The Philippines’ Department of Foreign Affairs, Department of Tourism and the Department of Trade and Industry once again join hands for the organization of the annual Ambassadors, Consuls General, and Tourism Directors Tour (ACGTDT) of the Philippines.
Now on its 5th year, the ACGTDT is a promotional program that highlights the Philippines as a wholesome and attractive holiday destination which encourages North Americans to experience and enjoy the rich Philippine culture and the world-renowned Filipino hospitality.
The Basic Tour will run from July 11-14 and the Optional Post Tours will be on July 14-17, 2009. The delegation from San Francisco which is led by Consul General Marciano A. Paynor, Jr. will leave for the Philippines on July 9 via Philippine Airlines. The 3N/4D basic tour package covers programs and activities in Metro Manila and nearby Luzon destinations.
The cost of Basic Tour is only $1,595 which includes the roundtrip international ticket (SF-MNL-SF) via Philippine Airlines, 3-night accommodations, based on twin-sharing, at the Dusit Thani Hotel in Makati, daily buffet breakfast, daily lunch, a city tour of Metro Manila, and a welcome dinner with cultural show. This year’s welcome dinner will feature the world-renown Bayanihan Dance Troupe and the Banda Kawayan.
The highlight of the tour is an audience and a photo-opportunity with Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, and a tour of Malacañang Palace and its museum. Also included in the tour are wreath laying ceremony at the Rizal monument, a farewell dinner with entertainment, airport amenities with transfers to and from the hotel and a choice of any of the following day tours to nearby tourist destinations, like Corregidor (history), Villa Escudero (countryside), Laguna Loop (artistry), or Taal/Tagaytay (nature).
After completing the Basic Tour in Metro Manila, participants may opt to avail of the post-basic tours for an additional fee. The destination choices include Cebu/Bohol (beach, culture, chocolate hills, tarsier), Aklan/Boracay (eco-tourism, beach, water sports), Puerto Princesa, Palawan (underground river, beach, eco-tourism, country-side), Baguio/La Union (mountainscape, arts and culture, beach, culinary), Banaue/Sagada, (mountainscape, tribal villages, culture), Laoag/Vigan (history, heritage, arts and culture, pilgrimage).
Like in the previous years, hundreds of participants are expected to join this year’s tour, and they will be introduced to the country’s leading tourist destinations, to niche products and activities like adventure, health and wellness, and entertainment. Interested participants will also have the option to learn more about potential areas for investments, livelihood, business and retirement.
The ACGTDT aims to promote the Philippines as a top-notch tourist destination to second and third generation Filipino-Americans not just as the homeland of their parents/grandparents, but as a tropical paradise where they may always feel at home; making them speak positively and promote vigorously the archipelagic wonder that they may call their own. For registration and other information, please contact the Philippine Consulate General (PCG) in San Francisco at (415) 433-6666 ext. 314, Email sanfranciscopcg2004@yahoo.com or the Philippine Department of Tourism (PDOT) in San Francisco at (415) 9564060, Email pdotsf@aol.com. Interested participants may log on to www.experiencephilippines.ph for more information.
