Call it Diesel Diplomacy. Malacanang on Sunday said having Hollywood stars come over for a visit could mean more tourism and a boost to the country’s economic progress.
Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said in a Sun Star Online report that having foreign celebrities come over–Vin Diesel and Sarah Jessica Parker were in Manila last week–could help show the world that they “have had good experience here with us.”
Diesel, in Manila for the Asian premiere of “Fast and Furious 6”, was photographed in the back of a jeepney, the iconic if outdated Filipino mode of public transportation. He even made that photo the cover photo on his Facebook page.
Valte said the stars could help persuade not just fans, but family and friends to visit Manila too.
The Department of Tourism is aiming at attracting 10 million tourists a year by 2016. Around 4.3 million tourists came to the Philippines in 2012.
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Photo: Photo of Vin Diesel and some pineapples, taken from his Facebook page. That photo, although not taken here, spread on social media in the Philippines last week.
