Chatto feted int'l tourism award

BRINGING the country's name to international travel and tourism circuits and earmarking remarkable achievements and outstanding performance as chairman of the House committee on tourism, Bohol 1st District Cong. Edgar M. Chatto capped and international tourism award recently. He was awarded anew by an international tourism body, this time by Skal International last October 26, 2006 at the Mandarin Hotel in Makati City .

The award, the 18th Skal Tourism Personality Award for Government Sector was given to the solon for his promotions and marketing of the country during international gatherings and for constantly promoting international cooperation at all levels of tourism policies to which it has greatly impacted on the industry. Other recipients of the awards were, Mr. Jaime Bautista, Philippine Airlines president and CEO and Dr. Emilio Yap, Manila Hotel and Manila Bulletin chairman and publisher respectively.

The awarding initiation, the first and only existing award recognition in the Skal world, was in conjunction of the body's silver anniversary celebration. Founded in 1932 in Paris by an organization of travel managers, Skal International is an association of tourism professionals around the world promoting global friendship and camaraderie anchored on tourism. To date, it has approximately 22,000 members and 500 clubs worldwide. The committee on tourism under Cong. Chatto has been credited for reaching out in consultation with numerous national and regional tourism organizations in crafting national tourism policies in coordination with DOT Sec. Joseph Ace Durano.

The Philippine Tour Operators Association (PHILTOA), Philippine Travel Agencies Association (PTAA) and the National Association of Independent Travel Agencies (NAITAS) are among the major tourism institutions Chatto has been constantly linking to create one common hard–line goal for tourism. The is set in the background of the country becoming an emerging force and frontrunner in the fast–booming, highly-recognized and widely-accepted trend of tourism development. Cong. Chatto has led numerous delegations representing the country to several international tourism–related forums among them in Russia , Japan and the United States. Just a few months back, Chatto was also bestowed an award by the Rotary Club International in recognition for his works in the field of tourism.

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