PH tourism showcased in 2015 New York Times Travel Show

Photo courtesy of the DFA

The Philippine Consulate General and the Department of Tourism in New York (PDOT) joined the 12th annual New York Times Travel Show (NYTTS) which was held on January 23 at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in New York City.

The NYTTS, considered to be the largest consumer and trade travel event of its kind anywhere in the United States, featured booths operated by over 500 exhibitors representing 150 countries and separated into 14 Pavilions that were staffed to assist guests with on-the-spot booking reservations to specific travel destinations. Over 40% of the exhibitors were new to the travel show this year, including international tourism/travel exhibitors focusing on travel destinations, packages and special offers, as well as tour operators, cruise lines and live entertainment for the whole family. Pavilions included countries from Africa, Asia, Australia/South Pacific, Canada, Caribbean, Europe, Latin America, Mexico, and the U.S.

Travel seminars, cultural stage performances, book signings and international culinary showcases were also offered at the travel show, which is sponsored by the New York Times company, a leading global multimedia news and information company that operates The New York Times, the International Herald Tribune, and The Boston Globe. In the third quarter of 2014, total revenues for the New York Times Company increased 0.8 percent to $364.7 million from $361.7 million.

The Philippine booth was among the most visited booths at the event. Philippine Consul General Mario L. de Leon Jr., along with Mdme. Eleanor de Leon, Consul Felipe Cariño and Wendell Gaa, joined the delegation of Michelle Narvaez, manager for international passenger sales at Philippine Airlines (PAL), and Ms. Zeny C. Pallugna, Philippine Department of Tourism-New York (PDOT-NY) Administrative Officer, at the booth to answer any questions which the visitors had about regional tourism attractions in the Philippines, which included among others, such destinations as Palawan, Northern Luzon, Boracay, Bohol, Cebu, Mindoro, and Davao. PDOT travel brochures, newsletters and booklets, tour package information materials, handbags and even free mango candy were handed out to the guests. Additional tour package pamphlets were provided at the booth by tour operators such as Mango Tours, Pacific Holidays Innovative Tours and SITA World Tours. In their nearby separate booths, tour operators G-Travel and GoWay Travel were also distributing Philippine tourism information materials to guests.

The Philippine Consulate General’s participation in the NYTTS is its first major campaign to highlight the tourist attractions of the Philippines this year.