Cebu Pacific (CEB) is flying the flag for Philippines tourism in China as both the carrier and promoter for premier attractions, festivals and events. With lower fares and more frequent connections with China than ever before, the country’s number one airline is partnering the Philippines’ Department of Tourism (DOT) for a calendar of colourful events.
 
Among cultural highlights, CEB is official airline of the Davao Cultural Festival, recently promoted in Beijing with a taste of authentic Davao cuisine, cultural show and eco-friendly local handicrafts.
 
CEB was also official airline partner of a Philippines promotion at the Jinyuan Yansha Shopping Mall in Beijing showcasing three days of Filipino fashion shows and fun games from 3-5 June 2011.
 
The showcase featured fashion designer Renee Salud with fun games that are trademark of CEB onboard entertainment – including passengers singing love songs or taking part in quizzes.
 
An estimated 140,000 attended the three-day promotion and Jazmin Esguerra, Philippine Tourism Attache to Beijing, said: “Without CEB, the show would not have made it to Beijing. The partnership of the National Tourism Office and CEB shows the Philippines is a serious player in wooing the Chinese travel market.”
 
CEB was also official airline for a wedding expo at Beijing Exhibition Hall from 27- 29 May 2011. The annual event highlighting romantic destinations showcased top honeymoon options in the Philippines include Boracay, Cebu, Coron and Palawan – all with convenient flight connections aboard the barrier via Manila.
 
The expo attracted a Chinese audience of 60,000 and Ms Esguerra added: “CEB made it possible for to show another facet of the country – a glimpse of the Philippines as a modern and an amazingly romantic destination.”
 
CEB earlier participated in the Shanghai World Travel Fair and the Suzhou International Tourism Fest.
 
For the Suzhou festival, CEB flew in performers for the colourful ‘Wow Philippines’ float voted Best Performing Group.
 
For the Shanghai World Travel Fair, CEB flew in the internationally acclaimed Bayanihan Dance Troupe, who performed at the opening ceremony and awards night, where the Philippines was voted ‘Most Desirable Beach Holiday Destination’ for 2011.
 
Gerard Panga, Philippine Tourism Attache to Shanghai, said: “CEB's sponsorship of our cultural performers helped our wide-scale promotional efforts immensely.
 
“More and more Chinese travelers are heading to the Philippines, the nearest tropical island destination to China, with multiple options for shopping, sightseeing, cultural, cosmopolitan or beach holidays in our archipelago of more than 7,000 islands.”
 
CEB has regular flights connecting Manila and China, just 3.5 hours from Shanghai, 4.5 hours from Beijing and 2 hours from Guangzhou.
 
CEB also offers convenient access to domestic connections to all top island destinations in the Philippines.
 
“The Philippines’ unique blend of Spanish, American, Chinese, Malay and other foreign influences twinned with legendary hospitality and warmth make our country and culture very appealing to the Chinese,” added Panga.
 
In the DOT’s annual visitor survey, the Filipinos’ genuine smiles and hospitality ranked highest among most satisfying travel indicators for foreign visitors.