10 February 2016 – Philippine Ambassador to Turkey Maria Rowena Mendoza Sanchez called on Minister of Culture and Tourism of the Republic of Turkey Mahir Ünal on January 08 in Ankara to discuss the status of cooperation between the Philippines and Turkey in the fields of tourism and culture.

During the call, Ambassador Sanchez informed the Turkish Minister about the Philippines’ participation in the 20th East Mediterranean International Travel and Tourism Exhibition (EMITT).

EMITT was held Istanbul from January 28 to 31 and was the first time the Philippines participated in an international tourism fair in Turkey. Ambassador Sanchez further shared with Minister Unal the high-level participation of the Philippine tourism private sector in EMITT with the tour operators represented by no less than their CEOs/Presidents.

Both officials noted the enhanced people-to-people exchanges between the Philippines and Turkey due to the signing of the Air Services Agreement between the two countries in 2014 and the commencement of Turkish Airlines' direct flights to the Philippines in early 2015. Both officials also agreed on working on the showing of Filipino Films, such as Crescent Moon and other quality Filipino films in Turkey as the first collaborative project between the Philippine Embassy in Ankara and the Ministry of Culture and Tourism.

Ambassador Sanchez and Minister Ünal committed on working closely together in enhancing their countries' level of engagement in the tourism sector, beginning with the signing of the Agreement of Tourism Cooperation between the Philippines and Turkey in the near future. END