The Filipino brand of tourism has begun lording over the global spectacle as the Philippines collected numerous awards and recognitions recently, the Department of Tourism (DOT) conveyed on Friday, Nov. 18.
In fact, the Philippine delegation for the 2022 World Travel Market (WTM), led by Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco, was welcomed with a high note from international buyers as 211 reported business leads were made from November 7 to 9 at ExCel London in the United Kingdom (UK).
During the three-day event, the DOT was supported by at least 17 Philippine and UK-based private sector companies composed of tour operators, hotels, and resorts that conducted B2B (business-to-business) meetings with international buyers from Europe and Asia.
“We see increased interest in the country which comes in the wake of continuous awards and recognition for the country from reputable travel publications and organizations. We look forward to making our presence in the World Travel Market bigger and better with the support of our local government partners, private stakeholders, and industry associations,” said Tourism Promotions Board (TPB) Chief Operating Officer Maria Margarita Montemayor Nograles.
For this year, the Philippines was also hailed as the Best Beach and Best Dive Destination at the 2022 World Travel Awards (WTA) held in Muscat, Oman. In the same award body, Intramuros was recognized as the Best Tourist Attraction in Asia.
Meanwhile, Boracay was hailed by the Conde Nast Traveler, a United States-based luxury and lifestyle travel magazine, as the Top Island in Asia while Palawan was the top eight.
At the Incentive Travel, Conventions and Meetings Asia (ITCMA) 2022 in Thailand, the renowned international travel publication "TTG" awarded the Philippines as Destination of the Year for 2023.
"It's an exciting time to travel to the Philippines given how we continuously open new circuits and more tourism developments spearheaded by the tourism department,” Nograles added.
During the 2022 WTA, the Philippines showcased a three-day cultural performance at the venue's Entertainment Boulevard and conducted a networking activity at “The Retreat."
The Philippine booth, designed with sustainability in mind, also gave visitors a glimpse of the white sands of Boracay, notable festivals like MassKara, and some of the country's culinary offerings.
The country also showcased a health and wellness privilege where visitors are treated to the traditional Philippine "hilot" massage.
Nograles said the Philippine delegation entered WTM 2022 to communicate the Filipino brand across all markets, collaborate with international stakeholders, showcase the country's quality destinations, and sustain a strong and distinguished presence in the global tourism industry.
The WTM London is the leading global event for the global travel and tourism industry. The exposition facilitates business connections for the global (leisure) travel community.