The country has welcomed more than 100 Foreign Buyers from all over the world for the recently concluded Meetings, Incentives, Conventions and Exhibitions (MICE) Buyer Invitational Program. Dubbed as I Travel, I Explore, the program has included the Dream Trip Program and the MICE Mart as its two major components.
Spearheaded by the Department of Tourism (DOT) through the Philippine Convention and Visitors Corporation (PCVC), I Travel, I Explore was among the year’s biggest travel and trade events.
“We are thrilled to continue to open our doors to global guests in the MICE industry and showcase the country as a premier MICE destination. The Department is very confident that buyers, investors, and tourists, will always be enthralled not only with our country’s natural sites, but with our ready facilities for conventions and exhibitions,” said Tourism Secretary Ace Durano.
“Our country’s competitiveness in this area of tourism springs from our creativity and resourcefulness. We are capable of organizing and holding uniquely-themed events, at a more reasonable and efficient cost,” Durano stressed.
Among the well-screened international buyers are incentive houses, destination management companies, association executives, meeting planners, and congress and exhibition organizers.
Durano further said, “Some participants are happy to be visiting the Philippines for the first time. Leading buyers from the United Kingdom, Active Consultancy, Mako Lifestyle and Rubymear Group of Companies, all specialists in the business, were among them, to name a few.”
Eduardo Jarque, Jr., Undersecretary for Tourism Planning and Promotions, said, “Knowing that buyers are excited to see the business opportunities that can unfold during the trip, DOT marketing representatives overseas and marketing teams here have been committed to provide them with the best possible assistance to ensure a fruitful business exchange.”
”An educational trip to the islands will definitely put the Philippines into the map of M.I.C.E. Market in our core market segments,” Jarque added. He also noted that DOT marketing teams are also continuously active in linking applications between the country and segments from North America, Middle East, India, Asia Pacific, China, Japan, and Korea.
Philippine sellers included airlines, hotels and resorts, Conference and Exhibition Venues, Destination Management Companies, Tour Operators, Meeting and Event Planners, M.I.C.E. Organizers and Suppliers, M.I.C.E. Destination Tourism Councils and Other M.I.C.E. Ancillary Services Suppliers.
