For the first time ever in over 24 years of diplomatic relations between the Philippines and Lithuania, the Philippines participated in “ADVENTUR 2016” - the annual international tourism fair in Lithuania which was held from 22 January to 24 January 2016 in the capital city of Vilnius. An estimated 2,850 Lithuanians visited the Philippine booth, based on the number of the Lithuanian version of “It’s More Fun in the Philippines” brochures that were given to each visitor to the booth, during ADVENTUR 2016‘s three-day run. As part of its cultural diplomacy, the Philippine Embassy based in Warsaw also gave away CDs featuring Philippine “kundiman” songs. No less than Lithuania’s Minister of Economy Mr. Evaldas Gustas made special mention of the Philippines in his remarks during ADVENTUR 2016’s opening ceremony on 22 January 2016. He said: “We are happy that for the first time, the Philippines is participating in ADVENTUR.” Shortly after, the head of Lithuania’s Tourism Policy Division Dr. Renaldas Ciuzas and Chief Officer Ms. Lidija Bajaruniene visited the Philippine booth. Other officials who spoke during the opening ceremony were: Minister Rimanta Sinkevicus of the Ministry of Transportation and Communication; Director General of the State Department of Tourism under the Ministry of Economy Ms. Jurgita Kazlauskiene; Mayor of the City of Vilnius Mr. Arturas Zuokas; and the Director of Litexpo Mr. Mindaugas Rutkauskas. During the tourism fair, Philippine ambassador to Lithuania Ms. Patricia Ann V. Paez met with the officials of Turkish Airlines, namely its General Manager in Vilnius Mr. Hasan Serkan Binyar and its Marketing Representative in Ms. Sigita Morkuniene. Turkish Airlines now flies directly from Vilnius to Manila via Istanbul. Ambassador Paez also met with the officials of West Express, one of the biggest tour operators in Lithuania, namely with Marketing Manager Ms. Julija Ciziene; Head of the Vilnius Region Ms. Lina Vaitkeviciene; Project Manager of the Exclusive Travel Department Ms. Jelena Dudina; and with the Director of the Exclusive Travel Department Ms. Alma Stanulioniene. Ambassador Paez, the officials of Turkish Airlines, and the officials of West Express collectively discussed ways of collaborating to promote the Philippines as a travel destination and to increase tourism traffic between Lithuania and the Philippines. The possibility of a joint seminar-briefing about the Philippines and its diverse tourist attractions before owners of travel agencies, tour operators, travel agents, and travel writers in Lithuania was taken up during the meeting. Ambassador Paez also met with Ms. Lilita Garkaja of Vieses Praktiskais who explored the possibility of the Philippines being featured in its calendar for the year 2017. ADVENTUR is the only international exhibition of tourism, travel, and active leisure in Lithuania and is exclusively organized by Litexpo. Two hundred fifty exhibitors from foreign countries participated in this year’s edition of ADVENTUR 2016. Other ASEAN countries which participated in ADVENTUR 2016 were Thailand and Indonesia.