During a dinner with the Filipino Community members in Sydney hosted by the Department of Tourism (DOT) in Sydney on 23 September 2023, Philippine Ambassador Ma. Hellen B. De La Vega exhorted the Filipino Community to be champions and ambassadors of Philippine health and wellness tourism, urging them to take advantage of the new phase in the bilateral relationship as strategic partners.
She highlighted tourism promotion as a priority sector identified in the Joint Declaration on Strategic Partnership signed by Philippine President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese during the latter’s official visit to the Philippines on 08 September 2023. She also noted that the recently issued Southeast Asia Economic Strategy 2040 by Australian Special Envoy Nicholas Moore referred to tourism promotion as a priority sector for the Philippines to help eradicate poverty.
This is the first visiting joint government and private sector Philippine tourism delegation after the release of the Southeast Asia Economic Strategy 2040 and the visit of Prime Minister Albanese to the country.
During the event, Philippine Tourism Representative Purificacion Molintas also presented tourism statistics of Australians visiting the Philippines and urged the Filipino Community members to actively take part in the ongoing ‘Bisita, Be My Guest’ travel incentive program of DOT.
Prior to arriving in Sydney, the 18-member delegation headed by DOT Director for Product and Market Development Dr. Paulo Tugbang also visited Perth, Melbourne, and Brisbane where health and wellness tourism packages were promoted. The delegation was composed of officials from the Department of Tourism and owners and representatives of dental clinics, aesthetic clinics, a wellness resort, and a hotel-resort chain.
