Philippines Strengthens Visibility in Chinese Outbound Travel Market

The Philippines is out to claim a bigger share of the burgeoning Chinese tourist population as the Department of Tourism (DOT) and the country’s travel trade sector participates in the China Outbound Travel and Tourism Market (COTTM).

To be held at the China World Trade Center in Beijing from April 14 to 16, the COTTM is touted to be the sole business-to-business event dedicated to outbound travel in China. The Philippine delegation expects to align with more than 200 Chinese tour operators in a series of pre-arranged tabletop discussions.

According to Ace Durano, Secretary of Tourism, “China’s emergence in the world economy brings with it a society that has a greater propensity for foreign travel. Being part of the COTTM will strategically enhance the Philippines’ visibility as a preferred destination for leisure and business.”

The local travel industry’s engagement in the COTTM dovetails two successful promotional activities in Shanghai and Guangzhou.

Aside from presenting sandy beaches and watersports, English as a Second Language (ESL) educational trips and wedding destinations around the country were the highlights of the Philippine pavilion at the 2008 Shanghai World Travel Fair, one of the major venues to meet the China’s travel trade and consumers.

“Our ability to showcase a wide array of adventure and travel experiences attracted many interested tourists and business decision-makers. Being adjudged as the Best Leisure Tourist Destination by the fair’s organizing committee confirms this,” Durano shared.

Building on the successes gained in Shanghai, the DOT also led the country’s travel trade sector in this year’s Guangzhou International Travel Fair (GITF 2008) from April 4 to 6 at the Guangzhou Jinhan Exhibition Centre.

“China’s tourist population is huge and diverse. The events in Shanghai, Guangzhou and Beijing allow our stakeholders to build up the greatest trade network and meeting the most number of consumers possible,” Arlene Alipio, DOT Team China Marketing Head explained.

DOT Team China, tasked to push the country’s various destinations and attractions to the Chinese travel market, is also set to conduct promotional activities in Chengdu and Chongqing to support Philippine Airlines’ new flight offerings to these provinces.

The flag carrier opened last March its Manila-Chengdu and Manila-Chongqing twice weekly services.

China is currently the fourth largest provider of foreign arrivals. A total of 36,137 Chinese tourists visited the Philippines between January and February 2008. This figure represents a 42.5 percent increase over the same period last year and makes China the fastest growing source country.

The United Nations World Tourism Organization predicts that there will be 100 million outbound Chinese travelers per year by 2020.

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