Tourism ties with Turkey, India get boost

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines is eyeing to attract more tourists from Turkey and India.

The Department of Tourism (DOT) recently hosted the first Philippines-Turkey joint working group meeting on tourism cooperation.

“The joint working group meeting aims to exchange cultural information between the two countries, to discuss matters of mutual interest on the areas of tourism cooperation, tourism marketing and promotions, and tourism investments, among others,” the DOT said.

In August, arrivals from Turkey went up 1.8 percent to 678.

However, arrivals from Turkey declined 5.31 percent to 5,818 in January to August.

Tourism Undersecretary Benito Bengzon Jr. earlier identified Turkey as one of the potential expansion markets for the Philippines.

Meanwhile, the DOT recently signed a memorandum of understanding with India’s Ministry of Tourism to encourage bilateral cooperation in the tourism, trade, and hospitality sector.

“We look forward to fostering a healthier relationship with our Indian counterparts through this sharing of ideas, best practices and our advocacy of sustainable tourism,” Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat said.

Among the cooperation areas between the two countries include research and statistical exchange, education and training, and joint promotion and marketing.

India is currently the country’s 11th top source market of foreign arrivals with a total of 91,690 Indian arrivals from January to August, up 9.66 percent year on year.