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Press Release
PR-063-2017

Philippines Participates at the
Riyadh Travel Fair 2017 

 

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Figure 1: Charge d' Affaires, a.i. Iric C. Arribas (4th from left) together with the Philippine delegation from the Department of Tourism headed by Assistant Secretary Reynaldo L. Ching, (3rd from left). Photo courtesy of the Eye of Riyadh.

 

(Riyadh, 2 May 2017) For the 5th consecutive year, the Philippines participated in the Riyadh Travel Fair 2017 which was held from 7 April to 10 April 2017. The event was held at the Prince Sultan Grand Hall in Al Faisaliyah Tower Hotel, King Fahad Road, Riyadh.

The yearly participation of the Philippines in this travel and tourism event is aimed to continuously promote not only the tourism sector in the Philippines but to open other opportunities for such as trade and industry between the Middle East andSaudi Arabia among others. The Philippines’ 72 square meter booth located in the middle of the grand hall is one of the biggest and colorful stand in the event.

 

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Figure 2: Representatives from AVIAREPS, Philippine tourism marketing office based in Dubai. Photo courtesy of Mr. Ian Borromeo

 

This year, the Philippine delegation from the Department of Tourism was headed by Assistant Secretary Reynaldo L. Ching. together with Mr. Francisco Lardizabal and Mr. Glen Raymund Agustin. They arrived in Riyadh on 4 April 2016 and was joined by representatives from AVIAREPS, the Philippine tourism marketing office based in Dubai.

During the actual event, they were also joined by representatives from Philippine Airlines and Cebu Pacific and Sheridan Hotel and Resorts Palawan and Safari Travel, a Riyadh based tour operator. To help in assisting female guests at the booth, volunteers from Pink Tarha, represented by Ms. Janelle Vales and Ms. Reina Tejano, were also present at the booth. Pink Tarha is an online lifestyle guide formed by 4 Filipino women based in Riyadh.

 

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Figure 3: DOT Representative together with Ms. Reina Tejano and Ms. Janelle Vales of Pink Tarha. Photo courtesy of Mr. Chintaka Bandara

 

According to the Department of Tourism, the arrivals from the Middle East, particularly from Saudi Arabia, has been continuously increasing in the past 5 years. In 2016, a total of 91,501 visitors from the Middle East came to the Philippines or a total of 9.52% increase as compared to the 83,546 arrivals in 2015. Also, the Department of Tourism has recorded a total of 56,081 tourist arrivals to the Philippines from Saudi Arabia. This figure shows a 10% increase as compared to the 2015 arrivals which is 50,884.

The Department of Tourism plans to hold another tourism activity in the Kingdom before the end of 2017. 

(END)