(Target ng Pinas) 200K BRITISH TOURISTS

TARGET ng Department of Tourism (DOT) na makaakit ng mas maraming British visitors at maitaas ang United Kingdom (UK) bilang “key tourism market” para sa Pilipinas.

Sa kanyang pagsasalita sa British Chamber of Commerce Philippines’ 2024 Travel Talks sa Makati City noong Huwebes, sinabi ni  DOT Undersecretary Shereen Gail Yu-Pamintuan na pinaiigting ng pamahalaan ang promosyon para sa iba’t ibang tourism portfolios nito, kabilang ang sun and beach, golf, at dive tourism sa international travel fairs sa Europe.

“UK is actually one of our opportunity markets. We are hoping to graduate them into a key market,” sabi ni Yu-Pamintuan.

“As we promote the country, we ensure that we are present in many of the big institutional travel fairs. So, we are constantly present in the World Travel Mart. We also make sure that in Europe, we participate in the many diving shows because our dive portfolio is really one of our strengths.”

“Visitors from the UK reached 154,698 last year, short of at least 50,000 to be identified as a ‘key market’,” dagdag pa ni Yu-Pamintuan.

Gayunman, tila nasa tamang direksiyon ang DOT para makamit ang target nito dahil ang bilang ng inbound tourists mula sa European state mula Enero hanggang Abril ay umabot na sa 61,156.

Ayon kay Yu-Pamintuan, bukod sa  dive at nature tourism, ang DOT ay nakapokus sa pagposisyon sa bansa bilang top health and wellness destination.

“For example, for dental tourism, it’s a no-brainer that it’s cheaper here in the Philippines to have your aesthetics done for your teeth,” aniya. “So, they can come in and consult via Zoom platform, come in and have their teeth surveyed, and then schedule within the week the measurements for your teeth, and then while you’re waiting for them to fabricate it, you can go on a vacation.”

Aniya, ang DOT ay nakikipag-ugnayan sa tour operators upang bumuo ng specialized packages para sa tourism products na ito.

Sinabi ni Yu-Pamintuan na patuloy rin ang pagsisikap na gawing maayos ang pagbiyahe sa Pilipinas ng mga dayuhan, kung saan nakahanda ang DOT na makipagtulungan sa pribadong sektor.

“We take great pride in our 7,641 islands with endless choice of destinations to choose from, that are now more immersive, diverse, richer, deeper, more authentic, more competitive, and ultimately uniquely Filipino,” sabi pa ng opisyal.

“We extend our hand of collaboration as we navigate through these exciting times of change and opportunity,” pahayag niya sa harap ng British businessmen na dumalo sa forum.

(PNA)