Philippines to work with MECO to promote sports tourism in Taiwan

The Philippines aims to boost numbers in terms of Taiwanese arrivals by way of sports tourism, particularly golf and diving.

In a release issued on Wednesday, 19th February, the Philippine Department of Tourism (DOT) will be working with the Manila Economic and Cultural Office (MECO) to increase inbound tourists from Taiwan by way of several initiatives, including joint promotional campaigns.

Tourism secretary Christina Frasco and MECO chair and resident representative Cheloy Velicaria-Garafil discussed the partnership during the latter’s courtesy visit on Tuesday, 18th February.

According to the DOT, the meeting served as a platform to discuss strategic initiatives aimed at enhancing tourism cooperation between the two destinations.

It also explored the possibility of renewing and updating the existing Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on tourism cooperation between MECO and the DOT to further solidify tourism collaboration.

Advancing cooperation between nations

For her part, Garafil said the MECO will continue advancing tourism cooperation with Taiwan as she highlights the opportunities in tapping into the Taiwanese travel market, particularly through sports tourism attractions like golf courses and dive sites.

She said collaborative efforts in marketing, policy support, and enhanced connectivity would further position the Philippines as a top destination for Taiwanese travelers.

Meanwhile, the two officials agreed to develop policies that will facilitate seamless travel and destination opportunities between the Philippines and Taiwan.

With the upcoming launch of a Taipei-Bohol direct flight in April of this year, the DOT anticipates an increase in Taiwanese arrivals in the country.