Visit PHL Year 2015 Officially Launched by Department of Tourism

Setting out to meet its tourism goal of acquiring 10-million tourists by 2016, the Department of Tourism (DOT) on Thursday launched its newest marketing campaign, Visit the Philippines Year 2015 (VPY2015), which is also aimed at strengthening the country’s brand image.

The launch of the campaign happened during the the 13th Philippine Travel Exchange (PHITEX) at the SMX Convention Center led by the DOT and its marketing arm, the Tourism Promotions Board.

At the same time, the DOT also unveiled a microsite that serves as a directory for all of the country’s year-round events.

Foreign buyers and local tourism stakeholders from travel agencies, hotels and resorts, as well as tour operators were present during the event. ​

In his speech, DOT Secretary Ramon Jimenez Jr. pointed out that the country’s 7,107 islands are only a backdrop for the performance of what he described as “the best tourism agents in the world,” the Filipino people.

Visit PHL Year 2015

"You travel to experience not just the country itself, but to experience humanity,” Jimenez said. “This is precisely what you get in traveling to the Philippines.”

Jimenez said that the PHITEX was the perfect event to welcome friends from all over the world to experience and fall in love with the Philippines.

“Hopefully, because they have fallen in love, they no longer just stop by--but find more reasons to stay,” the DOT secretary added.

He meanwhile noted that the Philippines’ foreign tourist arrivals is picking up the pace with 4.68 million arrivals in 2013 or a growth rate of 9.56 percent from 2012.

For his part, TPB chief operating officer Domingo Ramon Enerio III noted how the PHITEX serves as one of the best avenues to strengthens the tourism industry by nurturing relationships between players and the range of business found throughout the world.

“Every year, we aim to boost the potential of tourism and its contributors to the country's economic growth. Every year, we take the necessary steps to move closer to our goals,” Enerio said.

Enerio meanwhile noted the numerous events set for VPY2015 including the Papal Visit, the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), the International Gastronomic Summit Madrid Fusion, international concert acts, sporting events, and adventure events among others. FPV/ANP