DOT sees rise in French tourist arrivals after delegation pitch

The Department of Tourism (DOT) has projected of further improvement of French tourists following the government’s powerful pitch before heads of top French travel agencies and tour operators.

Tourism Secretary Wanda Tulfo-Teo, who led the biggest ever Philippine delegation to the biggest French travel expo, “IFTM Top Resa,” in Porte de Versailles. This year’s IFTM event boasts of 1,694 brands and 166 destinations. It hopes to surpass the 2016 level of 31,000 trade professionals in attendance.

DOT said in a statement that Teo held marathon meetings with top officials of associations of travel agencies and tour operators, including the Les Enterprises du Voyage as represented by its vice president Richard Soubielle, and the SETO headed by its secretarygeneral Jurgen Bachmann.

Teo cited the strong interest and support gained from their meetings with the world’s leading tour and travel executives.

Both French executives acknowledged the spike in French arrivals in the Philippines, which has become a “trendy destination” following more aggressive DOT-led marketing programs and collaborations with the French travel trade.

Visitor arrivals from the French market have steadily risen from a 20 percent increase in 2015 and 2016 to nearly 25 percent increase from January to June 2017 (compared to the same period in 2016).

“They noted the market’s growing interest in the Philippines, and cited the typical French trip to our country as a mixture of culture, diving, beach and ecotourism destinations. They are also very keen on having interactions with local communities,” added Teo.

The tourism head, along with DOT Undersecretary Benito C. Bengzon Jr., also met with producers of two mainstream French TV networks planning to feature adventure and travel in the Philippines on their primetime shows aired nationwide.

The private sector participants had their slates full meeting with their counterparts. These included representatives from Ansett Holidays, ALIZE Voyages and Adventures, Asiaventure Tours & Travel, Baron Travel, Blueberry Sky Travel and Tours Services, Blue Horizons Travel and Tours, Corporate International Travel & Tours, Happy Juanderer Travel, Intas Destination Management, Select Travel Services, Travel Experts, Ten Knots Development Corporation and AHMGI Hotel Luna.

“This is the biggest delegation we ever had in France, giving us more opportunities to tap into this high-value market. The DOT is likewise encouraged by the consistent and growing interest of our local travel trade to grow the French market and we look forward to even more strategic and creative partnerships with them as well as with key communications establishments in promoting our fun destinations in France,” Teo added.

The DOT contingent also included Assistant Secretary Arlene Mancao, Assistant Secretary Frederick Alegre, Regional Director Maria Venus Q. Tan and Tourism Attaché Margarita Patricia Valdes.