27 January 2016 –The Philippines made waves as it promoted the “Visit the Philippines Again in 2016” campaign at the 36th edition of the Feria Internacional de Turismo (FITUR). FITUR is said to be the most important business and promotion forum for the international tourism industry. This edition registered a record participation of 9,500 companies from 165 countries and regions.
Philippine Ambassador to Spain Carlos C. Salinas noted, “The participation of the Philippines this year is bigger compared to last year, in terms of the size of the pavilion and the number of companies in the Philippine tourism industry that joined. The Philippines’ showing in FITUR was truly impressive and, for this, we can expect to see more interest in the Philippines from the Spanish market and the international market as well.”
As part of its promotional efforts, the Philippines indulged its audience in a multi-sensory offering of music, entertainment and food.
The Philippine pavilion served as a venue for business-to-business meetings in the first three days of the fair and for consumer awareness and promotional activities in the succeeding days.
The Philippine pavilion ramped up the level of entertainment it offered the fair’s visitors with a host of attractions such as playing pop songs rendered by the Zel Band and featuring award-winning talent of “the human beatbox” Neil Rey Llanes, who awed the audience by simultaneously producing five beatbox-type sounds just from his vocal chords. Visitors were also drawn to the Philippine pavilion to witness the showmanship and flair of bartender Dennis Barcela as he prepared refreshing Philippine-style cocktails.
The Philippine pavilion was host to representatives of companies in the Philippine tourism industry, namely, Annset Holidays Inc., Baron Travel, Corporate International Travel and Tours, El Nido Resorts, Fuego Hotels, Henann Group of Resorts, Indochina Strings Travel, Intas Destinations, Turkish Airlines and Travel Experts, Inc.
Department of Tourism Director Verna Covar-Buensuceso led the Philippine delegation to FITUR. Among the members of the delegation were Ako Bicol Partylist Representative Rodel Batocabe, Masbate 3rd District Representative Scott Davies Lanete, Valenzuela City 2nd District Representative Magtanggol Gunigundo and Davao del Sur 1st District Representative Mercedes Cagas. The delegation also included Directors Cecilia de Sahagun and Juliana Apostol of the Congressional Committee on Appropriations and Leslie Ann Anudin and Chelsea Estrada of the Senate’s Legislative Budget Research and Monitoring Office.
FITUR is an annual event organized by Institucion Ferial de Madrid with the support of, among others, the United Nations World Tourism Organization and the Spanish Ministry of Industry, Energy and Tourism. END