14 July 2014 – Philippine Consul General Julius Caesar A. Flores spearheaded the Fujian Media Familiarization Tour of Legazpi City and Manila from March 1 to 6. The Familiarization Tour was a joint undertaking of the Philippine Consulate General in Xiamen with the Philippine Tourism Office in Shanghai and the Fujian Branch of China International Travel Service (CITS).

The tour forms part of the Consulate General’s economic and social cultural diplomacy thrusts for 2014, especially in tourism promotion and strengthening people-to-people contacts; as a contribution to the accomplishment of the goals of the Years of Friendly Exchanges (YFE) between the Philippines and China, as well as in support of the “Visit the Philippines Year 2015” campaign.

The tour sought to promote Legazpi City as a new and exciting destination, as well as sustain promotional efforts focusing on Manila for the Chinese market, especially from the provinces of Fujian and Jiangxi, both part of the Consulate General’s consular jurisdiction.

Earlier during the Chinese New Year, CITS inaugurated two charter flights for the Xiamen-Legazpi route bringing in a total of 285 tourists to Legazpi City. The media tour is expected to boost current efforts to promote and regularize this new route in 2014 for the Chinese market.

In Legazpi City, the delegation was feted to a lunch hosted by Albay Governor Joey Salceda and Department of Tourism-Albay officials. The Legazpi visit was highlighted by the ATV (all-terrain vehicle) Lava Ride, Mayon Volcano trek, water sports activities and inspection of facilities of the Misibis Bay Resort.

While in Manila, the delegation visited the Ayala Museum, Rizal Park, Fort Santiago and Bahay Tsinoy. Department of Foreign Affairs Undersecretary for International Economic Relations Laura Q. Del Rosario hosted a dinner for the participants.

Nine media practitioners from various media establishments of the cities of Fuzhou, Xiamen, Quanzhou and Jinjang participated in the tour. All these cities are located in the Fujian province.

An official from the Fujian Provincial Foreign Affairs Office also participated in the tour, highlighting the first time that a Fujian official participated in such an undertaking. END