ISLAMABAD: The Philippines has expressed its desire to promote tourism, cultural exchanges and people-to-people contacts with Pakistan, while also exploring ways to expand bilateral trade between the two countries to $500 million.
Philippine Ambassador to Pakistan Emmanuel R. Fernandez made the remarks during a meeting with a delegation led by Chairman of Al-Sadat Group, Sadat Hussain Shah, in Islamabad on Tuesday.
The ambassador said trade relations between Pakistan and the Philippines had witnessed significant growth and potential. Bilateral trade currently stands at around $197 million, leaving considerable room to reach the actual trade potential of the two countries.
Mr Shah stressed the need to expand tourism cooperation by highlighting the diverse cultural heritage, natural beauty and tourism potential of both countries, as well as opportunities for joint ventures in the hospitality industry.
The meeting also discussed new avenues for trade, investment and business-to-business linkages. The Philippines, being the second-largest market in ASEAN, could serve as an important gateway for Pakistan to the region.
Mr Shah said Pakistan needed to upgrade its human resources in the hotel and hospitality sector and called for greater efforts to promote bilateral tourism.
More than 5,000 Pakistanis visit the Philippines every year for tourism, while a significant number of Filipinos also travel to Pakistan, particularly its scenic northern areas. The Philippine Embassy in Islamabad is taking measures to facilitate Pakistani travellers by issuing more visas and simplifying the visa process.
The two sides also discussed possible joint initiatives and exchanges of experience in the tourism sector, along with measures to strengthen people-to-people ties. Both expressed a commitment to exploring greater cooperation in tourism and other areas of mutual interest.
The Philippine Embassy in Islamabad currently issues up to around 320 visas per month. The possibility of establishing direct air connectivity between Pakistan and the Philippines was also discussed, as direct flights could help promote tourism, business and people-to-people contacts.
Ambassador Fernandez highlighted that the Philippines, with more than 7,600 islands, offers a wide range of tourism opportunities. He said the country’s diverse culture, society and natural attractions make it an attractive destination for Pakistani tourists, while Pakistan’s northern areas also have considerable potential to attract visitors from the Philippines.