SPURRED by the EU’s recent decision to lift its ban on Philippine carriers, the Philippines is now keen to court travellers from France and Spain.
The Philippine Department of Tourism (DoT) will be bidding for a marketing representative for France and Spain as part of its programme to intensify marketing and promotions in these small but fast-growing European source markets.
“They are important markets for us, with France the third biggest European market (after the UK and Germany),” said Verna Buensuceso, officer in charge of the DoT’s market development group.
Arrivals from France grew 21.7 per cent year-on-year to 22,814 in January-May this year, now comprising one per cent of total arrivals.
Neighbouring Spain also grew impressively by 28 per cent to 9,305 arrivals during the same period to account for a 0.4 per cent market share, riding high on the success of the first-ever Madrid Fusion Manila in April, which will again be hosted by the Philippine capital next year.
Buensuceso said that after participating in Spain’s FITUR early this year, the Philippines will also join IFTM Top Resa, France’s biggest travel fair, in September.
