Travel to the Philippines for Culinary Culture
As part of its intensive campaign to entice the Japanese market to visit the Philippines, the Department of Tourism (DOT) spearheads the promotions of Philippine Food Holidays in Japan with a new product introduced under the banner of “Culinary Heritage Tourism”.
The Secretary of Tourism, Wanda Tulfo Teo, in her visit to Japan campaigned with the board members of JATA on the attractions of the Philippines, particularly for the female market who travel to enjoy beauty and wellness, shopping and gourmet sampling. “Japanese ladies of all ages travel to Southeast Asia to enjoy culinary heritage and this project will encourage agents to design tours with fun culinary adventures”. “This will provide travelers an exciting dimension of cultural journey”, secretary commented.
The DOT Tokyo’s joint promotions with key wholesalers targeting the female market has contributed to Japan’s record spending of PHP 42 Million for August 2016.
And for the first time Japan has broken the 60,000 mark arrival surging past China and USA bringing in 62,054 arrivals for the same period.
DOT Tourism Attache, Gwen Batoon, has managed to forge a partnership with the Social Enterprise English Language School (SEELS) and Food Holidays Guide – that launched a program in form of educational culinary tour seminars to leading Japanese travel agents, and Filipino students of SEELS residing in Japan. The special seminar held November 24, 2016 in Tokyo, Japan included food sampling hour.
DOT Tokyo remarked, “We are in the business of promoting one product one destination and we have requested Ms. Clang Garcia to be the connection to communicate the cuisine culture of our power destinations along one highlight product per destination to strengthen the destination’s brand recall”. Clang Garcia is the founding President of Jeepney Tours and her other company, Colors Integrated Travel Media, Inc. a publishing and integrated marketing communications company that specializes in the development of creative travel media programs. Clang Garcia traveled around the country to conduct a comprehensive research and share the story of her priceless discoveries.
“Ms. Clang’s partnering with SEELS is also a social advocacy for our OFWs here in Japan which we support. What differentiates this is the outcome-based principle supported with a business platform,” added DOT Tokyo Attache Batoon.
Ms. Garcia raves about the publication “Food Holidays.” The first-of-its-kind marries the joy of “food” and “travel” into a handy guide, while integrating the sense of culture and history into the food and destinations.”
An informational channel that aims to boost the growth of Philippine tourism economy through culinary tour programs. The DOT Tokyo seminar will zero in on the power destinations to give it relevance to the Japanese market to ensure success.