DFP re-launches Fiesta Travel Awards program

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Tourism’s travel retail agency, Duty Free Philippines (DFP), recently re-launched its Fiesta Travel Awards program, aimed to increase tourist traffic and give incentives to participating travel agencies and tour guides at Duty Free Fiestamall.

In his speech during the re-launch at DFP’s Fiestamall store in Parañaque City, Tourism Secretary Alberto Lim lauded DFP in its efforts to revive the program in support of the DOT’s mission of promoting and developing tourism as a major socio-economic activity to generate revenues and to spread the benefits of tourism to both the private and public sectors.

Lim expressed DOT’s support to all DFP’s plans and programs geared to benefit the country’s tourism industry.

He said the DOT’s goal “is to double visitor arrivals to our country on or before the end” of President Aquino’s term.

“The DOT is currently implementing programs that will benefit the tourism industry and thus increase revenues. The DOT is certain that these targets will be met with the implementation of its four-point program, specifically the opening of tourism accessibility, easy access to our tourism industry, improvement of tourism infrastructure, improving and developing tourism products and enhancement of marketing strategy,” he added.

Lim also gave directives to the DFP to embark on tourism marketing efforts.

With this, Lorenzo Formoso, DFP head, said the DFP has put up tourism billboards at the NAIA Terminals 1 and 2.

The DFP will also paint the Fiestamall and warehouse roofs with a “Welcome to the Philippines” sign visible to arriving passengers upon landing. The NAIA Runway 1-3 is in the middle of these two structures.

To increase awareness of the company’s ongoing promotions and new products, the DFP has also joined the new media bandwagon with its Facebook fan page, Twitter account and website at www.dfp.com.ph.

Hailed before as one of Asia’s best duty free operators, the DFP aims to regain its rightful place in the international duty free industry and recapture its market with the introduction of new brands and products, renovation of its retail outlets, and the improvement of its services.

The re-launch of the Fiesta Travel Awards program aims to contribute to the efforts of the DOT and DFP to boost tourist arrivals as well as duty free shoppers.

The Philippine Travel Agencies Association (PTAA), through its president, Aileen Clemente, who was also present during the re-launch, pledged its support to the program and all other efforts of the DOT.