‘Very Important Pinoy’ (VIP) Tour launched in San Francisco

Philippine Ambassador to the United States Jose Manuel Romualdez leads the San Francisco launch of the 2024 “Very Important Pinoy” (VIP) Tour. CONTRIBUTED

SAN FRANCISCO – Philippine Ambassador to the United States Jose Manuel Romualdez recently led the San Francisco launch of the 2024 “Very Important Pinoy” (VIP) Tour, inviting Filipinos in the US to explore top tourist destinations in the Philippines.

The VIP Tour – a curated journey that allows travelers from the US to explore various tourist spots and immerse in Philippine culture – is a longstanding collaboration between the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Department of Tourism (DOT).

Speaking during the VIP Tour launch at the Philippine Center in San Francisco last week, Romualdez said now is the best time to visit the Philippines, given the Philippines’ robust bilateral relations with the US.

Consul General in San Francisco Neil Ferrer invites Filipinos in the US to join the 2024 “Very Important Pinoy” (VIP )Tour. CONTRIBUTED

“So many good things are coming out of the Philippines right now. There is a lot of interest in terms of investments, and tourism is at its highest,” Romualdez said.

The DOT recently reported that more than 900,000 tourists from the US visited the Philippines in 2023, in a busy year for the Philippine tourism industry that generated more than P482 billion ($8.56 billion) in international visitor receipts alone.

In 2023, close to 300 participants from across the US joined the VIP Tour held in Manila, Iloilo and Boracay, many of them coming from the West Coast, said Consul General in San Francisco Neil Ferrer.

Filipino American influencer Anthony Schlander shares his experiences from the 2023 “Very Important Pinoy” (VIP) Tour. CONTRIBUTED

“The Consulate was very happy to lead the VIP Tour, which has been a signature tourism program of all our Philippine Foreign Service posts in the United States,” Ferrer said.

“I hope that you can join us again for this year’s VIP Tour,” he added, encouraging travelers from Northern California and Nevada, the Pacific Northwest, the Rocky Mountains and Alaska to take advantage of the discounted rates and special arrangements that the VIP Tour offers.

Filipino American influencer Anthony Schlander shared his experiences from the 2023 VIP Tour, including his gastronomic and eco-adventures in Iloilo and Boracay.

During the 2024 VIP launch, Tourism Attaché Soleil Tropicales presented video clips showcasing the grand launch of the “Love the Philippines” campaign in San Francisco.

The presentation included the “Love the Adventure” motorcycle ride along the iconic Golden Gate Bridge, “Love the Music” holiday reception, “Love the Food” dinner at Filipino restaurant Abaca and “Love the Fashion” show at the San Francisco Ferry Building featuring a Filipino marketplace and renowned Filipino fashion designer Francis Libiran.

Tour operator Rajah Tours, represented by its president Jose Clemente III, presented the 2024 VIP Tour packages and itinerary covering the tour period – July 21 to 30, 2024.

This year’s VIP Tour will bring the participants to Metro Manila, Bacolod in the Visayas, and Cagayan de Oro and Bukidnon in Mindanao.

Philippine Airlines San Francisco Area Manager Dell Merano introduced the special airfare rates offered with the tour.

The VIP Tour was also launched in New York on Jan. 22. For more details, including rates and registration, visit the VIP Tour website.