DOT, DFA welcome 6th Ambassadors' Tour

Manila, Philippines - The Department of Tourism (DOT) and Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) are set to welcome a delegation of around 500 tourists courtesy of the Philippines’ Foreign Service Posts in North America for the 6th Ambassadors, Consuls General and Tourism Directors Tour (ACGTDT) from July 17 to 23.

“The publicity and goodwill generated by the tour is expected to provide a tremendous boost to our efforts to invite overseas Filipinos to come home in the next five years. Recently, the President signed Proclamation No. 181 declaring 2011-2016 as Pinoy Homecoming Years, aimed at tapping the huge potential of the balikbayan market as a source of tourism arrivals, especially the second- and third-generation Filipinos abroad. We launched this program in a road show last month in key cities in North America,” said Tourism Secretary Alberto Lim.

The Tour was conceptualized in 2004 as a flagship tourism project of all tourism offices, Philippine embassies and consulates in the US and Canada, where ambassadors and consuls general would entice potential travelers in their respective jurisdictions to visit the Philippines. It had brought balikbayans, Americans and Canadians to the country annually in July, a summer month in North America, from 2005 to 2009. 

Joining the Tour this year are Philippine Ambassador to the United States Jose Cuisia Jr. and Philippine Charge d’Affaires to Canada Minerva Jean Falcon, as well as six consuls general and four tourism attachés stationed in both countries.

“We are happy to see the participation of these high-level officials who are key to our cooperative promotion efforts. While here, we look forward to discussing in greater detail our activities in relation to the Pinoy Homecoming program,” added Lim.

A highlight will be a visit to Malacañang, where participants will pay a courtesy call on President Aquino. This year’s ACGTDT will be the first under the current administration and the first to visit the Palace.

Another Tour first will be a series of culinary tours in nearby destinations such as Pampanga, Bulacan, Laguna, Quezon, Batangas and Cavite. A welcome dinner at the Manila Hotel and visits to several landmarks in Metro Manila, among them Rizal Park, Intramuros and Corregidor, have also been scheduled. The visitors will be able to choose from among several options, including Boracay, Palawan and Cebu, for additional three-night extension tours afterwards.

The DOT estimates P29 million in foreign exchange to be generated from the participant turnout. An added component of the tour, a seminar sponsored by Duty Free Philippines on doing business in the Philippines, will be conducted by the Department of Trade and Industry during the visitors’ stay.