ICTP welcomes Bali and Philippine Department of Tourism

 Hawaii: The International Council of Tourism Partners (ICTP) announced that the Philippine Department of Tourism has joined the alliance as a destination member.

Wherever you choose to go in the Philippines, it’s the Filipinos that will make your holiday unforgettable. Lonely Planet calls them, “among the most ebullient and easy-going people anywhere,” and Forbes.com ranked them the friendliest country in Asia.

After three centuries under Spanish rule followed by 50 years of American influence, the Philippines is an Asian country unlike any other. Through a thick layer of Spain and America, you can glimpse the Filipino soul trying to express its unique cultural identity through creativity./span>

The Filipinos’ love sosyalan (socializing), dancing and music. From masquerades to mud fests, pilgrim processions to pageant parties, their island-style parties are open to everyone. Naturally artistic, you’ll see their penchant for color and craftsmanship even outside museums and galleries. It can be seen in their handicraft, design, fashion. It can be loud like their jeepneys or as clean as their embroidery, as brash as their tribal tattoos or as delicate as Lang Dulay’s weaving.

The Philippines distinct cuisine came from the comfort food that reminds Filipinos of family, home, and simple joys. Its many-layered flavors are expressed differently from kitchen to kitchen. Take the national dish, adobo (pork stewed in garlic, soy sauce and vinegar). It has as many recipes as there are islands in the Philippines. With islands so diverse, the Philippine culture is a buffet of fun and festivity.

Likewise,ICTP announced that the Bali Hotels Association (BHA) has joined the alliance as a destination member.”We are happy to be part of this organization as we share the same values in sustainable tourism. We hope that through BHA’s membership in ICTP, Bali and its stakeholders are well represented in the global tourism industry,” said Chairman of the Bali Hotels Association Jean-Charles Le Coz.

The Bali Hotels Association is a professional group of star-rated hotels and resorts in Bali, and its members include General Managers from more than 100 hotels and resorts in Bali, which represent more than 15,000 hotel rooms and almost 30,000 employees in the tourism sector. Source : ICTP