More Thai tourists are expected to visit the Philippines following an agreement sealed between the tourism departments of both countries last week, the Department of Tourism said Thursday.
The DoT said the Philippines has embarked on an “exchange tourism” agreement with Thailand during the four-day visit of Tourism Secretary Wanda Teo to Bangkok last week.
Teo’s visit was done at the invitation of the Tourism Authority of Thailand as part of the celebration of the 84th birthday of Her Majesty Queen Sirikit.
The secretary met with Kobkarn Wattanavrangkul, the Thai Minister of Tourism and Sports, who proposed a collaboration between the two countries in farm tourism, youth development, and women and indigenous community projects.
Teo also met with the Thai Travel Agents Association president Suparerk Soorangura who announced that his group will visit the Philippines in September for the Philippine Travel Exposition and will tour the cities of Cebu, Davao and Cagayan de Oro.
According to Teo, Soorangura said he looked forward to seeing the Mayon Volcano, go deep-diving, shopping and get a taste of authentic Filipino cuisine.
Meanwhile, Teo was invited to promote the Philippines in the Thai International Travel Fair in February next year.
As a top travel executive and tourism advocate herself, Teo noted that the department could learn a thing or two from Thai authorities who she said “catapulted Thailand’s tourism to the top.”