Honesty has its own reward. For Corporals Eduardo Duran and Irvin Hawk of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) police, it’s a family holiday in any of the country’s top destinations.

The two honest cops were recognized by the Department of Tourism (DOT) for returning a black bag containing wads of Russian Rubbles and US Dollars equivalent to almost P500,000 cash. The owner of the bag turned out to be Russian tourist Sergey Zhelenzyak, who was with his family for a vacation in the country.

“The tourism industry commends people like Corporals Duran and Hawk who render excellent service and present the best of the country through their exemplary ways. We hope our small token of appreciation highlights their big deed,” said Durano. The cops, accompanied by M/Gen Angel Atutubo (Ret), Assistant General Manager of the Manila Airport Authority, paid a courtesy call at the DOT office.

Duran and Hawk, in an interview, mentioned that Zhelenzyak was profusely grateful to them for returning his bag, with the money and other contents which included a digital camera, intact.

“These gentlemen prove that our people are also one of the best reasons to visit the country. Even the finest, luxurious services can never outshine the warmth, honesty and sincerity of our people,” said Undersecretary Eduardo Jarque, Jr., Tourism Planning and Promotions.

The two airport cops found the bag unattended in one of the immigration counters at the NAIA. They reported the lost bag which had an identification tag in Russian writing, to their Intelligence Division. After paging for the owner and getting no response, Duran and Hawk tracked him down through his embarkation card at the Immigration Counter. They finally reached Zhelenzyak, who was already in Bacolod, through his travel agent.

The tourist told them that he didn’t expect to get his money back, which he was saving for a holiday in the country with his family. Zhelenzyak, who was on his fourth visit to the country, vowed to them that he will promote the Philippines and the commendable values of its people.

Duran has been an airport police for 10 years, while Hawk has rendered service for 27 years.

After hosting more than 260 delegates from German-based Meier’s Weltreisen which is Europe’s biggest long-haul operator, the Department of Tourism (DOT) welcomes a new batch of travel specialists from four major Swiss groups namely, Wettstein, Tourasia, Flex Travel, and Kuoni.

Secretary of Tourism Ace Durano cited the arrivals as a strong indicator that tourism traffic is unaffected by the global scenario. “Europeans coming in droves used to be a rare sight in the country. But through the united front shown by our tourism stakeholders from all sectors, our travel missions, and strong investor confidence, we are getting attention from big tour operators in Europe,” Durano said.

Dubbed as the Swiss Mega Fam Trip, the group is composed of 100 frontliner agents along with foreign media members and Singapore Airlines delegates, who will be immersed in experiential workshops to learn about the Philippines’ anchor destinations. The seminar entitled Discover Paradise, includes nature, adventure and cultural tours of Banaue, Bohol, Boracay, Cebu and Palawan, and ocular inspections of hotels and resorts.

Eduardo Jarque, Jr., Undersecretary for Tourism Planning and Promotions, stressed the careful balance of marketing and infrastructure development as a tourism driver, “Complementing our vigorous campaign here and abroad is the expansion of our capacity to host tourists. Tourism in the country has never been this good as we have more flights, airlines, airports, hotels and top-notch destinations.”

Venus Tan, Tourism Attaché of DOT Frankfurt, also noted the importance of bringing travel frontliners to the country, “Experiential workshops such as ‘Discover Paradise’ is just one of the valuable programs of the department that foster better relations with specific markets. We seek to present the Philippines as a familiar second home to our market.”

Switzerland Ambassador Peter Sutter highlighted the tourism industry as one of the pillars in strengthening the growing relations of his nation and RP. “One of the major bilateral projects we’ve had is last year’s participation of the Philippines as host country in MUBA, the biggest Swiss consumer travel fair held in Basel. We believe your country has a lot of potential for our tourists, with an even bigger traffic compared to other nearby destinations,” said Ambassador Sutter.

He likewise mentioned the importance of the first ever state visit of Swiss President Pascal Couchepin as an indicator of better things to come for Philippine tourism.

The Swiss Mega Fam Trip is hosted by the DOT and partners Sofitel, Blue Horizons Travel and Tours, and Singapore Airlines.

Catch this spectacular episode this Saturday, May 23, 2009 on ANC at 9:30 AM, with a replay on Tuesday at 11:30 PM. TFC (The Filipino Channel) subscribers can catch it on Sundays and Mondays in North America, Middle East, and Europe.

