Hosted buyers and media to be wowed by the wonders of the Philippines with Post-ATF Tours

Special treats are in store for hosted buyers and media who will be attending the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Tourism Forum (ATF) 2006 from 13 to 21 January 2006 in Davao City, the Philippines.

The ATF 2006 Philippine Host Committee (PHC), in cooperation with the Philippine Travel Agencies Association (PTAA) – Inbound Committee and Philippine Airlines, including other domestic carriers, are inviting buyers and media to experience the beauty of the Philippines through seven post-ATF three-day/two-night tours to the country’s top tourist destinations.

Some 400 foreign buyers and over 150 international media practitioners are expected to attend ATF 2006. The travel trade buyers are directors and product managers from key source markets for the ASEAN region such as Europe, Americas, Australasia, and the Middle East.

PTAA vice president – inbound, Mr Chiqui Teotico, said, “The Philippines has a plethora of tourist attractions that will definitely meet every preference and interest. Our line-up of tours reflects that diversity. ATF 2006 is the perfect opportunity to showcase the Philippines’ tourism destinations. ATF 2006 buyers are key travel decision-makers, while the media plays a very important role in shaping consumers’ perceptions of holiday destinations. We will ensure that all ATF hosted buyers and media will experience the best the Philippines has to offer and return to their homelands with pleasant memories and a greater personal understanding of the catchphrase ‘WOW Philippines.’”

ATF 2006 hosted buyers and media can choose from any of the following tours. Manila and its environs affords a glimpse into the Philippine capital’s past through a tour of Intramuros and present through visits to Greater Manila’s elegant lifestyle centres and specialty hubs. Optional daytrips include Corregidor, the symbol of determined Philippine and American resistance during World War II; the hill city of Tagaytay with panoramic views of Taal Volcano; The Farm at San Benito, the award-winning spa that subscribes to the holistic principle of a unified body, mind, and spirit; and Subic, which combines doses of history, watersports, and adventure travel.

The Cebu/Bohol tour first offers cosmopolitan entertainment in Cebu, the Philippines’ second largest metropolis, followed by communion with nature in Bohol, home to the Chocolate Hills and the world’s smallest monkey, the Tarsier. Dive enthusiasts can view resplendent underwater vistas through optional dives at Malapascua Island in Cebu province, or at Panglao and Balicasag Islands in Bohol. For its part, the Northern Palawan tour gives the option to enjoy the country’s last frontier from either the town of Coron or the El Nido Resorts at Miniloc Island or Lagen Island. Order of the day in Northern Palawan includes exploring deserted beaches, kayaking along spectacular limestone cliffs, and experiencing nature’s beauty at its truly unspoilt best.

The Boracay tour allows ATF 2006 hosted buyers and media to discover for themselves why this tiny butterfly-shaped island in Western Visayas is touted by many as the finest white-sand beach in the whole world. But for a visually spectacular insight on Philippine culture, the Ifugao Rice Terraces/Sagada/Bontoc tour obliges. Considered the “eighth wonder of the world” and one of mankind’s grandest scaled-engineering feats, the hand-carved Banaue Rice Terraces start from the base of the mountain range and reach up to several thousand feet high. Meanwhile, the picturesque town of Sagada is home to ancient burial caves and hanging coffins.

Alternatively, ATF 2006 buyers and media may choose to get up close and personal with gentle giants of the sea in the Sorsogon – Encounter with the Whale Sharks tour. The world’s largest fish, the whale shark is known to grow to lengths of up to 18 metres, weigh up to 40 tons, and live up to 100 years. This interaction tour allows visitors to swim alongside the scores of harmless but gigantic whale sharks that appear in Donsol, Sorsogon every year.

Lastly, an exciting adventure awaits takers of the Cagayan de Oro whitewater rafting and Camiguin Island Beckons tour. The exhilaration starts with a three-hour whitewater rafting passge through 14 rapids of the Cagayan de Oro River. And then, it’s off to the Philippines’ first natural spa, the therapeutic springs of Camiguin Island. Alternate from hot and cold springs throughout the day interspersed with spots of snorkeling and sightseeing.

An administrative fee of US$50 is applicable per person per tour.

See other recent news regarding: ATF, Travel Trade Shows