Gov. LRay resource person at MICECON 2010 in Subic

Astounds conferees with innovative “thinking out of the box”

Camarines Sur Governor LRay Villafuerte was at the forefront among the shakers and movers of world tourism who shared their insights with stakeholders of the industry at the RP Meetings, Incentive Travel, Conventions, Exhibitions and Events Conference (MICECON) 2010 held recently at Subic Bay Exhibition and Convention Center.

Jointly organized by the Department of Tourism under MICECON chairman and tourism undersecretary for planning and promotion Edu Jarque, Jr. and the Philippines Convention and Visitors Corporation (PCVC), the four-day activity discussed current market situations, consolidating and unifying the country’s resources, evaluation of the huge business potential and best practices to position the country as a MICE destination locally and globally.
Governor Villafuerte who has been highly successful in marketing CamSur locally and internationally such that the province has risen to a position as the most visited site in the country, was speaker and panelist on the topic “Re-Brand Philippines?”

Despite initially stunning many in the audience with a statement that “the best way to market the Philippines is to leave the Philippines out” the youthful governor was finally able to persuade the audience and even the other panelists with his firm conviction that it is more prudent to brand and market a place without the name Philippines, not so much for its negative image but because the country is “invisible”.

Governor Villafuerte who declared having to “think out of the box” in plotting his marketing strategies admitted that “I don’t want to have to sell the Philippines and then sell Camarines Sur.  It is easier to just sell Camarines Sur.”

Other MICE industry bigwigs who graced the four-day convention included Pacific Asia Travel Association CEO Gregory Duffel, World Tourism Organization consultant and former DoT secretary Mina S. Gabor, Web In Travel producer and SHY Ventures editor-at-large Yeow Siew Hoon, International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA) CEO Martin Sirk of the Netherlands, Malaysia-based Asian Overland Services group managing director Anthony Wong, and UK-based Regent Exhibitions managing director Paul Flackett.

Aside from Governor Villafuerte, Camarines Sur also made waves at the conference when the province’s exhibit was one of the most visited and admired during the event.

Comments (0)