The country’s visa upon arrival or VUA program will drive devoted followers of Mazuism, considered a cultural phenomenon, to look at the Philippines as its next festival hub, Tourism Secretary Wanda Teo said Wednesday.
Teo said two months since she pressed the Department of Justice to roll out the VUA option to Chinese citizens, arrivals from China surged by 54.92 percent, from 61,766 arrivals in August last year to 95,687 this year.
“If these figures are any indication, the Philippines can certainly piggyback on VUA to attract more Chinese travelers, considering that a huge number of this market are package tour buyers. I am confident this ease in visa requirement is an attractive proposition for the country to host big-ticket events such as a Mazu culture festival,” Teo said, pointing to the 300 million Mazuists worldwide.
Mazu is a Chinese sea goddess revered as a patron of seafarers, fishermen and sailors, but now generally regarded by believers as a powerful and benevolent “Queen of Heaven.” Mazuism is most popular in Taiwan, and her temple festival is a major event in that country and overseas Chinese communities.
Teo was among personalities from across the globe invited by Friends of the Philippines’ Foundation in the recent Mazu cultural tour festival held at Tin Hau Temple at Coloane in Macau, which has hosted 15 successful editions of the event.
“As a country blessed with so many heritage festivals ourselves, the Philippines can draw out from Mazu cultural tour festival’s overwhelming turnout year on year,” the Tourism chief said.
“A game changer for Philippine tourism, VUA can also become a major turning point in attracting the fast growing Mazuism all over the world,” she added, citing Mazu as example of a cultural movement that has turned into a widespread phenomenon overnight.
Among the DOT’s plans of growing cultural festivals in the country is paving the way for cultural diversity to flourish, the tourism chief disclosed.
“As a melting pot of many different cultures, religions, the Philippines stands to benefit in embracing this centuries-old Eastern belief,” Teo added.
She said a Chinese Mazu Cultural Center will soon rise in Manila Bay under the auspices of FPF.
“This should become a centerpiece for economic and cultural exchanges between Chinese and the Philippines, promoting the valuable Mazu culture as well as advancing Sino-Philippine friendship,” Teo said.
The hub will feature the much-anticipated six-meter-high Mazu statue at the bay, which is already showcasing many tourism, business, leisure and cultural activities.
In 2009, the Mazu culture was added into the “List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.”