The first-ever Philippine Shopping Festival is set to be held in 31 different tourist destinations across the country in a month-long sale that kicks-off March 1, 2020.
The Department of Tourism (DOT) and partner malls and associations announced on February 20 that the 2020 Philippine Shopping Festival will run from March 01-31, 2020 in Metro Manila, Agusan Del Norte, Antique, Bacolod, Baguio, Bataan, Bicol Region, Bukidnon, Bulacan, Butuan City, Cagayan De Oro, Cagayan Valley, CALABARZON, Camarines Sur, Capiz, Cebu, Davao, Ilocos Norte, Iloilo, Lanao Del Norte, Legazpi City in Albay, Leyte, Misamis Oriental, Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental, Nueva Ecija, Palawan, Pampanga, Pangasinan, South Cotabato (General Santos City), and Zambales (Olongapo City).
Among the great shopping experiences expected at the festival are the following:
- 15 percent up to 70 percent discounts on many exciting Philippine-made products, including food and dining, jewelry and fashion, crafts, furniture, and décor, and beauty and wellness products
- Travelers can also look for affordable airfares and cheaper hotel accommodations for the promotion period
- Shopping sales through participating malls such as Araneta Group, Ayala Land Malls, Inc., Duty Free Philippine Corporation, Filinvest Land Inc., Greenfield Development Corporation, Vista Malls, Megaworld Corporation, Oritgas Land, Power Plant Mall, Robinsons Land Corporation, Rustan Commercial Corporation, Shangri-La Plaza Corporation, SM Supermalls, and Stores Specialists, Inc.
- Airlines including Philippine Airlines, Cebu Pacific Air, Air Asia, Air Carriers Association of the Philippines will be slashing off airfare tickets
The shopping event was set up to position the country as a destination where shopping is fun, unique, and affordable for tourists. The DOT notes that its Visitor Sample Survey in 2018 indicated that shopping is the most common tourist activity in the country.
‘It’s not hard to see that elevating the shopping experience will go a long way to enhance the attractiveness of our tourist destinations all over the Philippines, whether it is our big cities or in our beautiful provinces. We’ve recognized this in the National Tourism Development Plan of 2016-2022, where leisure, entertainment and shopping tourism is one of the 10 products we want to further develop in the next few years,” said Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat during announcement of the official partnership at the DOT main office in Makati.
Puyat also assured that ‘There’s Fun in Every Find’ for the duration of the shopping fest as the sale features a variety of Philippine-made items.
“Buying local helps support our craftsmen and artisans, as well as their communities; more importantly, it helps preserve our culture, traditions, and Filipino way of life,” she added.
Secretary Puyat also announced that the 2020 Philippine Shopping Sale may become a yearly and anticipated feature on the nation’s event calendar.
In 2019, an investment forum affirmed that “Shopping Is More Fun In the Philippines” and attracts more retailers and tourists.
The Philippines, which broke tourist arrival records with 8.26 million in 2019, has moved to spur more domestic tourism.
Three of the Philippine Shopping Festival venues, Baguio, Iloilo, and Negros, were awarded the ASEAN Clean Tourist City badge in 2020.
SEND CHEERS in the comments below to the local tourism industry for this upcoming Philippine Shopping Festival!
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