The Philippines is expecting over 1 lakh arrivals from India in 2017 as it undertakes a slew of initiatives to promote itself as a preferred destination for tourists here.
Philippines had 90,816 tourist arrivals from India in 2016, becoming the twelfth largest international source market for the Southeast Asian island nation.
"We expect the number of tourist arrivals from India to grow beyond the 100,000 in 2017. It would be another milestone for Indian travellers," Philippines Department of Tourism, Market Development Division Chief Tourism Operations Officer Raymund Glen A Agustin told PTI.
This will elevate India to the level of a 'strategic market' from an opportunity market that it is at present for Philippines. A strategic market is one that generates between 1 lakh to 2 lakh arrivals annually to Philippines, he added.
When asked about the major segments that compose the bulk of Indian travellers to the country, Agustin said: "The largest segment that drives volumes for us from India is incentive travel which is part of MICE segment".
The others segments are group travellers. The department is also focusing on promoting Philippines as a wedding destination. The other verticals are leisure and business, he added.
On being asked about the steps being taken to achieve the 1 lakh milestone, Agustin said: "We are taking a number of measures to promote our country here such as focusing on corporates and incentive travel organisers. We conduct training sessions for the travel trade partners here, we also participate in trade fairs and do B2B sessions".
The training programmes are one of the most effective ways to interact in depth with valuable trade partners and impart destination knowledge, he added.
"We also do advertisement and conduct familiarisation tours," Agustin said.
Philippines is a located in archipelagic Southeast Asia, with 7,107 islands spanning more than 300,000 square kilometers of territory.
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