers,” Ebron added.

The race, scheduled from 8 to 10:30 a.m., will start at the Quirino Grandstand and parade grounds, and will run through Roxas and Seaside boulevards and Macapagal Avenue, U-turn at the corner of the Marina Subdivision, and back to Quirino Grandstand.

Other proposed events include sports clinic on Nov. 25 and 26, and extreme sports demo show on Dec. 2.

“These festivities are also expected to draw attention and participation from local audience, and promote strong friendship between Filipinos and Koreans,” Durano said.

The event is being organized by KESA officers Choi Young Ho, Lee Yuno and Starsky Park, who are seeking assistance from the DoT and the local governments concerned.

KESA is requesting for airport assistance for the arrival of the many Korean participants, road control and police escorts during the event, paramedics, cohosting of the festivities, and securing local participation.

Nonetheless, the DoT Team Korea has committed to provide the airport assistance, serve as liaison office, coordinate with the concerned government agencies, assist in seeking sponsorships and securing clearance for the placement of banners, co-host the race and the awards ceremony, and help generate local participants.

“This event would further promote the countryâ€™s sports-related attractions to Koreans, increase even more the enormously growing Korean inbound traffic, and encourage the travel industry to organize sports events and engage in sports marketing to generate highly-saleable tour packages,” Durano stressed.

Averaging around 45,000 arrivals monthly and posting a double-digit average increase of 26 percent, Korea is now the Philippinesâ€™ largest Asian tourism market.

The DoT Team Korea is targeting 600,000 Korean tourists for the full-year 2006 after attracting 489,000 arrivals in 2005.