MANILA, Philippines - A group of Malaysians and Filipinos based in Malaysia joined the first-ever Ambassador's Tour to the Philippines- Malaysia weeks after typhoon Yolanda devastated parts of Visayas.
The group was welcomed by Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Rafael E. Seguis, who expressed the Philippines’s appreciation for the confidence that the tour participants shown by coming to the country despite the tragedy.
“Please know that your visit will help spur much needed economic recovery in the affected areas. We can also show the world that the Filipino spirit is indomitable and unbreakable,†he said.
Tourism Assistant Secretary Benito Bengzon, Malaysian Ambassador to the Philippines Dato’ Mohd Zamri bin Mohd Kassim, Philippine Ambassador to Malaysia J. Eduardo Malaya and Foreign Affairs Assistant Secretary for Asia-Pacific Affairs Ma. Theresa Lazaro.
“It is our wish that through this tour, we can show the world that Filipinos are as accommodating and welcoming as ever to any visitor who comes to its shores,†Seguis added.
The tour was led by the Philippine Embassy in Kuala Lumpur.
In 2012, 114,513 Malaysians visited the Philippines, an increase of 24.81 percent from 2011, breaching the 100,000 mark for the first time and making Malaysia its 10th largest tourist market. Meanwhile, Tourism Malaysia reported that 508,744 Filipinos visited Malaysia in 2012, representing a 40.5 percent growth from the previous year, and is the seventh-largest tourist market for Malaysia.