Guam Visitors Bureau visits Manila to bolster travel from PH

THE Guam Visitors Bureau (GVB) visited Manila from June 22 to 27, 2022 to promote and strengthen Guam's tourism industry. Under the direction of GVB President and Chief Executive Officer and former governor Carl Gutierrez, GVB was accompanied by Guam government officials to attend a series of events in Manila in pursuit of strategic tourism-development goals.

The Guam delegation initially participated in the 29th Philippine Travel Agencies Association (PTAA) TravelTour Expo, held at the SMX Convention Center in Pasay City. GVB had participated in the expo for over 15 years before the onset of the pandemic and was glad to rejoin what has been known as one of the largest travel fairs in the country.

Aside from playing an active role in the PTAA TravelTour Expo, GVB conducted meetings with Philippine Airlines and United Airlines, both of which have operated direct flights from Manila to Guam. The parties discussed adding air connections and suggested to Philippine Airlines the possibility of a new route from Cebu.

GVB also arranged networking luncheons at Century Park Hotel in Manila and The Atrium at Enderun Colleges in Taguig City. These events were attended by mayoral delegations from Guam and the Philippines, national and local travel associations, and Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Lacson.

The occasion established a new sister city relationship between the village of Inalåhan and the Municipality of Dingalan, Aurora. Indeed, the visit presented an opportunity to encourage expansion of the Guam-CNMI Visa Waiver Program at the discretion of the US Department of Homeland Security.

Source: TheManila Times