Sixth Ambassadors, Consuls General and Tourism Directors (ACGTD) Tour to the PHP Slated for July 17-23

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Sixth Ambassadors, Consuls General and Tourism Directors (ACGTD) Tour to the PHP Slated for July 17-23

Communities - RP Government Updates

Friday, 04 February 2011 18:22

By JOSEPH G. LARIOSA

Filipino North Americans Asked to Take a Detour From Their Homes This Year When They Join the 6^th ACGTD Tour to the Philippines

C HICAGO (jGLi) – Filipino Americans and Filipino Canadians who will be joining the 6th Ambassadors, Consuls General and Tourism Directors (ACGTD) Tour to the Philippines from July 17-23 this year are being asked to a detour from the homes of their friends and relatives.

Instead, they are being encouraged to take package tours to some of the Philippines alluring tourist destinations, according to Manny Ilagan of the Philippine Department of Tourism in Los Angeles, California.

The template of this tour was conceptualized at the 5th Consuls General Conference held in San Francisco, California, in October 2004 as a flagship-tourism project of all Foreign Service Posts in North America, namely the Philippine embassies, consulates and tourism offices. As a result of the success of the past five annual tours, the organizers expect to bring at least 500 participants this year.

As in the past tours, this year’s tour aims to achieve the following goals:

a) Attract a sizable number of travelers from North America to visit the Philippines and prop up to the Philippine economy in terms of foreign-exchange earnings;

b) To deepen the appreciation of participants especially the youth about the beauty of the Philippines and its rich history and culture;

c) To entice potential travelers from the United States and Canada to actively engage in tours to various destinations of our country. It has been noted that majority of Fil-American and Fil-Canadian families do not take package tours while in the country and prefer to stay in the homes of their friends and relatives; And

d) To develop and introduce a one-of-a-kind tour that gives exceptional experiences to tour participants.

Each Diplomatic Post to Organize Tour Packages

E ach post of Ambassadors and Consuls General in North America will be in charge of organizing air-and-land tour package in their areas. They are encouraged to invite participants to take this special tour, which is held every July when schools are closed for the summer break.

Historical records show that this extraordinary tour has attracted more than 500 participants during the past five editions of the tour from 2005 to 2009, with delegations coming from Washington, DC, Chicago, Guam, Honolulu, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, Atlanta and Florida.

On the other hand, tour groups from Canada came from Ottawa, Calgary, Edmonton, Toronto, Vancouver and Winnipeg.

Each delegation is led by no less than the Ambassador or Consul General of every post, together with Tourism Attaché s. This year, more than 500 participants are expected to join in this tour.

The Basic tour consists of three-night hotel stay, city tour in Metro Manila, and a choice of day visit in nearby destinations, like Corregidor, Batangas, Cavite, Pampanga, Bulacan, Laguna, Quezon and Rizal. After the Basic Tour, a three-night optional Extension Tours are also organized in destinations like Boracay, Palawan, Cebu, Bohol, and Iloilo/Bacolod.

Since the PDOT has declared July as the Kulinarya month, the tours would highlight the unique cuisine of each destination. Rajah Tours, the tour operator in the last five tours has been appointed as the ground handler of this year’s tour. It would prepare the itinerary and costing of these tours. Each Post would also develop a package tour – a combination of international air fare offered by airlines, consolidators or travel agents in their respective areas.

For more information, please contact the Coordinating Post/Office near you:

Philippine Consulate – San Francisco

c/o Consul General Marciano A. Paynor, Jr.

Philippine Center, 6th Floor

San Francisco, CA 94108

Tel. No. 415.433.6666

Fax No. 415.421.2641

E-mail: congensec@philippinessanfrancisco.com

Philippine Department of Tourism/PCGSF

c/o TA Rene R. de los Santos

Philippine Center, 5th Floor

San Francisco CA 94108