The Tourism Promotions Board (TPB) Philippines is participating in the Arabian Travel Market (ATM) 2023, a leading global event for the inbound and outbound travel industry in the Middle East. The event is on May 1-4, 2023, at Dubai World Trade Centre, Dubai, UAE.
This year’s ATM has the theme, “Working Towards Net Zero”, which explores environmentally friendly travel trends and identifies the potential strategies for growth within specific sectors in the industry.
The Philippines’ participation in ATM 2023 aims to promote the country as a leisure, MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions) and investment destination, reconnect with partners in the Middle East, and develop sales leads and commercial connections with consumers from the Middle East.
The Philippine delegation is being led by Department of Tourism (DOT) Undersecretary Shereen Gail Uy-Pamintuan, TPB’s Chief Operating Officer Maria Margarita Montemayor Nograles, and DOT Region III.
It also includes representatives from Philippine Retirement Authority, lawmakers from Batangas, Bohol, Cebu, and Surigao del Norte, and private sector companies such as Annset Holidays, Inc., Atlantis Hotel, Atmosphere Resort and Spa, Blue Horizons Travel and Tours, Cebu Pacific Air, CTPH Lifestyle and Travel Services, Divaishnavi International Inc., Earth Explorers, JLT Travel and Tours, Okada Manila, Philippine Airlines, Pink Lily Travel & Tours Inc., The Lind Boracay, Ties That Travel, Travelite Travel and Tours, and Via.com.
Dr. Karen Remo, the CEO and founder of New Perspective Media, the publisher of the largest Filipino news agency in the United Arab Emirates, The Filipino Times, is also in attendance to show support for the Philippine delegation.
“We are promoting our daily flight of Dubai to Manila. And apart from that, we also have other points from the Middle East to the Philippines. We have daily flights from Riyadh to Manila, and five times a week from Doha, Qatar to Manila. And also, another point in KSA, from Dammam to Manila, also five times a week,” shared Josh Vasquez, Area Manager of PAL in the United Arab Emirates.
Among the representatives marketing the Philippines in the Arabian Travel Market is Oliver Mischo, the International Sales Manager of Atmosphere Resorts.
Mischo is a German who has stayed in the Philippines for almost 11 years. When asked what made him stay in the Philippines and even promote the country’s top destinations, he answered: “The Filipinos.”
“I have been traveling before and been traveling in Thailand, Indonesia, and Malaysia, but I never had such close friendships with the Filipinos I have now. So, Filipinos’ hospitality is amazing and somehow, I got stuck. For me as a non-Filipino, it’s exciting to tell them about the diversity of the Philippines” said Mischo.
Atmosphere Resorts is one of the leading luxury boutique resorts in the Philippines. With 44 rooms, they have various room categories for any family type. They have access to Apo Islands which is fantastic for snorkeling and diving.
The exhibitor in the Philippine booth includes first-time exhibitors such as Earth Explorers.
“We are based in Bohol and we are doing diving and travel services, we offer services across the country. We have been catering to guests from the UAE and we are very excited to welcome clients,” said Engr. Jermaysa “Mice” Tin.
One of the largest airlines carriers in the country, Philippines Airlines was represented by their Area Managers including Mr. Josh Vasquez of UAE, Ricky Solomon L. Pacquing Country Manager of KSA, Marvin Aranzanso of Eastern Province KSA (Dammam), and Agnes Pagaduan of Qatar.
“We are promoting our daily flight from Dubai to Manila. And apart from that, we also have other points from the Middle East to the Philippines. We have daily flights from Riyadh to Manila, and five times a week from Doha, Qatar to Manila. And also, another point in KSA, from Dammam to Manila, also five times a week,” shared Josh Vasquez, Area Manager of PAL in the United Arab Emirates.
Also expanding its presence in the Middle East is OKADA Manila, the largest integrated resort and casino in the Philippines.
“We are a 42-hectare complex which is right smack at the city center of Manila and only a 10-minute drive away from the airport. We are granted a 5-star hotel status by Forbes for the past 4 years in a row now,” said Mr. Carlo Baldonido, Assistant Director of OKADA Manila.
The event is expected to receive more than 30,000 visitors and buyers with over 1,000 exhibitors across 150 countries.
Here’s a complete list of the delegates from the Philippines taking part in the Arabian Travel Market this year:
Philippine Delegation
DEPARTMENT OF TOURISM
TOURISM PROMOTIONS BOARD
DEPARTMENT OF TOURISM – REGION 3
PHILIPPINE RETIREMENT AUTHORITY
CEBU PACIFIC
PHILIPPINE AIRLINES
ANNSET HOLIDAYS INC.
BLUE HORIZON TRAVEL AND TOURS
CTph TOURS
DIVAISHNAVI INTERNATIONAL INC.
EARTH EXPLORERS
JLT TRAVEL AND TOURS
TIES THAT TRAVEL
TRAVELITE TRAVEL AND TOURS, CO.
VIA.COM
ATLANTIS HOTEL
ATMOSPHERE RESORTS AND SPA
OKADA MANILA
THE LIND BORACAY
