MANILA – The Philippine hosting of the 49th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit and Related Meetings is expected to bring in over 10,000 delegates and foreign visitors to the country, the Department of Tourism (DOT) said on Wednesday.
“For the (ASEAN’s) impact (on tourism), certainly it will show up in numbers. Like I said, about the 10,000, lalabas ‘yon sa (that will come out in the) final figures, which will help us,” Tourism Secretary Dita Angara-Mathay said in a press conference in Makati City.
Angara-Mathay said all is set for the high-level meetings, which will gather various world leaders in Pasay City, including United States President Donald Trump.
“Our job is to focus on the social events, hospitality, and tourism. I’m in charge of all the social events related to the opening, the closing ceremony, and the gala dinner, plus other things like site enhancement. So, what I can say is we’re very ready,” she said.
Throughout the summit, Angara-Mathay said the Philippines will serve diverse Filipino food from across the archipelago, including dishes from restaurants that have recently secured a Michelin citation.
The government is also mounting an exhibit featuring the works of some of the Philippines’ greatest artists, including Vicente Manansala, Arturo Luz, Juan Luna, and Félix Resurreccion Hidalgo.
“We are also in charge of receiving the leaders in the airport. So, we’ve put a good program together with Ballet Philippines and the National Symphony Orchestra will play standard Filipino classical songs and some modern ones,” Angara-Mathay said.
The DOT serves as the vice-chair for operations of the ASEAN National Organizing Council (NOC) and had been training around 300 liaison officers, information officers, and ushers who will serve as the country’s frontline representatives during the hosting.
Angara-Mathay said the DOT is likewise ready to organize or facilitate curated trips for foreign delegates who are looking to visit some of the country’s destinations after the summit.
Earlier, the DOT and girl group BINI released the music video for “Sama-Sama Tayo,” which pays homage to the Philippines’ hosting of the 48th ASEAN Summit and Related Summits in Cebu last May.
The DOT said the video aims to harness the reach and influence of homegrown Filipino acts to inspire foreign visitors and the Filipino diaspora to discover the Philippines.
“As we host ASEAN, we hope to harness BINI’s influence to bring the message of the Philippine Chairship beyond the leaders’ table and into the hearts of a wider community of people connected by a shared purpose,” Angara-Mathay said.
BINI’s release follows the launch of SB19’s “Together in Motion,” the official song of the 49th ASEAN Summit and Related Summits. (Joyce Rocamora/PNA)
