CLARK FREEPORT—A group of Turkish travel agents visited the Metro Clark area here, as well as the Subic Bay Freeport Zone, on Monday for a familiarization tour hosted by Philippine travel operators and sponsored by Qatar Airways.
The Philippine tour operators, led by Joebert Opulencia, president of Orientours Co. Ltd.; Margaret N. Ongshu, president of Travel Experts Inc.; and Gilda Padua, president of Ties That Travel, hosted the Turkish delegates who came via the Clark International Airport (CIA) on Monday.
Burcu Inal, sales executive of Qatar Airways, said the airline company sponsored the familiarization tour in order to look for an alternative Asian destination for the Turkish travel agents.
“We are happy to organize this rip because Qatar Airways started to fly to Clark,” Inal said. “Clark is also a very interesting place for MICE [meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions] since they are also targeting MICE agents to go here,” she said.
Inal said they invited nine travel agents who are both very professional and have good business in MICE.
“They know about Turkish companies that have incentive groups during the year,” she said, adding, in Turkey, most companies have two or three trip incentives per year, and most of them prefer Asian destinations, like Bangkok, Phuket and Pataya.
But now, Inal said, “we would like to present Manila and Clark as an alternative.”
“That is the purpose of our trip. So, for four days, we will stay in the Philippines—two days in Clark and two days in Manila,” she said. “It is easy to access the country via the Clark International Airport.”
Mert Bulat, directing partner for ICF Tour based in Istanbul, said, “The Philippines is still an undiscovered nation for Turkish market. It is just a question of time. I share the opinion the Philippines will be a good alternative for the Thailand program, which we use in Turkey for incentive groups,” he said.
However, Bulat said the Philippines is a bit more expensive than Thailand, “but if you can promote the Philippines, eventually, the little extra cost will no longer matter”.
“It’s good to know you have direct flights with Qatar Airlines to many destinations,” he said. “We are also looking into resorts and places that can attract incentive groups, as well as honeymooners.”
Opulencia said, “If we are able to manage security, the rest will follow because that’s the key to every one’s mind—to travel safely.”
“We look forward to Clark booming and becoming a model for tourism for the rest of the country,” he said, adding that the Filipinos’ natural charm and hospitality and their command of the English gives the Philippines an undeniable advantage.”