PH Marks Pioneer Year as it Joins Austria’s Biggest Travel Fair

Ambassador to Austria Maria Cleofe R. Natividad (center) visits the Philippine booth with Consul Bolivar Bao (leftmost), as Tourism Attaché Margarita Valdes (second from left) manages the walk-ins. (Vienna PE photo)

VIENNA 06 February 2019 — The Philippines is coming off a high as it celebrates the start of the year with the Ferien Messe Wien, the biggest travel and vacation fair in Austria that attracts more than 150,000 people annually, from 10 to 13 January 2019.

The Philippine Embassy in Vienna, in partnership with the Department of Tourism (DOT), pushed the country’s this participation so that it may finally make its presence felt in Austria as an alternative travel destination.

Separating itself from the rest of the pack, the Philippines is being touted as a diver’s destination with  majortiy of inquiries lodged at the country booth had to do with interests on dive spots and incidental topics surrounding it. 

As a supplement to the Philippine booth, Ambassador to Austria Maria Cleofe R. Natividad welcomed  Austrian vlogger Leah Hajner, who presented snippets of videos and pictures of her travels to enthusiasts on 11 and 12 January 2019 entitled “Experience Philippines.” 

First-hand travel information from Ms. Hajner was greatly appreciated by prospective visitors to the country, and her experience of being warmly welcomed by the Filipinos put to rest the security concerns some travelers have raised during the Messe.

During the presentation, assured the would-be visitors of nothing but good food, fun, and good people. “Truly, an experience that is nothing short of being more fun in the Philippines!” The Ambassador remarked.

To further convince travelers to visit the Philippines, the Embassy and DOT-Frankfurt partnered with Ruefa, the bigest travel agency in Austria, and EVA Air in coming up with tour packages that feature top and well-known destinations in the country.  Based on feedback, the top locations that still pique the interests of the Austrians are Boracay and Palawan, followed by Cebu and Bohol.

If foot traffic and completely consumed travel brochures are to be the yardsticks to measure the Philippines’ pioneer year with Ferien Messe Wien 2019, then big things can be expected in tourism from Austria in the years to come. END

For more information, visit www.viennape.dfa.gov.ph/ www.philippine-embassy.at or https://www.facebook.com/PHLinAustria/ @PHLinAustria on Twitter

Ambassador to Austria Maria Cleofe R. Natividad refers a tour package to an interested party. (Vienna PE photo)

Ambassador to Austria Maria Cleofe R. Natividad with Austrian vlogger Leah Hajner, as she welcomes travel enthusiasts to Hajner's Philippine travel presentation. (Vienna PE photo)

Ambassador Natividad engages an interested traveler as EVA Air Sales Coordinator Philipp Wagner and Consul Bao look on. (Vienna PE photo)