22 November 2013 –The Philippines received a strong vote of confidence from Malaysians who joined the first-ever Ambassador’s Tour to the Philippines-Malaysia, in spite of the images of devastation in the Visayas.
Incidentally, the delegation is the first big tour group to visit the Philippines after typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) struck the country on November 8.
The tour group was feted at a welcome dinner held on November 21 at the Grand Ballroom of the Solaire Resort and Casino.
In his remarks during the dinner, Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Rafael E. Seguis expressed the Philippines’ deep appreciation for the confidence that the tour participants have shown by coming to our country at this time.
“Please know that your visit will help spur much needed economic recovery in the affected areas. We can also show the world that the Filipino spirit is indomitable and unbreakable,” the Undersecretary said.
Also present during the dinner were Tourism Assistant Secretary Benito Bengzon, Malaysian Ambassador to the Philippines Dato’ Mohd Zamri bin Mohd Kassim, Philippine Ambassador to Malaysia J. Eduardo Malaya and Foreign Affairs Assistant Secretary for Asia-Pacific Affairs Ma. Theresa Lazaro.
“It is our wish that through this tour, we can show the world that Filipinos are as accommodating and welcoming as ever to any visitor who comes to its shores,” the Undersecretary added.
The Tour is spearheaded by the Philippine Embassy in Kuala Lumpur and brought together a delegation of 112 Malaysians and Malaysia-based Filipinos.
They flew in to Manila Thursday, and will enjoy three days of tours within and around Manila, with trips to historical Intramuros, a day at the Villa Escudero, and optional tours to either Tagaytay or Corregidor. They will be flying back to Malaysia on November 25.
During the same evening, the “Asia’s Most Tourist-Friendly Country” award bestowed by the Top 10 of Asia magazine was presented to Undersecretary Seguis and Assistant Secretary Bengzon by Tan Sri Othman Merican and Ambassador Kassim, on behalf of RHA Media Sdn Bhd Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Dato R. Rajendran.
Top 10 of Asia is an English language magazine in Malaysia which is owned and published by RHA Media Sdn Bhd. The magazine showcases Asia’s excellence in all its diversity, and reaches up to about 100,000 readers each month both online and print.
The magazine made its ranking on the basis of survey and in-depth research on the subject. The country ranked first among 30 short-listed countries.
“A special tour of the Philippines led by the highest ranking official overseas was conceptualized by Secretary del Rosario himself when he was our Ambassador in Washington, D.C., some eight years ago,” the Undersecretary stated, referring to the first Ambassadors, Consuls General and Tourism Directors’ Tour (ACGTDT).
The Tour was initiated by the Embassy to highlight the Malaysian people’s increasing interest on the Philippines and showcase the unique attractiveness of Philippine tourism destinations, as well as to allow Filipinos to reconnect and rediscover their roots.
In 2012, 114,513 Malaysians visited the Philippines, an increase of 24.81 percent from 2011, breaching the 100,000 mark for the first time and making Malaysia its 10th largest tourist market. Meanwhile, Tourism Malaysia reported that 508,744 Filipinos visited Malaysia in 2012, representing a 40.5 percent growth from the previous year, and is the seventh-largest tourist market for Malaysia. END