Tourism
Teo: VUA to
push PHL as
next Mazu
festival hub
T
Tourism Secretary
Wanda Tulfo-Teo with
DOT Assistant Secretary
Frederick Alegre join
Friends of the Philip-
pines Foundation CEO
Jose Kho and son Philip
Kho.
The tourism chief disclosed that
among the DOT's plans of growing
cultural festival in the country is
paving the way for cultural diversity
to flourish. "As a melting pot of
many different cultures, religions,
the Philippines stands to benefit in
embracing this centuries-old Eastern
belief," Teo added.
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he Department of Tourism (DOT) says the
implementation of the visa upon arrival (VUA)
program will drive devoted followers of what is now
considered a cultural phenomenon of Mazuism to
look at the Philippines as its next festival hub.
According to Tourism Secretary Wanda Tulfo-Teo,
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 August last year to 95,687 of same period 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 Mazu culture festival," she
added, pointing to the 300 million Mazuists worldwide.
Teo was among key personalities from across the globe invited
by Friends of the Philippines’ Foundation (FPF) in the recently
concluded Mazu cultural tour festival held at Tin Hau Temple at
Coloane in Macau