Tour group to bring in large group of Pinoys from US, Canada

MANILA, Philippines - The Ambassadors, Consul Generals and Tourism Directors’ Tour (ACGTDT) will bring in a huge contingent of overseas Filipinos in July in a bid to boost the country’s tourism drive.

The 8th ACGTDT will be held on July 9-12 and is expected to be participated in by about 600 Filipinos who are now residing in the US and in Canada.

Tourism Promotions Board (TPB) chief operating officer Ramon Domingo Enerio III said they are optimistic this program would continue to help spur growth in the tourism industry.

Enerio said there is also a plan replicate the program in other parts of the world where there are a lot of overseas Filipinos, like London, Italy, Australia, Japan Hong Kong and China.

“We are hoping to replicate this in Europe and other countries. In London alone, there are about 250,000 Flipino residents,” he said.

He noted this may compensate the setback brought about by the Taiwan issue. Taiwanese tourists represent four percent of total arrivals to the Philippines or about 300,000.

EDSA Shangri-La is the official hotel while Rajah Tours, the tour operator for the last seven ACGTDTs has been appointed to handle ground arrangement. Western Union and Duty Free Philippines will host reception dinners for the delegates.

The ACGTDT, which may include a courtesy call to President Aquino, would be focused on Filipino culinary activities as the Department of Tourism (DOT) declares July the Kulinarya Month. The group will start its tour to showcase Filipino culture and heritage at the Aguinaldo Shrine in Cavite and Rizal Shrine in Calamba.

In October 2004, all foreign service posts in the US and Canada and the Department of Tourism (DOT) conceptualized the ACGTDT.

Then Philippine Ambassador to Washington, now Secretary of Foreign Affairs Albert del Rosario launched the program in 2005 with a primary goal of enticing Filipino-Americans in the US and Filipino-Canadians to deepen the appreciation of the beauty of the Philippines, its rich history, heritage and culture.