PHL Tourist Destinations Featured Anew at Moscow Travel Show
The DOT delegation led by Mr. Niel P. Ballesteros, Head of OPMD-Europe (seated, 4th from left) and composed of officials and representatives of Philippine resorts, hotels and destination management companies at the Philippine Pavilion at the Moscow International Travel and Tourism Exhibition on 13 March 2017.Also in the photo are Ms. Diegeli S.J. Liwanag of OPMD-Russia (seated, rightmost), Ms. Anabelle Apostol of DOT Frankfurt (standing, 7th from left), and officials from the Philippine Embassy in Moscow led by Chargé d’Affaires, a.i. Jeffrey Valdez (seated, 2nd from right), Third Secretary and Vice Consul Catherine Alpay (3rd from left), Commercial Counsellor Kristine C. Umali (2nd from left). Photo by S. Pamocol.
19 March 2018 MOSCOW — The Philippine Department of Tourism (DOT) returned to Moscow for the 7th consecutive year to participate in one of the premier travel fairs in the world, the Moscow International Travel and Tourism Exhibition (MITT) held on 13-15 March.
A delegation led by Mr. Niel P. Ballesteros, head of the Europe division of DOT’s Office of Product and Market Development (OPMD), together with Ms. Diegeli S.J. LiwanaG of OPMD-Russia and Ms. Anabelle Apostol of DOT-Frankfurt was joined by ten (10) tourism industry partners namely Annset Holidays, Blue Horizons Travel and Tours, JTB Asia Pacific Phil. Corp., Karagatan Tours & Travel Corp., T.R.I.P.S Travel, Uni-Orient Travel, Inc.,Club Agutaya Resort, Hennan Group of Resorts, Jpark Island Resort and Waterpark Cebu, Plantation Bay Resort and Spa, and The Lind Boracay. Many of the exhibitors participated in past MITT exhibitions and returned to Moscow due to increasing demand from Russian travelers.
“The Philippines’ consistently strong participation to the MITT has resulted in productive partnerships between Russian tour operators and Philippine tourism providers that is the foundation of increasing tourism arrivals. We are always pleased to support the Department of Tourism in the tremendous work that they have been doing in Russia all these years,” said Mr. Jeffrey A. Valdez, Head of the Embassy’s Economic Section.
The DOT also organized a B2B networking reception at the Intercontinental Hotel Moscow on 13 March 2018 which was attended by dozens of Russian tour operators. They were treated to top-notch Filipino entertainment provided by the members of Sindaw Philippines: vocalist Ms. Francis Anne Rivera Virtudazo, violinist Mr. Merjohn Lagaya, and keyboardist Mr. Lester Frederick Delgado who performed Filipino and Russian songs; as well as flair bartender Mr. Dennis Barela Adiuba who dazzled with his Philippine-inspired cocktails.
A dinner reception in honor of the delegation was hosted by the Philippine Embassy in Moscow on 14 March 2018. END
For more information, visit www.moscowpe.dfa.gov.ph/ https://www.facebook.com/moscowpe/ or https://www.facebook.com/moscowpeconsular/
Clockwise from top: A busy scene from the B2B networking activity organized by DOT on 13 March 2018; Mr. Dennis BarelaAdiuba performing bartending tricks; and members of Sindaw Philippines (vocalist Ms. Francis Anne Virtudazo, violinist Mr. MerjohnLagaya, and keyboardist Mr. Lester Frederick Delgado). Photos by S. Pamocol.