PHILIPPINE BOOTH WINS AWARD FOR BEST DECORATION
AT 2ND CAMBODIA TRAVEL MART (CTM)
Vice Consul Monika Limpo of the Philippine Embassy (4th from right) and Ms. Christa Margarita Rivera of the DOT (2nd from right) receivethe Award for Best Decoration from H.E. So Mara, Secretary of State of the Ministry of Tourism of Cambodia.
The Philippine Country Booth bested more than a hundred local and international exhibitors to bag the Award for Best Decoration at the 2nd Cambodia Travel Mart (CTM) held on 11-13 October 2018 in Phnom Penh.
Showcasing top Philippine tourist destinations, including Boracay Island which is scheduled to re-open to tourists this month, the Philippine booth attracted hundreds of visitors at the annual tourism exposition, now on its second year as Cambodia's premier travel trade show for local and international buyers/suppliers, hospitality professionals, travel and media practitioners.
“We will definitely go to the Philippine islands for our next vacation” said one Cambodian visitor, whose prior knowledge about the Philippines was limited to attending ASEAN meetings. “Most of the time, we only see Manila for meetings and conferences, but never had a chance to see its natural beauty.”
Designed by the Philippine Department of Tourism (DOT), the Philippine booth also featured virtual reality (VR) goggles that allowed visitors to experience a virtual underwater dive of the Tubbataha Reef in Palawan. Visitors who tried the VR experience were wowed by the vision of fish and corals and exclaimed in delight as they “dove into the waters without getting wet.”
The DOT likewise partnered with the Cambodia Television Network (CTN), one of Cambodia's top TV channels, for the production of tourism videos featuring Philippine tourist attractions and practical tips on how to get around using public transport, where to get the best Filipino food, and how to score the best shopping bargains, among others. The videos are especially designed and formatted to be shareable on social media platforms, which are very popular among the young and tech-savvy Cambodians.
“The Philippines is honored to win the Best in Decoration award at the CTM. Our country offers a diversity of tourist sites and attractions that suits the requirements for every type of traveler. We are excited at the opportunity for more and more Cambodians to discover why it’s more fun in the Philippines,” Philippine Ambassador to Cambodia Christopher B. Montero said.
The DOT delegation was composed of Ms. Christa Margarita Rivera and Ms. Faeroe Jeanne Fontanilla.
Left photo: Ambassador Christopher B. Montero (4th from left) with officials of the Department of Tourism and representative of travel agencies. Right photo: Visitors flock to thePhilippine Booth to inquire about Philippine tourism packages.
Left photo: Ms. Ro La (right), a famous Cambodian vlogger enjoys Palawan through a virtual scuba dive. She had previously visited to Manila, Cebu and Bohol. Right photo:Ambassador Montero (right) with representatives of travel agencies and tour operators.
Left photo: Ambassador Montero meets with DOT officials during their call at the Philippine Embassy in Phnom Penh. Right photo: The DOT delegation with members of theCambodia Association of Travel Agencies (CATA).
