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The Philippine Department of Tourism (DOT) successfully held a Tourism Business Mission in Hong Kong at Kowloon Shangri-la Hotel in Tsim Sha Tsui on the last leg of a four-city tourism business mission that included Nanjing, Wuhan and Guangzhou in mainland China.

Around 170 travel agents, guests as well as Philippine hotel, tourism and travel industry representatives attended the Mission, which was led by Tourism Attaché Ireneo Reyes of the DOT-Shanghai Office. The half-day program kicked-off with business-to-business meetings between Philippine sellers and Hong Kong travel agents.

The morning session was followed by a lunch reception attended by VIP guests led by Hong Kong Tourism Board Deputy Executive Director Becky Ip, Philippine Airlines Regional Manager Sindy Lin and Country Manager Leah Nicolas, Cebu Pacific Distribution Manager Bryan Ang, and Hong Kong Travel Agent Owners Association Chairman Freddy Yip.

“Tourism promotion, particularly rural tourism, is an important mission of President Rodrigo Duterte and is included in his 10-point socio-economic agenda. When we say ‘It’s more fun in the Philippines’, improving the general conditions in the country, including connectivity and security, is a top priority of the current administration,” Consul General Antonio A. Morales said in welcome remarks.

He also underlined the longstanding and robust relations of the Philippines and Hong Kong, marked by historical significance, trade relations, people-to-people exchanges, and cultural ties.

In further enhancing tourism exchanges, Consul General Morales said that that Philippines should maximize Hong Kong’s reputation as a tourist destination, which draws more than 58 million visitors from mainland China and around the globe, to partner with the city and promote multi-destination tourism.

Hong Kong tourism and travel stakeholders on the other hand should take advantage of its proximity to the Philippines, and offer new and exciting itineraries that will string together tourist sites in the city with various destinations in the Philippines, he added.

Tourism Attaché Reyes presented the tourism opportunities in the Philippines, including in the following areas in MICE, as cruise ship port of call, diving, English as second language (ESL) education, medical tourism, rural tourism, and as a retirement destination.

Filipino artists, including opera singer Jonathan Badon, gave their renditions of well-known Filipino songs such as “Anak” and “Kalesa”, as well as the famous Chinese pop song “The Moon Represents My Heart” to the audience’s delight during the lunch reception.

Tour packages, hotel accommodations and air tickets were given away as prizes during the event’s raffle draws.

Philippine Consul General Antonio A. Morales delivers welcome remarks at the Philippine Tourism Business Mission in Hong Kong held on 14 September 2018 at Kowloon Shangri-la Hotel in Tsim Sha Tsui. The event was led by Tourism Attaché Ireneo Reyes of the DOT-Shanghai Office, and is part of a four-city tourism business mission which included Nanjing, Wuhan and Guangzhou in mainland China.
Philippine Consul General Antonio A. Morales (4th from left) and Deputy Consul General Roderico C. Atienza (2nd from left) were accompanied by (from left to right) Philippine Airlines Country Manager Leah Nicolas and Regional Manager Sindy Lin, Hong Kong Tourism Board Deputy Executive Director Becky Ip, Tourism Attaché Ireneo Reyes of the Philippine Department of Tourism-Shanghai Office, Hong Kong Travel Agent Owners Association Chairman Freddy Yip, and Ms. Mary Ngai of Goldjoy Holidays, at the VIP table during the Lunch Reception of the Philippine Tourism Business Mission in Hong Kong held on 14 September 2018 at Kowloon Shangri-la Hotel in Tsim Sha Tsui.
Scenes during the Lunch Reception of Philippine Tourism Business Mission in Hong Kong held on 14 September 2018 at Kowloon Shangri-la Hotel in Tsim Sha Tsui – (clockwise from top left) Philippine Consul General Antonio A. Morales (center) with (from left to right) Deputy Consul General Roderico C. Atienza, Department of Tourism Attaché Ireneo Reyes, Vice Consul Fatima G. Quintin and Attaché Charlene A. Beriana at the Philippine Tourism photo booth; Cebu Pacific Distribution Manager Bryan Ang awards a raffle prize to a lucky Hong Kong travel agency owner; Filipino artists, including opera singer Jonathan Badon, gave their renditions of well-known Filipino songs such as “Anak” and “Kalesa”, as well as the famous Chinese pop song “The Moon Represents My Heart” to the audience’s delight.