27 January 2016 – For the first time ever in over 24 years of diplomatic relations between the Philippines and Lithuania, the Philippines participated in “ADVENTUR 2016,” the annual international tourism fair in Lithuania which held from January 22 to 24 in the capital city of Vilnius.

An estimated 2,850 Lithuanians visited the Philippine booth, based on the number of “It’s More Fun in the Philippines” brochures in Lithuanian that were distributed during ADVENTUR 2016‘s three-day run. As part of its cultural diplomacy, the Philippine Embassy, which is based in Warsaw, also gave away CDs featuring  Philippine “kundiman” songs.

No less than Lithuania’s Minister of Economy Mr. Evaldas Gustas made special  mention of the Philippines in his remarks during ADVENTUR 2016’s opening ceremony on January 22. He stated, “We are happy that for the first time, the Philippines is participating in ADVENTUR.” Transportation and Communication Minister Rimanta Sinkevicus; Ministry of Economy - State Department of Tourism Director General Ms. Jurgita Kazlauskiene; Mayor of the City of Vilnius Mr. Arturas Zuokas; and the Director of Litexpo, Mr. Mindaugas Rutkauskas also delivered speeches. The head of Lithuania’s Tourism Policy Division Dr. Renaldas Ciuzas and Chief Officer Ms. Lidija Bajaruniene also visited the Philippine booth shortly after the opening ceremony.

During the tourism fair, Philippine Ambassador to Lithuania Ms. Patricia Ann V. Paez met with Turkish Airlines General Manager in Vilnius, Mr. Hasan Serkan Binyar, and Marketing Representative Ms. Sigita Morkuniene. Turkish Airlines now flies directly from Vilnius to Manila via Istanbul.

Ambassador Paez also met with officials of West Express, one of the biggest tour operators in Lithuania, namely Marketing Manager Ms. Julija Ciziene; Head of the Vilnius Region, Ms. Lina Vaitkeviciene; Project Manager of the Exclusive Travel Department, Ms. Jelena Dudina; and Director of the Exclusive Travel Department, Ms. Alma Stanulioniene.

The Ambassador and the officials of Turkish Airlines and West Express collectively discussed ways of collaborating to promote the Philippines as a travel destination as well as increasing tourism traffic between Lithuania and the Philippines. The possibility of a joint seminar-briefing about the Philippines and its diverse tourist attractions for owners of travel agencies, tour operators, travel agents, and travel writers in Lithuania was taken up during the meeting.

Ambassador Paez also met with Ms. Lilita Garkaja of Vieses Praktiskais, who is keen to explore the possibility of the Philippines being featured in its calendar for the year 2017.

ADVENTUR is the only international exhibition of tourism, travel, and active leisure in Lithuania and is exclusively organized by Litexpo. Two hundred fifty (250) exhibitors from foreign countries participated in this year’s edition of the expo. Other ASEAN countries which participated in ADVENTUR 2016 were Thailand and Indonesia. END