The Department of Tourism (DOT) hosted a welcome luncheon to a group of 32 senior Japanese tourists who were in the country recently for a memorial tour of the Philippines.

Organized by the Gunma Philippine Society (GPS), the biennial Memorial Tour of the Philippines aims to promote and enhance peace and understanding between the people of Japan and the Philippines through tourism. The tour brought the Japanese seniors to Corregidor, Angeles, Baguio, Banaue, and Nueva Ecija, where the visitors offered prayers for their family members who were assigned in the Philippines during World War II.

The visiting Japanese seniors are from the Gunma Prefecture in central Japan. Gunma is an inland prefecture home to specialties including silk fabric and okirikomi, a local dish representative of the prefecture’s unique wheat culture.

According to Tourism Secretary, “Japanese travelers have historically contributed significantly to Philippine tourism. We welcome every opportunity to promote the country to the Japanese market, especially to the silver market who may find it a perfect haven where they can spend their retirement years.”

Undersecretary for Tourism Planning and Promotions Eduardo Jarque, Jr. said, “Among many other niche markets, the Philippines also look to the senior Japanese market to further invigorate the country’s tourism industry. What we can give them is a promise that the Philippines, with its health and wellness products and wonderful gifts of nature, can indeed cater to the aspirations and lifestyle of the senior Japanese populace.”

In his speech during the welcome luncheon, DOT Team Japan Head, Director Benito C. Bengzon, Jr. said, “The regular conduct of the tours is very important in fostering friendship and goodwill between the Philippines and Japan.”

DOT also awarded plaques of appreciation to members of the Gunma Philippine Society and distributed souvenir shirts and dried mangoes, a Japanese favourite, to the group. In return, GPS Chairman Zensuke Hara vowed to continue organizing the Memorial Tours to the Philippines.

Unfazed by swine flu and the global recession, the country expects a robust tourism industry with a growing number of European unconventional tour groups setting their sights on the ecological attractions of the Philippines.

On top of the traditional divers and leisure travelers, Tourism Secretary Ace Durano cited the growing impact of alternative travel markets in Europe, which rose from changes in the global scenario. “We are now seeing a more significant number of high-spending tourists looking for places of raw and rustic charm without the trappings of mass tourism. We are equipped for these shifts in the tourism industry’s landscape.”

Durano announced this development during the Far East Live Seminar (FELS) of more than 250 travel retailers of Meier’s Weltreisen’s, Europe’s biggest long-haul travel firm from Germany. A trip to a destination that takes between 10-15 hours is considered long-haul travel.

The FELS workshop entailed pretours of Baguio, Banaue, Bohol, Boracay, Cebu, Dumaguete, Negros, Palawan and Sagada.

For most of the agents, the Banaue Rice Terraces stood out as a one-of-a-kind heritage site they haven’t encountered anywhere in the world. The caves, hills, and hanging coffins of Sagada were also cited for their distinctive and idyllic appeal even for seasoned travelers. “Most of them have been to our country for the first time. They are surprised to discover the wide range of ecotourism adventures that we offer,” Durano further said.

Following Meier’s, the Department of Tourism (DOT) is set to receive a new batch of 100 travel specialists from four major Swiss travel operators, Wettiene, Tour Asia, Flex and Kuoni, in the present and succeeding months.

According to Eduardo Jarque, Jr., Undersecretary for Tourism Planning and Promotions, the country has managed to build a continuing relationship with Europe’s tourism industry through its participation in major travel missions, aggressive marketing of European-based tourism offices, concessions with local partners and strong presence in foreign media.

“This is not an overnight success, but rather a long journey of negotiations, promotions, and involvement, complemented with the unyielding support of our partner hotels, resorts, transportation firms, and travel operators,” Jarque said.

The country is likewise a year-round destination, another desirable rarity for Europeans, according to Venus Tan, DOT Director for Western, Central and Eastern Europe.

“They are interested in unique culture so they plan their visits at different times of the year. They want to experience a country’s diversity also through festivals and celebrations,” said Tan. The country holds around five major festivals in a month, sometimes in just one region, adds Tan.

Sedat Tatli, Director Division for Asia of Meier’s Weltreisen, was quick to point out another factor that draws tourists, “It’s easy to hop around the islands because almost everybody speaks English.”

Eric Roufs, travel retailer for Dutch operator Paul Crombag, agreed, “Some of my clients will ask me to buy them a ticket to the Philippines then they go on their own to book flights and accommodations to the other islands. Accessible language and transportation allow them to add spontaneity to their holidays.”