SQ's presence in the Philippine pavilion is part of a Tourism Promotion Agreement signed in September. The arrangement will be reviewed in December 2000.
SQ pledged US$1million in funding for joint advertising and promotions to increase awareness of the Philippines as a tourism destination in Europe, Singapore and Australia.
This will include complimentary tickets to allow senior DoT officials to participate at major exhibitions in these markets, plus tickets for the media and travel trade to take educational tours to the Philippines.
DoT regional director for the UK and Scandinavia Bernadette Lazaro said: "There is a peaceful co-existence between SQ and Philippine Airlines (PR) who have temporarily pulled out of many of the routes that SQ serves.
"There were actually representatives from both airlines on the Philippines stand, although PR was at WTM on a fact-finding mission and are well aware that their loss is SQ's gain."
According to SQ executive vice president (commercial) Michael Tan, air links and airline seat capacity were a major reason for the Philippines having a lower number of tourists than other members of the ASEAN countries.
The total number of seats on international air routes to the Philippines is about 5.3 million a year, only a third of the capacities of Thailand and Malaysia, each with 15.5 million seats, and 28 per cent of Singapore's capacity of 18.8 million seats.
As part of the agreement, SQ and DoT are promoting twin packages to the two destinations, using Singapore as a stopover.
"As there are no direct flights from Europe to Manila, Singapore is a perfect stopover, twinning a modern city with the natural beauty of the Philippines." Lazaro said.
DoT also introduced a new programme called "Rediscovery Philippines" at WTM this year. The initiative concentrates on eight major destinations which are easily accessible and offer a high standard of tourist facilities - Baguio and Banaue, Laoag and Vigan, Palawan, Manila, Cebu, Boracay, Bohol and Davao.
Rediscovery Philippines targets overseas Filipinos who may want to visit families back home or rediscover their roots. The programme also rewards tour operators or members of the media who promote the Philippines with familiarisation trips to the country.