More foreign tourists set to visit Cordillera

BAGUIO CITY- More tourists are projected to visit the Cordillera, re-emerging as a satellite in the tourism map in the Asia-Pacific region, the tourism department said.

The recently concluded Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) Travel Mart 2012 drew foreign travel agencies who are planning to come to the Cordillera and explore the different tourist destinations the region has to offer, Purificacion Molintas, director of the Department of Tourism said.

Tourist operators and agencies from the different nations like Zimbabwe in Africa, France and Greece in Europe, and China and Middle East countries in Asia are intending to bring tourists here, particularly to the Cordillera region, based on their market demand, Molintas, who is also the DOT-Cordillera regional director.

Molintas said French tourists are more interested to have long vacations in the Cordillera, particularly traveling and staying at the Baguio–Sagada–Banaue areas.

Greeks, on the other hand, are more interested on the culture and arts that the region has, like the local arts and crafts, including handicrafts, woodcarvings and paintings of local artists, since they also have a rich history in arts and culture.

The Chinese are free and independent travelers, Molintas said, adding that “the Chinese are interested in sports and recreational activities like golf, and that they also do business transactions while playing.”

The Middle East market, meanwhile, is interested in the cold and wet weather in the region particularly in Baguio City and Sagada town in Mt. Province.

Molintas added that they have established connections with other international markets through their tourism operators and the PATA event.

The influx of tourists in the region, the DOT believes, will bring a better economy not only for those in the hospitality industry but for the whole region as well.

The recent travel mart is an annual travel trade event organized by PATA. Since its establishment, the travel mart has attracted hundreds of international buyers and sellers of tourism products and services from all over the globe. It also offers networking and contracting opportunities.

Manila hosted the first ever PTM in 1978 where over 300 delegates gathered to experience this Asia Pacific’s first industry event. In its return to Manila, the event is bigger and bolder, a strong indicator that the Philippines is capable of organizing an international mart of this magnitude.