Filipino wedding planners tapping into overseas market

MANILA, Philippines – “Popping the question. More Fun in the Philippines.”

When the Department of Tourism unveiled this ad in time for Valentine’s Day last year, it not only launched the country’s bid to become one of the world’s top romantic destinations. It also opened an opportunity for Filipino wedding and honeymoon planners to make their industry more viable.

The Philippine Association of Wedding Planners (PAWP), a 10-year-old organization composed of 12 pioneering groups, has been actively supporting the DOT campaign.

PAWP President Liza Alviedo said the group would hold roadshows and participate in expos in Singapore, United Arab Emirates, Australia, Canada, United States, and several countries in Europe.

“We want to go about this slowly and first go to places with large Filipino communities. There is a big market out there just waiting to be tapped. It will have to be a step-by-step process wherein our members and fellow wedding suppliers will eventually be able to maximize their reach,” Alviedo said.

The group’s first stop this year will be the Philippine Wedding Expo @ Singapore in July, organized by local firm Destination Events and Business Solutions.

Latest data from the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration ranked Singapore third in number of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) after Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates.

Singapore has a large number of OFWs holding middle management and higher positions. “It is a market with a capacity to spend for their weddings,” Alviedo said.

According to her, PAWP, whose members are based in key cities across the country and have the ability to organize weddings domestically or abroad, is expecting to get at least 150 contracts combined from the expo.

Destination Events and Business Solutions president Giselle De Leon said the participation of PAWP would ensure that potential clients going to the Singapore expo would be able to acquire the best wedding services available. – Rappler.com