Philippines pushes wellness in Dubai travel fair

The Arabian Travel Mart (ATM) in Dubai, the biggest annual travel fair in the Middle East held at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Center on April 22-25, showcased the Philippines’ health and wellness attractions.

“Although the Philippines has long been attracting visitors from all over the world because of its pristine beaches and dive sites, it is yet to be known as a health and wellness destination. The ATM is the perfect venue for promoting the Philippine destinations where tourists can visit to relax and rejuvenate themselves,” said Department of Tourism (DOT) Secretary Wanda Teo.

The Philippines had a pavilion at the event where some of country’s top health and wellness attractions took center stage. Businessto-business (B2B) sessions alSingapore lowed Dubai tour operators to meet with the country’s tour operators and health and wellness providers to discuss possible business partnerships.

Now on its 22nd year, the ATM attracts over 30,000 visitors from the Middle East, Europe and other regions every year. More than 3,000 products and destinations from around the world were highlighted in the four-day event.

“The health and wellness tourism industry is a $3.7-trillion global business. As an emerging health and wellness tourism destination with a huge potential to become a global leader, the Philippines certainly has a lot of investment and business opportunities to offer,” said Roberto Alabado III, director of DOT’s Medical Travel and Wellness Tourism Office.