RP wins Beijing tourism award

The Philippines won a gold award in service quality at the China Outbound Travel and Tourism Market (COTTM) Fair in Beijing last April 29. Citing a report from the Philippine Embassy in Beijing, the Department of Foreign Affairs said the award mentioned its excellent performance in meeting the needs of Chinese tourists visiting the Philippines. "Because of the promotional work we are continuously doing in China, more and more Chinese tourists are visiting the Philippines," Philippine Ambassador Francisco Benedicto said on the DFA website. (www.dfa.gov.ph). Receiving the award was Tourism Undersecretary Oscar Palabyab from Prof. Wolfgang Georg Alt, director of the Germany-based China Outbound Tourism Research Institute during the COTTM. "The award was in recognition of the various projects and accomplishments of the Philippine Department of Tourism in China in 2009 in meeting the needs of Chinese outbound tourists," Benedicto said. It was the second major award received by the Philippines in tourism promotion in China this year. Earlier, the Philippines was awarded the "2009 Best Destination Promotion" award by the prestigious China Travel Agent Magazine, a monthly Chinese language publication catering to the tourism and travel industry in China, in recognition for its extensive tourism promotional activities in China. Accompanying Palabyab at the COTTM were Tourism Attaché Jazmin Esguerra and representatives of Boracay Regency Beach Resort and Convention Center, El Nido Resorts, Direction Travel, El Sol Tours, Marco Vincent Dive Center, Manila Hotel, Manila Diamond Hotel, Jeron Travel, and Legend Hotels Palawan. — LBG, GMANews.TV