Photo shows M.I.C.E. manager Arnold T. Gonzales (4th from L), PDOT-NY Tourism Attache Francisco M. Lardizabal (2nd from L), PDOT-NY administrative officer Luz Navarro (L), Morris Basilan, TPB Philippines market specialist III-The Americas Division (5th from L, behind Gonzales); Kevin Labbe, travel consultant at Evasion Tropicale Travel and Tours (3rd from L) and Jermaysa Tin, Earth Explorers Travel and Tours owner (R).
M.I.C.E. manager Arnold Gonzales, PDOT-NY promote PH tourism meccas at Montreal travel mart
“DURING my visit to Siquijor, I was amazed. Almost 90% of the foreign tourists I met in the mystical paradise were from Canada.”
With this line — spoken in faultless French — Meetings, Incentives, Conventions, and Exhibitions (M.I.C.E.) manager Arnold T. Gonzales enchanted his audience into visiting the Philippines during this year’s Salon International Tourisme Voyages held at the Palais des Congres in Montreal, Canada.
“We will visit the Philippines. Tomorrow!,” enthused a female Montrealer after Gonzales’ presentation. Meanwhile, a Canadian couple immediately approached the Philippine booth and gathered all the travel brochures while a lot more of the listeners excitedly began inquiring about tour packages.
In his presentation, Gonzales gave his French-speaking listeners 7,641 reasons to travel 13,334 kilometers to an island-rich country which is also legendary for its people’s eternal smiles and extraordinary hospitality.
Gonzales gave a fascinating narrative of the Philippine’s top immersion and tourist magnets namely Banaue Rice Terraces, Palawan, Boracay, Bohol, Siquijor, Davao, Siargao and Manila.
He also presented the 11 top PH dive destinations: Tubbataha Reefs National Park in Sulu Sea; Apo Reef in Mindoro Occidental; Puerto Galera in Mindoro Oriental; Verde Island in Batangas; Anilao in Mabini, Batangas; Apo Island in Dumaguete, Negros Oriental; Moalboal in Cebu; Monad Shoal in Malapascua, Cebu; Sogod Bay in Southern Leyte; Coron, Palawan and El Nido, Palawan.
At the end of the presentation, “Mabuhay” virtually ceased being just a Tagalog greeting to the audience.
It had magically transformed into an invitation to a tropical paradise that awaits in Southeast Asia.
The event was participated in by the Tourism Promotions Board (TPB) Philippines and the Philippine Department of Tourism -New York along with Earth Explorers Travel and Tours and Evasion Tropicale Travel and Tours.
TPB-Philippines was represented by Gonzales and Morris Basilan, market specialist III-The Americas Division.
PDOT-NY was headed by Tourism Attache Francisco M. Lardizabal assisted by administrative officer Luz Navarro .
Giving a hand at the Philippine booth were Kevin Labbe, travel consultant at Evasion Tropicale Travel and Tours and Jermaysa Tin, Earth Explorers Travel and Tours owner and Cristy Celeste Hunter, proprietor/photographer at CCH Photography MTL.
It wouldn’t be a wonder if more Fil-Canadians and residents start trooping in hordes to the Philippines to visit our destinations, savor our sumptuous food, and internalize our enriching culture.
Like Filipinos, they might feel empowered and just start to LOVE THE PHILIPPINES.
Bonjour and Mabuhay!
(Follow, like and share on journalnews.com.ph, Facebook (PJI/People’s Journal Tonight), IG (journaltonight), Twitter (People’s Journal / Tonight) and TikTok (People’s Journal / Tonight).)
