2GO Travel launches new route to Palawan
LAND and sea travel provider 2GO Travel recently launched its new route to the eco-tourism center of the Philippines, Palawan, via Coron.
2GO Travel partners gathered at the launch, held at Hotel Centro in Puerto Princesa. Officials from various government agencies, hotel and outlet owners, members of the media, partners from the academe and some members of the shipping industry attended the event.
2GO Travel vice president and passage business commercial officer Stephen Rey Tagud sought the support of the people of Palawan to ensure the continuous service of their new route. He mentioned that, in addition to the improvement of vessel facilities of MV St. Augustine of Hippo, passengers will be provided a cruise-like experience and will be given a chance to try out the new passenger terminal facility at Manila North Harbor, as well as stay at The Hub at Kilometer Zero, which serves as the lounge for cabin or stateroom passengers or group travelers.
2GO Travel sails Manila to Puerto Princesa via Coron every Tuesday and Friday at 4:30 p.m. For more information, please call the 2GO Travel hotline at 5287000 or visit their website, www.2GO.com.ph.
Tripping in Turkey
METEOR Philippines (Mediterranean Tour Operators), its Turkey-based parent company Orion Tours, in partnership with Turkish Airlines, recently held a familiarization tour which featured a week-long itinerary that unveiled the beauty of this rich and diverse transcontinental country.
Tour participants traveled through the famed landmarks across Istanbul, Izmir, Kusadasi, Pamukkale, Konya and Cappadocia. Starting off with a visit to Topkapi Palace, the seat of the Ottoman Empire for four centuries, the travelers made their way around the exciting grand bazaar, a maze of over 4,000 tiny shops selling gold, jewelry, leatherwork and fine carpets.
Next came some of the world’s greatest architectural marvels—the St. Sophia museum, the sportive and political center of the Old City of Hippodrome, and the Blue Mosque, famous for its blue Iznik tiles and unique with six minarets, built in the name of Sultan Ahmet. From Istanbul, they drove to Selcuk to visit the House of Virgin Mary, then onto Ephesus, one of the Seven Churches of Revelation, and the Temple of Artemis (One of the Seven Wonders of Antiquity).
In Cappadocia, the travelers were met with the incredible Underground City of Kaymakli where early Christians lived secretly in order to survive and keep their faith—with picture stops at the Valley of the Birds and at the foot of the Uchisar Castle. The experience was rounded off by a visit to the rock carved churches hollowed out of volcanic ash in the Goreme Valley.
Aside from landmarks of religious significance, Turkey is also fast becoming an “incentive” destination for profes- sionals, with experts from law and medical practices, in particular, choosing to head to the country to experience its distinct culture and lifestyle. An estimated 30 million tourists are expected to visit Turkey this year.
Contact Meteor Philippines Inc. at 0918-9125177, 0922-8232688 or 9865137, 6871743, 6874596, or e-mail meteorphils@gmail.com. For reservation and booking please contact your travel agent. Meteor has a joint venture between five land providers from Turkey, Greece, Egypt, Israel and Jordan. Partners are longtime veterans in the business. Established in the Philippines in 1995, Meteor is headed by general manager Ligaya Tabirao whose 25 years of expertise in the industry makes her the leader in religious tourism.