DOT, MCIAA commend winners of Routes Asia Marketing Awards
THE Department of Tourism (DOT) congratulated the winners of the 2019 edition of the Routes
Asia Marketing Awards during the Routes Asia Networking Evening held at the Radisson Blu Cebu.
“The Philippine Department of Tourism expresses its warmest congratulations to all the winners of the best airports in the different categories, and of course the winner in destination marketing, and, finally, the over-all winner,” DOT Undersecretary for Tourism Development Planning Benito Bengzon Jr.
The Routes Marketing Awards are considered the most prestigious in the aviation industry as they are voted for and judged by the airline network planning community.
Australia lorded over the competition hoarding five awards including the top accolade, Overall Winner, for its Brisbane Airport, which was also named as the winner for airport category of Over 20 Million Passengers.
Two more airports from Australia dominated the 4-20 Million Passengers Category with the Perth Airport regarded as the winner and Adelaide Airport as Highly Commended.
Brisbane Marketing was adjudged the winner for the Destination award after posting a record growth from international visitors and a successful hosting of last year’s Routes Asia.
Cambodia’s Sihanouk International Airport bested the Under 4 Million Passengers category with Malaysia’s Langkawi International Airport as Highly Commended.
For the Over 20 Million Passengers, Fukuoka International Airport received the Highly Commended citation.
“Being a Routes awardee is a tremendous honor and I congratulate all of them for the value proposition they infused into their airports, to their marketing efforts and I wish to emulate their examples in my airport,” said Mactan-Cebu International Airport Authority (MCIAA) General Manager Steve Dicdican.
The Mactan-Cebu International Airport (MCIA) was named as the 4-20 Million Passenger winner two years ago at the Routes Asia 2017 Marketing Award in Okinawa, Japan.
“Routes Asia counted us to be the most exemplary in marketing. It challenged us to do better next time. That’s why we are exerting our best to win again— not in the same category but in a higher category,” Dicdican added.
Also in 2017, the DOT finally clinched the Destination award after an earlier nomination in the category.
“When we won the award in 2017, it was a clear recognition of the achievements that we have made in our tourism campaign, and that is something that we ought to strive for every year for Routes Asia,” Bengzon said.
The DOT now banners a refreshed It’s More Fun in the Philippines campaign that features a new logo, a new font, and a more sustainable approach to tourism marketing of emerging destinations and route development.