The Philippines and Italian governments need to forge their first tourism cooperation settlement, the Division of Tourism (DOT) mentioned Saturday.
Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco proposed to signal a memorandum of understanding throughout her assembly with Italian Minister of Tourism Daniela Garnero Santaché in Rome Thursday.
Santaché, the DOT mentioned, shared Manila’s curiosity to develop collaboration and “positively acquired” Frasco’s proposal.
“We want to proceed the collaboration that our two international locations have earlier than. Additionally, [from the level of the Minister of Tourism of Italy and Philippines], we share the curiosity that you just shared to have a Memorandum of Understanding of attempting to have coordination,” Santaché was quoted as saying.
Attainable areas of cooperation underneath the mentioned MOU will embrace the cross-promotion of dive websites in Rome and the Philippines, reinstating direct flights between the 2 international locations, and provision of Italian language coaching help to Filipino tourism staff.
The 2 Tourism chiefs additionally mentioned the potential of Italian and Filipino meals and gastronomy as a tourism product.
Italy is a key supply market of the Philippines, with almost 40,000 arrivals in 2019 earlier than the pandemic, based mostly on the information from the DOT.
“We acknowledge your nation to be an important accomplice for the Philippines in lots of features. We have fun 75 years of our official relations, and we share with you a love for a lot of issues Italian,” Frasco informed her Italian counterpart.
“In 2019, we welcomed virtually 40,000 Italians into the Philippines as vacationers. We’re very considering rising that quantity,” she added.
The DOT mentioned Frasco headed to Rome to maximise her official abroad mission as head of the Philippine delegation to the 2022 World Journey Market (WTM) in London.
She additionally continued her listening tour in Italy and sought to create new and strengthen current partnerships with Italian journey and tourism gamers.
Representatives from the aviation sector, the media, journey and excursions sectors, and the diving neighborhood joined the mentioned assembly.
Frasco gave an assurance that the Philippines continues to discover methods to additional make journey handy, together with by enhancing the worldwide airports and persevering with negotiations with airways to reinstate discontinued routes.
Among the many Italian stakeholders in attendance are Alpitour, Cathay Pacific, Emirates, Go World, Guidda Viaggi, H20, KeL 12, L’Agenzia di Viaggi, Nautica, Journey Quotidiano, TTG Italia, Turismo & Attualita, Qatar Airways, VIA Viaggi in Avventura, and Viaggi del Mappamondo.
Philippine Embassy in Rome Chargé d’Affaires Nina Cainglet, Vice Consul Nadine Morales, and DOT Undersecretaries Shahlimar Tamano and Verna Buensuceso joined Frasco through the conferences. (PNA)
