MUBA is the largest and most prestigious consumer trade fair held
annually, for ten days, in Basel, Switzerland. The Philippines is the much-anticipated Guest Country for the year
2009, a significant opportunity for the country to present itself to
Switzerland and to the rest of Europe. The Alona Vida Resort is represented by Sea Explorers, the largest Diveoperator in the Visayas.
Every year, MUBA
highlights a Guest Country in one huge pavilion at the exposition
venue.
The Guest Country presents its economy, major exports in products and
services, tourism, culture and arts, among others, to the more than
300,000 visitors to the fair, most of which are Swiss, German, and
French nationals.
The project is spearheaded by the Department of Tourism (DoT), with
the Philippine Convention and Visitors Corporation (PCVC) as its
implementing arm, and with parallel efforts from the private sector,
through the Philippine-Swiss Business Council (PSBC) of the Philippine
Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI), and Fairs & More,
Incorporated (FMI) of the European Chamber of Commerce of the
Philippines (ECCP).
This undertaking had resulted in very clear signals of support and
greater involvement from various sectors, which include the tourism and
travel industry and the export industries of furniture and furnishings,
jewelry, services, other business organizations, government agencies,
and the 15,000-strong Filipino community in Switzerland.
As a formal start in its representation in MUBA, the MUBA
organizers invited a Philippine delegation to attend the formal
commencement of MUBA 2008. The Philippine delegation to the MUBA 2008
opening ceremonies was composed of members from the Committee as well
as representatives from Department of Foreign Affairs, including the
Philippine Ambassador to Switzerland. With the full backing from no
less than the Secretary of Tourism Ace Durano and the keen support and
cooperation from other sectors and entities, the work for the
Philippines as the Guest Country for MUBA 2009 has an auspicious start,
with the committed individuals from all the teams declaring that the
project should proudly be called 100% Philippines.
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