06 March 2014 - The Philippine Department of Tourism in Los Angeles and the Malaysia Tourism Promotion Board, in coordination with the Philippine Consulate General in Honolulu, held the first ever Philippine-Malaysia joint tourism campaign on March 04 at the Ala Moana Hotel.
The event, titled “Philippine-Malaysia Fiesta Seminar”, gathered over sixty (60) leading travel agents, airline operators and media in Honolulu, with the aim of promoting both the Philippines and Malaysia as dual tourism destinations to tourists, visitors and would-be-travelers. Tour packages that showcase both countries’ must-see destinations, local festivals or fiestas as well as popular and up-and-coming tourist attractions are among the highlights of the seminar.
Philippine Consul General in Honolulu Julius D. Torres, in his welcome remarks, conveyed that said seminar is very timely given the recent two-day visit of President Benigno S. Aquino III to Malaysia from February 27 to 28, which cemented the strong relationship between the two ASEAN countries.
Ms. Annie Cuevas, Director of the Philippine Department of Tourism in Los Angeles which has jurisdiction over Southwestern US and Latin America, and Ms. Azilina Azni Zainal Abidin, Vice President for Western USA and Latin America of the Malaysia Tourism Promotion Board, gave presentations on their respective countries’ tourism marketing strategies and encouraged the attendees to visit the two countries, which are rapidly growing into two of the most visited tourist destinations in Southeast Asia.
Ms. Jane Stark, CEO and President of Travel International Group, a major travel agency based in Los Angeles, also presented her company’s affordable Philippines-Malaysia packages.
The seminar was only the first of the numerous joint marketing activities lined up by the Philippines and Malaysia tourism offices which seek to strengthen and boost tourism in both countries.
The night was filled with fun and dancing, led by Consul General Torres, Ms. Cuevas and Ms. Abidin performing the Sinulog and a native Malaysian dance. 18 raffle prizes which include accommodations in 3 and 4 star hotels in the Philippines and Malaysia, were given to lucky winners. END