Melo Villareal
Tourism Department Expects High Growth in the French Travel Market
The French are very welcome in the Philippines. The Department on Tourism (DOT) is expecting an influx of French tourists in the country as it cited a double-digit increase in the number of French nationals who are visiting the country.
Tourism Secretary Wanda Teo had recently met with French Tourism Minister Matthias Fekj on a business mission in Paris. The two tourism officials discussed the long friendship and history between France and the Philippines and concluded their meeting on a positive note.
Teo said the strong diplomatic ties between France and the Philippines should bridge the two nations together. She also stressed that tourism-related activities as well as exchanges between the two nations would invigorate tourism bilaterally.
To take advantage of the French Travel Market, Teo noted that the DOT will adapt a shift in its marketing strategy. Tourism campaigns will be geared more towards partnering with travel influencers. These people will then ride on the “high growth” French Travel Market by leveraging social media and other platforms.
The Tourism chief also stressed on capitalizing on the use of social media to widen their reach. According to her, modern travelers rely on their mobile phones for information. Social media will allow the DOT to reach potential travelers, becoming a true game-changer in the Tourism drives.
Teo was in Paris, France between September 20 and 23 to attend the IFTM Top Resa show. The event showcased Philippine tourism highlights to leisure, MICE markets and the business travel industry. This was a four-day affair which is considerd as one of the most anticipated international tourism industry shows. The IFTM Top Resa Show holds the distinction of providing access to local French and International tourism audiences.
During the show, Secretary Teo presented the competitiveness of the country’s tourism industry to the press. She was interviewed by two of the most widely-read French travel magazines: All About Travel and L’Echo Touristique.
While in Paris, the DOT chief took the time to thank the Philippine Embassy in Paris for its efforts in promoting local tourism to the French Travel Market. She met with Ambassador Ma. Theresa Lazaro to discuss plans on pursuing programs with the French Embassy in Manila.
Based on DOT data, France is one of the Philippines’ top 20 emerging tourist markets. The number of tourists has grown 21.96 percent from the previous year. From January to July 2016, there have been 35,378 French tourists who have stayed in the country.
Why are we focusing on French Travel Market?
On average, these French nationals stay for a minimum of 16 nights at local hotels and spend around USD 1,000. In 2015, the French tourism market contributed USD 34 million to the tourism coffers.
