Philippines Dept of Tourism Aims To Bring More Saudi Tourists to the Country

The Philippine’s Department of Tourism and the Filipino Embassy in Saudi Arabia recently launched a campaign to encourage visits by Saudi tourists. The campaigns were specifically targeted to Saudis living in Jeddah and Riyadh. The campaign is acting as a forum for travel and aviation companies from both countries to meet and discuss opportunities.

“What we want to do is to promote the Philippines as a family destination for the Saudi people and expatriates,” said Mazen al-Ebrahem, a local representative working on behalf of the country's Department of Tourism. “This is another push to the Saudi market [and] to increase their awareness of [the] different destinations [in the Philippines].”

“Everyone is trying to target the Saudi market as they are big spenders and that they travel in big groups,” he added.

In 2012, more than 30,000 Saudis came to visit the Philippines. 

More than 30,000 also visited the Philippines between January and September 2013, generating a 34.7 percent increase in tourist traffic that is expected to reach about 35,000 - 40,000 by the end of the year.

The event includes seminars and industry-related workshops seeking to highlight the Philippines’ attractions.