10 March 2012 - The Philippine Embassy in Ottawa reported to the Department that Ambassador Leslie B. Gatan led Philippine participation in the 18th Ottawa Travel and Vacation show held on 10-11 March 2012 at the Ottawa Convention Centre.

Ambassador Gatan joined the Honorable Diana Ablonczy, Minister of State of Foreign Affairs, and His Worship, Mayor Jim Watson, at the ceremonies opening the show. In his welcome remarks, Mayor Watson hailed the travel show for enabling visitors to travel around the world in one hour. He also cited the saleability of culinary, heritage and cultural trips to Canada's ageing population. Minister Ablonczy opened the show which she regarded as a "tremendous way of building bridges and friendships around the world." Describing Canadians as adventuresome, she noted that 56 million trips, out of a population of 33 million, are made by Canadians each year. She encouraged Canadian travellers to observe the three R's (Read, Register and Reach Us) when taking trips abroad.

The Ambassador discussed Philippine destinations with exhibitors and other visitors to the Philippine booth that included Minister Ablonczy herself.

Since participating in travel shows in Canada several years ago, more and more tour operators have been selling Philippine packages. These include Tours Hai International, Jade Tours, Handa Travel, and Royal Scenic, among others. At the show, there was palpable interest in selling more Philippine destinations as demonstrated by Uniktour, Travel Professionals International and Family Travel Scoop.

The forthcoming 7th Ambassadors, Consuls General and Tourism Directors (ACGTD) Tour was also earnestly marketed by the Philippine Embassy with promising results. The Embassy launching of the ACGTD Tour will take place in Ottawa and Montreal on 15 and 16 March 2012, respectively.

Besides tourism, the Philippine Embassy took the occasion to promote Philippine products and food. Filipino shell craft, baskets and the turon were the top drawers inviting queries and compliments from visitors.

Philippine participation in the travel show was organized by the Philippine Department of Tourism office in New York represented by Ms. Mitchelle T. Dy, Deputy Director for Marketing.

Visited by some 16,000 travel-ready Canadians, the 18th Ottawa Travel and Visitors Show boasted over 190 travel and vacation exhibits from over 50 countries. Ottawa is home to 1.2 million well-educated, affluent Canadians with the second highest per capita income of all major Canadian cities.

"Filipinos in Canada are well-placed to persuade their Canadian friends to take an interest in a Philippine vacation, as Canadian visitors to the Philippine booth proved. Together with the Filipino community, the Embassy hopes to generate more buzz for Philippine destinations in line with its economic diplomacy program," Ambassador Gatan stated. END