Mataf nearly empty as entry to Makkah restricted to Hajj visa holders    Cinema revenues account for SR845.6 million in 2024 17 Saudi films among 504 films screened    Will US tariff hikes affect Saudi Arabia? Kingdom largely insulated as oil exports remain exempt and non-oil sectors gain a pricing edge    Expat arrested for immoral act at a massage center in Jazan    Saudi Transplant Congress discusses scientific advancements and innovations on organ donation and transplantation    Mawani and Alissa Universal Motors sign agreement worth SR300 million to establish Logistics Zone at King Abdulaziz Port in Dammam    Al-Khereiji at BRICS: Saudi Arabia a reliable and neutral partner in endeavors for de-escalating tensions    Saudi market shows resilience in Q1 2025 despite global volatility: Report    Saudi Arabia urges India and Pakistan to de-escalate tensions    Trump congratulates Canada's Carney as they agree to meet in 'near future'    Sánchez vows to uncover reasons behind massive Iberian power outage    Guterres warns two-state solution is 'near a point of no return'    Al Ahli stun Al Hilal to reach AFC Champions League Elite final    4 Chinese nationals arrested in Makkah for promoting fake Hajj campaigns    SR200,000 reward for each player of the Saudi club winning AFC Champions League title    William and Kate celebrate anniversary on Isle of Mull    HONOR KSA expands its presence with new flagship Experience Store in Riyadh HONOR's first flagship store in KSA provides visitors with a premium experience, exciting offers and free services    Rock & Roll Hall of Fame picks Outkast but not Oasis    Duran leads Al Nassr past Yokohama Marinos into AFC Champions League Elite semi-finals    Al Ahli cruise past Buriram into AFC Champions League Elite semi-finals    Pakistani star's Bollywood return excites fans and riles far right    Veteran Bollywood actor Manoj Kumar dies at 87    Bollywood actress vindicated over boyfriend's death after media hounding    Grand Mufti rules against posting prayers and preaching in mosques on social media    Exotic Taif Roses Simulation Performed at Taif Rose Festival    Asian shares mixed Tuesday    Weather Forecast for Tuesday    Saudi Tourism Authority Participates in Arabian Travel Market Exhibition in Dubai    Minister of Industry Announces 50 Investment Opportunities Worth over SAR 96 Billion in Machinery, Equipment Sector    HRH Crown Prince Offers Condolences to Crown Prince of Kuwait on Death of Sheikh Fawaz Salman Abdullah Al-Ali Al-Malek Al-Sabah    HRH Crown Prince Congratulates Santiago Peña on Winning Presidential Election in Paraguay    SDAIA Launches 1st Phase of 'Elevate Program' to Train 1,000 Women on Data, AI    41 Saudi Citizens and 171 Others from Brotherly and Friendly Countries Arrive in Saudi Arabia from Sudan    Saudi Arabia Hosts 1st Meeting of Arab Authorities Controlling Medicines    General Directorate of Narcotics Control Foils Attempt to Smuggle over 5 Million Amphetamine Pills    NAVI Javelins Crowned as Champions of Women's Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) Competitions    Saudi Karate Team Wins Four Medals in World Youth League Championship    Third Edition of FIFA Forward Program Kicks off in Riyadh    Evacuated from Sudan, 187 Nationals from Several Countries Arrive in Jeddah    SPA Documents Thajjud Prayer at Prophet's Mosque in Madinah    SFDA Recommends to Test Blood Sugar at Home Two or Three Hours after Meals    SFDA Offers Various Recommendations for Safe Food Frying    SFDA Provides Five Tips for Using Home Blood Pressure Monitor    SFDA: Instant Soup Contains Large Amounts of Salt    Mawani: New shipping service to connect Jubail Commercial Port to 11 global ports    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Delivers Speech to Pilgrims, Citizens, Residents and Muslims around the World    Sheikh Al-Issa in Arafah's Sermon: Allaah Blessed You by Making It Easy for You to Carry out This Obligation. Thus, Ensure Following the Guidance of Your Prophet    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques addresses citizens and all Muslims on the occasion of the Holy month of Ramadan    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



Manila set to introduce Halal Tourism Program
Published in The Saudi Gazette on 30 - 04 - 2016

THE Philippines set a milestone when it opened its doors to the world in this year's edition of the Arabian Travel Market (ATM) 2016 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE), bringing its largest Philippine contingent yet to this leading travel fair in the UAE.
The Philippine Department of Tourism (PDOT) is spearheading the country's participation in this year's Arabian Travel Market (ATM). A total of 30 travel companies representing the Philippines' top hotels, resorts and travel agencies will be joining the PDOT in the annual showcase of the world's best destinations, grandest hotel and resort properties and top-notch tourist products and services.
Leading the Philippine delegation are Assistant Secretary Arturo Boncato, Jr. of the Department of Tourism's Tourism Regulation, Coordination and Revenue Generation and Director Verna Buensuceso, Officer-In-Charge of the Department's Market Development Group.
Assistant Secretary Arturo Boncato, Jr. announced that as a part of its program for the Middle East market, the Department of Tourism will be introducing its Halal Tourism Program, which is specifically designed to meet the food requirements of Muslim travelers to the Philippines.
"To maintain the successes we've achieved in this region, we see the importance and urgency of having hotels, resorts and restaurants in key destinations in the Philippines Halal-certified within a 100-day timetable." This, he said, "is expected to lead to better dining options for our Muslim guests and an improved readiness to receive tourists from this region."
Initially, he said, the Department has assisted 16 hotels and restaurants in the Philippines with the issuance of their Halal certifications. Thirty-four more establishments are expected to be certified by the end of May 2016. Seeing the benefits of Halal certification, Boncato said that more tourist-related establishments have signified their interest to join the program.
To capitalize on the program's accomplishments, the Philippines has partnered with CrescentRating, the world's leading authority in Muslim travel, to launch a Muslim traveler's guide during the Halal Tourism Conference 2016 to be held in Konya, Turkey on May 3-5, to highlight the Philippines as a Muslim-friendly destination.
According to Director Verna Buensuceso, "For the last three years, we've had a steady increase in private sector delegates to this fair. From 14 partners in 2014 to 24 partners in 2015, the 30 private sector partners we have this year is the biggest delegation we've had for ATM and stands as a true statement of the increasing interest of our private sector partners in this high-growth tourist region."
The year 2016 is touted as a banner year for Middle East arrivals to the Philippines. In March, Emirates Airlines increased flight frequencies to Manila and mounted new flights to Cebu and Clark, Pampanga, two destinations in the Philippines that are considered as top tourist draws for families and business people.
The Philippines has seen the consistent growth in tourist arrivals from the Middle East. In 2015, the Philippines received a total of 83,546 tourists from the region, growing by 9.69% over 2014. Tourist arrivals from Saudi Arabia and UAE, the two largest markets out of the region for the Philippines, reached 50,884 and 16,881 respectively.
With the ATM evolving as the biggest travel and tourism event in the Middle East which draws 26,000 influential visitors and facilitates an estimated USD 2.4 billion in industry deals, the Department of Tourism is keen on developing strategic partnerships with key stakeholders in the Middle East to capture a sizeable percentage of its high


Clic here to read the story from its source.