Visit Philippines 2003

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In March 2001 newly appointed Secretary of Department of Tourism, Richard J. Gordon organized a Tourism Related Industry Congress composed of tourism private sector, national and local governments, academe, NGO’s as a consultative body for Philippines Tourism policy. The output resulted in the World Tourism Organization now UNWTO through Dr. H. Varma, UNWTO Regional Representative for Asia and the Pacific, declaration of the year 2003 as Visit Philippines Year. What followed was an aggressive international marketing campaign and sales blitz in Europe, Asia and North America for new travel packages and destinations in the Philippines that resulted in the Philippines first positive growth rate since 1999 of international tourism arrivals at +7.6% in December 2002.