LAOAG CITY– At least ten Chinese mediamen are coming to Ilocos Norte aboard a Zest Air maiden flight enroute to Shanghai-Manila.
Milagros Gonzales, Department of Tourism provincial officer, said the print and television group will come as part of the DOT-Zest Air Familiarization Tour.
“Bringing our Chinese media friends is a result of a successful campaign made by our DOT Shanghai office and ‘Team China’ in our Manila Office. The media group joined the maiden voyage of Zest Air from Shanghai,” Gonzales said.
Zest Air made its inaugural flight from Shanghai to Manila on July 25. It will be flying five times weekly.
Gonzales said these new flights would bring in more Chinese tourists and businessmen to the country and further strengthen relations between China and the Philippines.
From Manila where they will do a coverage, Gonzales said, the Chinese mediamen will fly to Laoag City, Ilocos Norte on July 27. Gonzales said the media group will focus their coverage in Manila and the so-called ‘Laoag-Vigan Leg.’
The group is composed of the editorial team of New World Travelers Magazines, one of the top magazines in China with nationwide circulation;Soho.com, one of the most visited online sites in China; Shanghai Weekly, the main weekly newspaper in Shanghai; and Yeah Media, the trendsetting hotel, home, TV catalogue.
“In Ilocos Norte, they will observe and shoot the province’s natural wonders, cultural heritage, the sports adventure 4×4 wheel drive at the Sand Dunes geological wonder. In Vigan, Ilocos Sur, they will try the calesa ride and tour around the Heritage Village and visit the pottery making at Pagburnayan, among others,” Gonzales said.
Gonzales said this familiarization tour will bring in more tourists and revive the flights from China to Laoag City.
She noted that Chinese nationals from Taiwan and mainland China ranked as number one foreign tourists in Ilocos Norte.
It may be recalled that flights from Taiwan/China were cancelled following the Luneta hostage taking incident in 2010. (Carlo P. Canares/PIA)
