Philippines makes move on two major 2021 conferences

Cebu city (pictured) has successfully hosted two major conferences, and has emboldened the government to pursue more

The Philippines government has announced that it will be making bids to host the UNWTO (United Nations World Tourism Organization) General Assembly, and WTTC (World Travel and Tourism Council) Global Summit, both scheduled for 2021.

Tourism secretary Bernadette Romulo Puyat declared that the country is “ready”, while addressing the PATA Annual Summit in Cebu City last Friday.

Cebu city (pictured) has successfully hosted two major conferences, and has emboldened the government to pursue more

She added that the country is “bullish in the pursuit” of hosting the two major events, after having successfully hosted Routes Asia 2018 and this year’s PATA Annual Summit, both held in Cebu City.

UNWTO’s General Assembly, the most important global meeting of senior tourism officials and high level private sector representatives, is held every two years. It will be hosted by the Russian Federation this year, where previously it was held in Chengdu, China in 2017.

Meanwhile, the annual WTTC Global Summit was held in Seville, Spain recently in April while last year’s was in Argentina.

The business event sector is being considered a “new initiative” for the Philippines government, and the 2019 work programme of the Department of Tourism and its marketing arm, Tourism Promotions Board, has indicated intentions to bid for “big ticket events”. Aside from the WTTC and UNWTO, the country is also keen on other major events such as other UNESCO Creative Cities Network Annual Conferences.

Last year, the country launched its first-ever MICE roadmap, in a bid to reclaim the destination’s place as a business events powerhouse.

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