30 January 2015 – In a bid to boost tourist arrivals in the country, the Department of Tourism (DOT) kicked off its Visit Philippines 2015 campaign at the recently concluded ASEAN Tourism Forum (ATF) held from January 22 to 29 in Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar.
The Philippine Night held on January 27 at the sidelines of the ATF featured local talents Rachel Alejandro, and Rhap Salazar, Reymond Sajor, RJ Buena, Marielle Mamaclay, and Lady Onnagan of 5th Gen, and The Crew, winners of the 2012 World Hip Hop Dance Competition.
In his opening speech, DOT Secretary Ramon Jimenez Jr. invited the delegates of the ATF to join the fun in the Philippines in 2015. The Secretary cited ways to have fun in the Philippines but emphasized that it is the Filipino people that makes everything more fun in the country.
Besides the annual festivities, the Philippines will host a number of big events in 2015: Century Tuna 70.3 Ironman in March, Madrid Fusion Manila in April, MTV Music Evolution Manila in May, and ASEAN Food Conference and Franchise Asia Philippines in June, among others. The Philippines will also host concerts of international artists Michael Buble in January, Ed Sheeran and Lenny Kravitz in March, and Justin Timberlake in October. END