"Boracay has consistently been part of the list of the best beaches in the world, as evidenced by awards bestowed on it by major travel magazines and organizations," said Ambassador J. Eduardo Malaya.
MATTA organizing committee chairman S. Jayakumar said that the Philippines is rich in natural resources and biodiversity, and also praised Boracay’s fine white sand beaches.
"It is our pleasure for Malaysians to discover the island, with its pristine white sands and breathtaking beaches, which captivated many visitors for nature tripping, watersports and beach hopping," Malaya said.
The announcement was made in a press conference on Monday at the MATTA headquarters in Kuala Lumpur.
"Now is the best time to visit the Philippines. For one, the Philippine Government has declared this year as Visit Philippines Year 2015 (VPY 2015). The flurry of festivals, concerts, conferences, other activities and events lined up will draw in both domestic and foreign tourists in the country," the ambassador said.
AMBASSADOR'S TOUR
It was also at this event where Malaya formally introduced the Second Ambassador's Tour to the Philippines. The tour will visit Cebu and Bohol on May 2 to 5.
"Cebu and Bohol are increasingly becoming major Philippine tourist destinations. It is an opportunity for our Malaysian friends to see other parts of the country," Malaya said.
The four day tour costs RM2788 or PhP33456 (half twin) and RM3288 or PhP39456 (single) to include the Bohol day tour. The fee includes three-nights hotel stay with daily breakfast in a four-star hotel, meals, transfers and tours with English-speaking local guide. Official carrier is AirAsia, which flies directly to Cebu from Kuala Lumpur.
The ambassador also thanked Malaysians for discovering more of the Philippines, as Malaysia posted the highest growth in tourist arrivals at 27.24 percent increase with 139,245 arrivals in 2014, and became the Philippines’ ninth largest tourist market.
source: www.abs-cbnnews.com
