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‘More Than The Usual’ shopping tour packages, a hit among Asian tourists
Source: Manila Bulletin
Author: Jaser A. Marasigan
Date: 2003-02-05
 
The “More Than The Usual” shopping tour packages, a joint initiative of the Department of Tourism (DoT) and the Philippine Convention and Visitors Corporation (PCVC), was a hit among Asian tourists especially the Taiwanese and Koreans, reported DoT Secretary Richard Gordon.













He disclosed that a group comprising of 157 Taiwanese and 90 Koreans from the media and travel/trade sectors availed the four-day/three- night “More Than The Usual” shopping tour package. Aside from shopping, the group went on a tour of the country’s key destinations like Boracay, Davao, Cebu, Bohol, Subic and Palawan, among others.





These shopping tour packages have been marketed heavily an





offered to neighboring countries such as Japan, Singapore, Korea, Hong Kong and Taiwan to promote the country as “Asia’s Most Inexpensive Luxury Destination”.





The “More Than The Usual” shopping tour packages were developed since shopping is one of the most important travel motivators for tourists coming to the country, according to a Philippine Travel Demographic report.





Tourists are offe





red as low as US$165, which includes a four-day/three-night hotel accommodation, airport transfers, guided tour, breakfast and discount coupons from participating malls.





The Philippine Retailers Association (PRA) has already produced 40,000 English version of Philippines Shopping Guide distributed worldwide by DoT and PCVC. The Chinese and Japanese versions of the shopping guide are now being





developed.





Meanwhile, the DoT and Araneta Center in Quezon City, celebrated recently the culmination of the “WOW Philippines Grand Fiesta Sale” with a grand parade showcasing the authentic troupe of smiling Masskara dancers, the colorful ‘Higantes’ from Angono, Rizal, the Binibining Pilipinas 2002 titlists and the Asian elephants from the latest entertainment and tourist attraction of Araneta Center, the Elephant World.





Secretary Gordon led the parade along with PRA president Bienvenido Tantoco, III, Araneta Center vice-chairperson Judy Roxas and some local government officials.





A total of 60 major shopping malls and centers, and around 8,000 retail outlets nationwide participated in the simultaneous sale for two weeks offering big discounts of up to 80 percent on wide array of shopping merchandise and the best of local products in selected world-class shopping malls and retail establishments nationwide.





Participating shopping malls came up with their respective promotional activities in a unified support for the Grand Fiesta Sale, now on its second year.





Gordon said that next year’s Grand Fiesta Sale will be bigger as large-scale musical extravaganzas and fashion shows in the malls will be held to entice more tourist shoppers.





The “WOW Philippines Grand Fiesta Sale” was the first major treat for tourists for the Visit Philippines 2003 which aims to establish the country as “Asia’s Shopping Capital”.



 

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