Denmark eyes more Filipino tourists

MANILA, Philippines — Denmark is targeting a 10 percent rise in the number of Filipino tourists this year, as it intensifies its promotions in the Philippines, a top Danish official said.

Danish Minister for Industry, Business and Financial Affairs Brian Mikkelsen said they are eyeing more Filipino tourists this year as the Philippines is seen as a growing travelers market.

“We also see there’s a huge potential because Filipinos are traveling more, growing its middle class, a very impressive economic development in the Philippines,” Mikkelsen said.

“People have more money to travel and also to use for vacation,” he added.

Mikkelsen said Denmark is mainly trying to attract family tourists and as well as the young generation of travelers who will take part in group tours.

“(We are) also (targeting) group tourists who will spend one or two days in Copenhagen and join the group tours and just walk around the city,” Mikkelsen said.

“Since you also have a bigger population and young people, they like to travel. The young people are traveling much. So that’s a huge potential for more Filipinos to go to Denmark,” he added.

While Denmark is set to boost its marketing and promotion initiatives in the Philippines, Mikkelsen said it is important to highlight the easy connectivity to and from Denmark, despite no direct flights between the two countries.

“We are trying to promote the easy routes to get to Denmark from the Philippines,” Mikkelsen said adding that available flights from neighboring countries such as Thailand and Singapore, among others, to Copenhagen makes it easy to get to Denmark from the Philippines.

He also suggested that Filipino tourists who are already in Denmark may opt to visit other Northern European countries nearby such as Sweden and Norway to make the most out of their trips.

Asked how the Philippines would be able to attract more Danish tourists, Mikkelsen said it’s not that difficult since the awareness for the Philippines in Denmark is growing, driven by the interest in the country’s beaches, diving sites, and friendly people.

In an earlier interview,  Danish Ambassador to the Philippines Jan Top Christensen told reporters that expanding the Philippines’ tourism offerings beyond its popular beach destinations would attract more tourists from Denmark.

“I think its important for the Philippines to broaden its scope of activities so that its not only beaches and diving,” Christensen said.

“You have many other things to offer. I think with that you will see your country grow in tourism from Denmark,” Christensen said.