04 April 2014 - Filipino-Americans will soon be able to see firsthand why the Philippines is becoming one of the best value travel destinations in the world and one of the fastest growing economies in Southeast Asia.
The recently launched 9th Ambassadors, Consuls General, and Tourism Directors Tour (ACGTDT) to the Philippines gives Filipinos and Americans living in North America the chance to experience the beauty of the country's top destinations and witness remarkable progress that has been achieved during the past years.
“The ACGTDT is a wonderful opportunity for balikbayans and our American friends to experience some of the Philippines' best tourist destinations, as well as to meet Ambassadors, Consul Generals, and the President himself. The country has grown so much in the past year, and what better way to see this than to travel to the Philippines,” said Philippine Ambassador to the United States Jose L. Cuisia, Jr.
The 9th ACGTDT was launched on March 25 at the Philippine Embassy in Wanshington, D.C. The tour is scheduled to take place from July 28 to 31.
Some 30 people, representing local travel agencies, media and selected Filipino-American community organizations, attended the lunch briefing at the Filipiniana Room of the Embassy. Ms. Mitchelle Dy, Philippine Department of Tourism Representative based in New York, provided the itinerary of activities and enumerated the post-option tours available to participants, including reasonable packages to Banaue, Sagada, Boracay, Cagayan de Oro, Camiguin, Camarines Sur and Legazpi.
Also in attendance was Ms. Alejandra Clemente, Chairman of the Rajah Group of Companies, who called the ACGTDT “one of the best deals around” as the tour is heavily subsidized, owing to the sponsored meals and activities. Indeed, no other tourism package includes an opportunity to have an audience with the Philippine President and lunch at Malacañan Palace.
The basic tour package, offered at US$530 for double occupancy (excluding airfare), consists of a three-night stay at Dusit Thani Hotel in Makati with daily buffet breakfast, lunches and dinners with special entertainment, wreath-laying ceremony at Rizal Park, an out-of-town tour at Villa Escudero in Laguna, and visits to special sites in the Manila and Makati areas. Leading the delegation will be Ambassador Cuisia.
The ACGTDT was initiated in 2005 under the tutelage of then Ambassador to the United States Albert F. del Rosario, who now serves as Secretary of Foreign Affairs.
The flagship tourism project has become an annual event involving all Philippine Foreign Service Posts in the US, the Department of Tourism, Philippine Airlines and Rajah Tours Philippines. It has also become a venue for members of the Filipino-American community to see firsthand the recent positive growth of the Philippines.
Interested parties may visit www.acgtdt.com or contact the Philippine Department of Tourism Office in New York at telephone number 212 575-7915 / email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or the Philippine Embassy in Washington, D.C. at telephone number 202 467-9398 / e-mail This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Deadline for registration is on June 01, 2014. END