Department of Tourism Secretary Visits Israel, Opens Philippine Pavilion in Israel Fair
Ambassador Neal Imperial and Department of Tourism’s Head of Strategic Development Unit, Mr. Francisco Lardizabal, with DOT and Embassy officials, Israeli participants to the Familiarization Tour to the Philippines and tour operators from the Philippines, formally open the Philippine pavilion at the 2018 IMTM.
20 February 2018 TEL AVIV – The Philippines once again participated in the 24th International Mediterranean Tourism Market (IMTM) held at the Tel Aviv Convention Center on 06-07 February 2018. This year’s delegation from the Department of Tourism was headed by Secretary Wanda Corazon Teo. Twelve Philippine tour operators and hotel representatives joined the DOT delegation in promoting Philippine tourism in Israel.
This year, he Philippines was a silver sponsor of the IMTM with one of the largest and most attractive pavilions in the annual tourism fair, considered the largest in the Eastern Mediterranean.
“Israeli tourist arrivals to the Philippines grew by 98% from a mere figure of 8,776 in 2014 to 17,446 in 2017. Israel continues to be a valued market for Philippine tourism,” said Ambassador Imperial.
The DOT has been participating in the IMTM since 2016 and has conducted two Familiarization tours for major Israeli tour operators. “Total tourist arrivals to the Philippines reached 6.6million in 2017, and Israel is a growing tourism market for the Philippines in the Middle East,” according to Secretary Teo.
Secretary Teo also met with Israel Minister of Tourism Yariv Levin and discussed ways to further promote two-way tourism.
Secretary Teo hosted a Philippine Tourism Gala Night on 08 February 2018 at the Grand Ballroom of Hilton Tel Aviv which was attended by the diplomatic corps, Israeli travel and tour operators, businessmen, PR/media outfits and the Filipino community.
Guests in the IMTM and Philippine Tourism night were wowed by the performance of multi-awarded Sindaw performers with their rendition of original Filipino musicand the traditional dance of the members of the Association of Igorot Migrant Workers in Israel. END
For more information, visit www.telavivpe.dfa.gov.ph/ www.philippine-embassy.org.il or https://www.facebook.com/PhilippineEmbassyTelAviv
Department of Tourism Secretary Wanda Corazon Teo with Ambassador Neal Imperial at the Philippine booth during the 24th International Mediterranean Tourism Market.
Philippine Department of Tourism Secretary Wanda Corazon Teo met with Israel’s Minister of Tourism Yariv Levin.
Internationally-awarded Sindaw performers impressed the guests in the IMTM and Philippine Tourism Night with their rendition of original Filipino music
The Department of Tourism in coordination with the Philippine Embassy in Tel Aviv hosted a Philippine Tourism Night attended by Israeli tour operators and media, members of the diplomatic corps, businessmen, PR/media outfits and the Filipino community.