08 October 2020 – Ambassador Ramon S. Bagatsing, Jr. was invited to deliver his Keynote Address during the 1st Philippines-India Joint Working Group Virtual Meeting on Tourism Cooperation 08 October 2020.
In his remarks, Ambassador Bagatsing underscored the importance of safety and health measures in tourism response and recovery plan during the COVID-19 pandemic. India was the 11th top source market of the Philippines in 2019 with 134,963 visitors, reflecting an 11.43% rise from 2018. Also part of Ambassador Bagatsing’s remarks was a video presentation depicting the tourism opportunities between the Philippines and India.
During the meeting proper, the Philippine delegation was led by Mr. Roberto P. Alabado III, Assistant Secretary, DOT-Office of Tourism Development Planning while the Indian delegation was led by Mr. Rakesh Kumar Verma, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Tourism.
The Philippines and India discussed matters of mutual interests on the areas of tourism cooperation, such as expansion of bilateral cooperation in tourism sector of both countries, exchange on data and information relative to tourism, human resource development, tourism investments, standards and regulations, and partnership with the private sector.
The Philippines and India have an existing five-year Memorandum of Understanding on Tourism Cooperation which was signed on 18 October 2019 during the State Visit of Indian President Ram Nath Kovind in Manila. END
