Pagdanganan targets 23% increase in Korean arrivals by year-end

Tourism Secretary Roberto "Obet" Pagdanganan sets the target of 370,000 arrivals from Korea or 23 percent more than last year’s mark. This was bared by Pagdanganan as he led this year’s Philippine delegation to the ongoing Korea World Travel Fair (KOTFA), Korea’s biggest and most influential travel trade event which will be held until June 6.

Pagdanganan is highly optimistic that the Philippines’ participation to KOTFA will help the country reach its arrival target. The Philippines participation to the event will focus on niche marketing. Honeymooners, family and group tours, company incentives, and special interest remain on top priority niches for the Korean market.

Korea remains the Philippines’ third largest source market in terms of tourist arrivals. Last year, arrivals from Korea recorded a growth of 5.3 percent or 303,280 warm bodies despite the SARS crisis that hit the region.

Pagdanganan is definitive that the tourism department’s target is realistic and attainable. The chief mentioned the positive image posed by the country as the "least affected by SARS" a major come-on for potential short haul travelers.

Short haul travels consisting mainly of markets coming from neighboring East Asian countries recorded a share of 43.9 percent of the total arrivals for last year.

An annual event, the KOTFA has attracted more than 300 exhibitors and over two thousand delegates from all over the world last year.

For this year, the DoT will be sending the Bayanihan Dance Troupe for Philippine cultural performance at the mainstage and one craft demonstrator to showcase the art of native Philippine embroidery.

Bullish on attracting the Korean market into the country, the DoT further strengthens tourism promotion through projects that will definitely bring in Koreans to the Philippines.

The DoT supports the Korean joint community trainings to include language and cultural immersions and Student Learning English programs. Through these projects, the DoT hopes mutual understanding to benefit both cultures. Likewise, the DoT sees the new PAL chartered flights from two of Korea’s main cities to Manila as opportunities for tourism growth.

The DoT chief believes that the Philippine participation to KOTFA is a good promotional tool for the country to reach its target for 2004. Joining Pagdanganan in the event are representatives from the Philippine travel trade sector-hotels, resorts and travel agencies.