THE Department of Tourism (DOT) and Turkish Airlines have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) that aims to reinforce and affirm the country’s position in the European, Mediterranean and other international markets being serviced by Turkish Airlines.
The signing of the MOU was held at the Turkish Airlines headquarters in Istanbul, Turkey recently, in connection with the Turkey Tourism Roadshow organized by the DOT and the Department’s participation at the Uzakrota Travel Summit, one of Turkey’s largest tourism events.
This coincided with the celebration of the 70th anniversary of bilateral relations between the Philippines and Turkey.
The MOU was signed by DOT Undersecretary Benito Bengzon, Jr. and Ilker Ayci, chairman of the board of Turkish Airlines, after successful discussions of possible avenues to increase air connectivity between Turkey and the Philippines as well as various parts of Europe via Istanbul.
Under the new collaboration, the DOT and Turkish Airlines will conduct various projects in 2020 to promote tourism in the country with the goal of boosting inbound arrivals to the Philippines.
The MOU embodies a working relationship where both the DOT and Turkish Airlines will jointly work for brand advertising, promotional and tactical marketing campaigns, digital and e-marketing, familiarization tours for airline executives, media, travel trade partners, roadshow presentations and other activities that both parties will mutually agree on, for mutually beneficial results.
“The MOU with Turkish Airlines is a monumental development as it has always been the DOT’s goal to improve air connectivity from long-haul countries in the Mediterranean region and Europe including United Kingdom, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Switzerland and other tourist source markets in Europe and the world. Sustained air connectivity from the said areas would definitely be pivotal in boosting our ability to grow, and make packages to the Philippines more competitive,” Bengzon said.
Arrivals from Europe increased by 9.13 percent in 2019 to 772,098 from 707,525 in 2018.
On the other hand, arrivals from the Mediterranean markets, Israel and Turkey have doubled in the last five years with an average growth rate of 16 percent. (PR)