Philippines brings the fun to Toronto

Flavours, exciting sights and unique experiences were on the menu as the Philippines Department of Tourism hosted agents at its ‘Uncharted Adventures – The Philippines’ event at Toronto’s Thompson Hotel yesterday afternoon.

A range of suppliers were present to network with agents, while Zeny Pallugna, officer-in-charge, Philippine Department of Tourism, New York, was also on hand to showcase the appeal of a destination whose popularity is rapidly growing among Canadian travellers.

‘It’s more fun in the Philippines,’ claims the Philippines Department of Tourism’s tagline, and it’s clear that Canadians seem to agree. Bolstered by the fact that no visa is required for stays of up to 30 days in the Philippines, the country is welcoming an increasing number of Canadian tourists; in fact, arrivals from Canada were up by 19,016, or 21.39 per cent, in February 2017 compared with the same time in 2016.

Pallugna told PAX that the staging of the event in Toronto reflected the Philippines Department of Tourism’s intention to continue focusing on growth from its Canadian market. “Since we have good numbers coming from Canada, we want to maintain that momentum, and we want to reach out to more travel agents,” she commented.

“We do a lot of webinars, but we feel like it’s different if you do a face-to-face interaction – meet with them – talk with them – so that we can communicate better.”

Pallugna attributed the growing number of Canadian visitors to the Philippines to two separate factors. “Number one, Canadians are looking for new authentic destinations, [like] the Philippines,” she said – noting that many are now choosing Asia over Caribbean and European countries. “We have [the kind of] really authentic, natural attractions that Canadians are looking for.

“Number two,” she continued, “is in terms of connectivity. The number of flights has increased from daily to 10 flights a week. We have Eva Air and other airlines flying to the Philippines; air connectivity is one of the big boosts.”

Indeed, Pallugna highlighted the Philippines’ suitability for a range of different travel experiences. Millennials and Generation X travellers can take advantage of numerous outdoor adventure opportunities including diving, surfing and whitewater rafting, as well as the country’s vibrant nightlife; baby boomers, meanwhile, will feel right at home thanks to the cultural richness and variety of relaxation and wellness experiences on offer in the Philippines.

Meanwhile, further events are in the pipeline to help Canadian agents familiarize themselves with the country and all that it has to offer. “We usually do an annual event in the Philippines called the Philippine Travel Exchange,” Pallugna commented. “We invite agents and tour operators to go to the Philippines and do B2B; they will meet more of the suppliers in the Philippines.”

As well as allowing agents and tour operators to liaise with suppliers, she said, the Philippines Travel Exchange afforded the opportunity to experience the country first-hand and gain an authentic view of its many charms. Meanwhile, agents should also look out for FAM trips that are regularly offered to the Philippines.

Further information is available by emailing pdotnewyork@gmail.com, or contacting Pallugna directly at zen.pdotnewyork@gmail.com.