In a Business-to-business exchange, the Department of Tourism (DoT) in the Philippines is set to present the country’s culture, natural attractions, tropical beach and diving destinations during a selling mission to Norway, Sweden and Denmark this March.
Island beach getaways, diving and eco-tourism spots, spa and wellness attractions, as well as cultural destinations will be the main offerings to the European travel trade players.
“Our selling mission to Sweden last year proved successful. We plan to expand our reach to include the greater Scandinavian market, which we expect to pick-up and grow as much as what was experienced with the Russian market last year,” said Tourism Secretary Ace Durano.
The business-to-business exchanges will occur successively at the Konserthus in Oslo, Norway, the Konferens Spårvagnshallarna in Stockholm, Sweden, and at the Bella Centre in Copenhagen, Denmark from March 9 to 16.
DOT Undersecretary for Tourism Services and Regional Offices Oscar Palabyab will lead the Philippine delegation.
“The selling mission closely follows the ITB Berlin, which is the biggest international tourism fair. We will be building from the excitement brought on by this event, bearing in mind whatever insights we have learned about the Scandinavian market during the ITB,” Durano says.
Last year visitor arrivals from Norway, Sweden and Denmark grew by 18.7 percent, 21.2 percent and 23.6 percent in 2007 respectively.
The DOT is confident that the travel exchanges with these countries will increase foreign tourist traffic to the Philippines further.
