05 October 2005 – The Philippine Embassy in London reported to the Department of Foreign Affairs that the biggest tourism campaign of the Philippine Department of Tourism in London is now travelling throughout this European capital. Not even the city’s usual overcast sky and intermittent rains could stop its spectacular launch on September 30.

Ten of London’s world-famous black cabs were lined up in front of the Philippine Embassy on Palace Green, Kensington, liveried or dressed up with glorious Philippine scenery and emblazoned with the now familiar WOW Philippines brand name. The ten were part of the 50-strong fleet of London black cabs now cruising around London with some of the Philippines’ tourist attractions wrapped around their gleaming bodies. (Please refer to separate photo releases of 5 October 2005.)

Philippine Ambassador to the Court of St. James, UK Edgardo B. Espiritu and Tourism Attaché Domingo Enerio III led in the launching of the six-month promotion project.   In the program held at the Philippine Embassy, Ambassador Espiritu welcomed the guests from the UK travel industry and described the new promotional campaign of Philippine tourism as “inspired, attention-getting, and eye-catching”.   The Philippine scenes depicted on the black cabs’ livery are: a dive site, water sports, an island sunset, painted sails and white sands of Boracay, Bacolod’s Masskara festival, a world-class golf course, the chocolate hills of Bohol, a Mindanao woman in colorful costume, and the Banaue Rice Terraces.

Ambassador Espiritu congratulated the DOT office in London for their creative promotional initiative, and thanked Asher Moses, manager of Taxi Promotions UK, for his “excellent support and cooperation on the project”, as well as the participating London cab drivers whom he called “the best in the world”.

Representatives of the British travel industry and media, executives from international airline companies, and leaders of the Filipino community attended the launching ceremonies. Among the companies represented were Philippine Travel Ltd., Fulcrum Public Relations & Marketing, DB World Travel, TEFS Travel Service, Audley Travel, Emerald Travel, Gifto Travels Ltd, Jet Life/Argo Holidays, Cathay Pacific Airways, Kuwait Airways, Thai Airways International, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, Singapore Airlines, Bell I.T. 200 Limited, Capital Services Gmbh, Marco Polo Hotel Group, Carlton Leisure, Celestial Travel, Charrie Travel and Tours, Philippine Islands Connections-UK, Pinoy Travel, TRAVCO, ABTA Magazine, Asian Tribune, Crane Media, Philippine National Bank (Europe) Plc, and the Sampaguita Joy performing group.

After the opening ceremonies, a motorcade of ten black cabs decorated with flags and balloons and a media taxi set off from the embassy grounds for a grand tour of the major thoroughfares of London, taking in Marble Arch, Oxford and Regent Streets, Piccadilly Circus, Haymarket, Trafalgar Square, Whitehall, Westminster Abbey and Parliament, Victoria, Hyde Park Corner, Knightsbridge for a Harrods stopover, Cromwell Road, Shepherds Bush and Holland Park Road, Notting Hill Gate and back to the embassy for the reception and a sumptuous Filipino lunch.

The Department of Tourism office in London is currently in the thick of preparations for its participation in the DIVE 2005 show in Birmingham at the end of October, and the World Travel Market at ExCel London in November, according to Tourism Attaché Enerio. END