PRESS RELEASE

Philippine Embassy, Canberra

1 Moonah Place, Yarralumla, ACT 2600
www.philembassy.org.au    *Tel. No. 02-6273-2535*

22 May 2025, SYDNEY - The Philippine Embassy in Canberra and Consulate General in Sydney kicked off the celebration of Philippines-Australia Friendship Month on 01 May 2025, with Ambassador Antonio Morales and Consul General Charmaine Aviquivil witnessing the official signing of the Cooperative Marketing Agreement between the Philippine Department of Tourism (DOT) in Sydney, represented by Tourism Attaché Purificacion Molintas, and Sydney Airport, represented by General Manager Shane Hodges.

The agreement aims to boost Australian outbound travel to the Philippines by promoting the Philippines as a key tourist destination. Australia remains one of the Philippines' top tourism markets, ranking third as of January 2025. More than 252,000 Australians visited the Philippines during the 2023–2024 period.

A tripartite agreement was also signed among Sydney Airport, the DOT and Philippine Airlines (PAL), represented by PAL Country Manager for Australia Krystle Ramirez-Gastrock.

These agreements support a series of targeted marketing initiatives, including online advertising campaigns through Nine Media and major online travel agencies. They also build on earlier agreements signed in 2024 between PDOT-Sydney, Sydney Airport, and PAL, which featured promotional content such as “Love the Philippines” advertisements at Sydney Domestic Airport gates and digital travel features under Channel Nine.

Also present at the ceremony were Jennifer Carruthers of Cebu Pacific Air, Antonia Foster and Bronte Moore of Nine Media, and James Cooley of Lucid Agency.

The Embassy commemorates Philippines–Australia Friendship Month in May in line with Presidential Proclamation No. 1282, series of 2016, which designates 22 May of each year as Philippines-Australia Friendship Day. - END