Participants arrive for tourism forum

DANCERS from Mantawi Integrated Dance Company danced to the beat of drums  as they greeted delegates of the 11th East Asia Inter-Regional Tourism Forum (Eatof) upon their arrival yesterday at the Mactan Cebu International Airport.

Delegates from Sarawak, Malaysia; Yogyogarta, Indonesia; and Totori, Japan arrived at 5p.m. Malaysia had the biggest number of delegates at 28.

Officials headed by Vice Gov. Agnes Magpale and Department of Foreign Affairs Protocol Officer Angel Espiritu greeted the participants.

Former Department of Tourism regional director Patricia Aurora Roa joined the welcoming party.

At about 4:55 p.m., the delegation from Totori, Japan, on board Philippine Airlines landed at MCIA.

Provincial Board member Sun Shimura welcomed the director general for tourism of Totori, who was accompanied by an interpreter and some businessmen.

Magpale told Cebu Daily News that the governor of Totori had to send a representative since he could not leave for a very important affair.

“He met with the governor during her visit in Japan and informed her that he cannot come,” Magpale said.

Primovsky-Russia and Chiang Mai, Thailand, won’t attend the Eatof.

Magpale said Chiang Mai wanted to revert to observer status because of funding problems.

Magpale said they are nonetheless looking forward to an interactive meeting.

All other delegations brought along their businessmen because of the additional topic of trade and investment.

Delegations from Gangwon, Korea; Tuv-Mongolia; Quang-Ninh, Vietnam; and Jilin, China were expected to arrive at 11:50 p.m. last night.

The forum will open at the Cebu International Convention Center in Mandaue City today.

Last year, Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia attended the Eatof in Quang Ninh province in Vietnam.

Garcia will assume as leader of the Eatof. She  said the forum, which was primarily for the tourism sector, has evolved into exchanges in trade and culture.